National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Santa Cruz County, California, Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 164 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
164FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Ellicott Slough 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 Ellicott Slough NWR

  • 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: 164 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed164 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 164 —

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
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Ellicott Slough NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Ellicott Slough NWR.

How to get to Ellicott Slough NWR

Navigate

Destination: Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.92515, -121.83796
DMS
36°55′30.5″N 121°50′16.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • San Jose, CA29 mi S of town
  • Los Banos, CA55 mi W of town
  • San Francisco, CA67 mi SE of town
  • Modesto, CA68 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • SJC San Jose Mineta30 mi
  • SFO San Francisco Intl57 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 Ellicott Slough 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, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:37 PM13h 01m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM7:16 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:52 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM6:32 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM5:11 PM10h 41m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM4:59 PM10h 14m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM4:51 PM9h 50m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM4:51 PM9h 39m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:50 AM7:20 AM5:00 PM9h 40m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM5:12 PM9h 53m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM5:30 PM10h 20m

Computed for 36.925, -121.838 (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.

Ellicott Slough NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Ellicott Slough NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Ellicott Slough NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Ellicott Slough 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 Ellicott Slough NWR located?

Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge is in Santa Cruz County, California, about 29 miles S of San Jose, CA (straight-line). GPS: 36.92515, -121.83796.

What are legal shooting hours at Ellicott Slough 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

Salinas River NWR

Monterey County, CA · 13 mi S

1 open1 closed
🦆

60 huntable acres

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR

Alameda County, CA · 40 mi N

12 open8 special1 closed
🦆🎣

10.4K huntable acres

San Luis NWR

Merced County, CA · 57 mi NE

6 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🎣

10.1K huntable acres

San Joaquin River NWR

Stanislaus County, CA · 62 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Butte Sink Wildlife Management Area

Stanislaus County, CA · 62 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Grasslands Wildlife Management Area

Merced County, CA · 66 mi E

6 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🎣

3K huntable acres

All refuges in California →

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