National Fish Hatchery · Montana · FWS Region 6

Creston National Fish Hatchery Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Flathead County, Montana, Creston National Fish Hatchery is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 95 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
95FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Creston NFH hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

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OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Creston NFH

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 95 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed95 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 95 —

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Montana hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Creston NFH

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Creston NFH.

How to get to Creston NFH

Navigate

Destination: Creston National Fish Hatchery (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
48.19817, -114.10439
DMS
48°11′53.4″N 114°06′15.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Kalispell, MT9.5 mi E of town
  • Missoula, MT92 mi N of town
  • Bonners Ferry, ID107 mi E of town
  • Stevensville, MT117 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • FCA Glacier Park Intl11 mi
  • MSO Missoula Montana88 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Creston NFH

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Denver local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM8:20 PM13h 28m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM7:51 PM12h 40m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM7:18 PM11h 44m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:24 AM7:54 AM6:49 PM10h 56m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM5:19 PM9h 59m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM5:00 PM9h 18m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:35 AM8:05 AM4:46 PM8h 41m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:50 AM8:20 AM4:42 PM8h 23m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:56 AM8:26 AM4:51 PM8h 25m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:52 AM8:22 AM5:07 PM8h 45m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:35 AM8:05 AM5:33 PM9h 28m

Computed for 48.198, -114.104 (MDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Creston NFH FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Creston NFH?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Creston National Fish Hatchery. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Creston NFH?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Creston NFH. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Creston NFH located?

Creston National Fish Hatchery is in Flathead County, Montana, about 9 miles E of Kalispell, MT (straight-line). GPS: 48.19817, -114.10439.

What are legal shooting hours at Creston NFH?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Northwest Montana WMD-Flathead County

Flathead County, MT · 8.3 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

7.2K huntable acres

Swan River NWR

Lake County, MT · 23 mi SE

2 special
🦌🦆🎣

1.9K huntable acres

Lost Trail NWR

Flathead County, MT · 36 mi W

1 open1 closed
🦌🦃🐦

3.2K huntable acres

Pablo NWR

Lake County, MT · 39 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Ninepipe NWR

Lake County, MT · 52 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County

Lake County, MT · 58 mi S

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

3.6K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in Montana →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.