National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge lies in Colusa County, California, with about 5,831 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 5 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 1,983 huntable acres.

5 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
2Khuntable acres
5.8KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Delevan NWR 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.

Loading interactive map…
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 Delevan NWR

Permitted hunting categories are waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

At nearly 5,900 acres, Delevan National Wildlife Refuge provides great opportunities for waterfowl, pheasant and turkey hunters. The check stations are operated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as a type-A area.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill crane

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow California regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,983 (34%)Closed: 3,848 (66%)2Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,983 ac 34%
  • Closed3,848 ac 66%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
3,848 ac
Spaced Hunt Sites
496 ac
Free Roam - East
468 ac
Assigned Ponds
445 ac
Free Roam - West
416 ac
Free Roam
158 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Assigned Ponds Special regs 445 —
Free Roam Special regs 158 —
Free Roam - East Special regs 468 —
Free Roam - West Special regs 416 —
Spaced Hunt Sites Special regs 496 —
Closed Closed 3,848 —

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 California hunting license and any required tags or stamps — California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Delevan NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Delevan NWR.

How to get to Delevan NWR

Navigate

Destination: Delevan National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.30717, -122.09784
DMS
39°18′25.8″N 122°05′52.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Willows, CA16 mi S of town
  • Yuba City, CA28 mi NW of town
  • Chico, CA32 mi SW of town
  • Sacramento, CA60 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • SMF Sacramento Intl50 mi
  • RDD Redding Regional84 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 Delevan NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM7:41 PM13h 05m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM7:19 PM12h 31m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM6:52 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM6:31 PM11h 14m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM5:08 PM10h 33m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM4:55 PM10h 04m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM4:46 PM9h 38m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM4:46 PM9h 25m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:57 AM7:27 AM4:54 PM9h 27m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM5:07 PM9h 41m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:26 PM10h 11m

Computed for 39.307, -122.098 (PDT / 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.

Delevan NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Delevan NWR?

Yes. Delevan National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (1,983 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Delevan NWR?

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

Where is Delevan NWR located?

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is in Colusa County, California, about 16 miles S of Willows, CA (straight-line). GPS: 39.30717, -122.09784.

What are legal shooting hours at Delevan NWR?

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

Sacramento NWR

Glenn County, CA · 7.9 mi NW

4 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

3.5K huntable acres

Colusa NWR

Colusa County, CA · 11 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

1.3K huntable acres

North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area

Butte County, CA · 22 mi NE

3 special2 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

741 huntable acres

Sutter NWR

Sutter County, CA · 25 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

1.2K huntable acres

Sacramento River NWR

Tehama County, CA · 55 mi N

22 special17 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐗🎣

6.1K huntable acres

Stone Lakes NWR

Sacramento County, CA · 72 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🦆🎣

174 huntable acres

All refuges in California →

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