National Wildlife Refuge · Nevada · FWS Region 8

Desert National Wildlife Range Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Desert National Wildlife Range lies in Clark County, Nevada, with about 1,512,970 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 2 open under general rules, 1 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 1,367,248 huntable acres.

2 open units1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
1.4Mhuntable acres
1.5MFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Desert National Wildlife Range 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 Desert National Wildlife Range

Hunting opportunities include big game, upland birds, and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

The neon lights of Las Vegas may seem far indeed from wilderness, but just 20 miles away lie the rugged canyons and expansive vistas of Desert National Wildlife Refuge.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsUpland 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 Nevada regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,358,638 (83%)Special regulations: 8,610 (1%)Closed: 260,880 (16%)1.4Mhuntable acres
  • Open1,358,638 ac 83%
  • Special regulations8,610 ac 1%
  • Closed260,880 ac 16%
Units by size (acres)
Open Unit
721,043 ac
NTTR Joint Use Area
637,594 ac
Closed Unit
260,880 ac
Sitting Dog Unit
8,610 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
NTTR Joint Use Area Open 637,594 —
Open Unit Open 721,043 —
Sitting Dog Unit Special regs 8,610 —
Closed Unit Closed 260,880 —

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 Nevada hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Nevada Department of 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 Desert National Wildlife Range

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Desert National Wildlife Range.

How to get to Desert National Wildlife Range

Navigate

Destination: Desert National Wildlife Range (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.82827, -115.39549
DMS
36°49′41.8″N 115°23′43.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Las Vegas, NV48 mi N of town
  • Mesquite, NV73 mi W of town
  • St. George, UT102 mi W of town
  • Bullhead City, AZ125 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid53 mi
  • PSP Palm Springs Intl216 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 Desert National Wildlife Range

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, 20265:41 AM6:11 AM7:12 PM13h 00m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM6:51 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM6:26 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM6:06 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:34 AM6:04 AM4:45 PM10h 41m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:49 AM6:19 AM4:33 PM10h 14m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM4:26 PM9h 51m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM4:26 PM9h 40m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:24 AM6:54 AM4:34 PM9h 41m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:23 AM6:53 AM4:47 PM9h 54m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:14 AM6:44 AM5:05 PM10h 21m

Computed for 36.828, -115.395 (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.

Desert National Wildlife Range FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Desert National Wildlife Range?

Yes. Desert National Wildlife Range offers hunting in 3 units (1,367,248 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, 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 Desert National Wildlife Range?

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

Where is Desert National Wildlife Range located?

Desert National Wildlife Range is in Clark County, Nevada, about 48 miles N of Las Vegas, NV (straight-line). GPS: 36.82827, -115.39549.

What are legal shooting hours at Desert National Wildlife Range?

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

Pahranagat NWR

Lincoln County, NV · 33 mi NE

3 special4 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.7K huntable acres

Moapa Valley NWR

Clark County, NV · 38 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Ash Meadows NWR

Nye County, NV · 59 mi SW

5 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🐇

22.9K huntable acres

Havasu NWR

Mohave County, AZ · 161 mi S

9 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.7K huntable acres

Bill Williams River NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 193 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.9K huntable acres

Blue Ridge NWR

Tulare County, CA · 195 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Nevada →

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