National Wildlife Refuge · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

Florence Lake National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Florence Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in Burleigh County, North Dakota, with about 1,460 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 1,560 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
2hunt units
1.6Khuntable acres
1.5KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Florence Lake 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 Florence Lake NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

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

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,560 (83%)Closed: 330 (17%)1.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,560 ac 83%
  • Closed330 ac 17%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Unit
1,560 ac
Closed
330 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,560 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 330 —

Florence Lake NWR by the numbers

With about 1,560 huntable acres, Florence Lake NWR ranks #25 of 28 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Dakota and #340 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 83% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Unit (1,560 acres, special regulations).

1 unit totaling 330 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 1,460 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 420 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Bernhardt WPA (159 acres, 1 miles NW).

When to hunt Florence Lake NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Dakota sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

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 North Dakota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — North Dakota Game and Fish Department
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Florence Lake NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Florence Lake NWR.

How to get to Florence Lake NWR

Navigate

Destination: Florence Lake National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
47.29845, -100.31911
DMS
47°17′54.4″N 100°19′08.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Bismarck, ND40 mi NE of town
  • Carrington, ND57 mi W of town
  • Garrison, ND57 mi SE of town
  • Rugby, ND76 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • BIS Bismarck Municipal42 mi
  • MOT Minot Intl80 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 Florence Lake NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM8:24 PM13h 25m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM7:56 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:08 AM7:38 AM7:23 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:27 AM7:57 AM6:55 PM10h 58m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM5:26 PM10h 03m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:14 AM7:44 AM5:07 PM9h 23m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:36 AM8:06 AM4:54 PM8h 47m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:51 AM8:21 AM4:51 PM8h 30m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:58 AM8:28 AM5:00 PM8h 32m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:53 AM8:23 AM5:15 PM8h 52m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:38 AM8:08 AM5:40 PM9h 33m

Computed for 47.298, -100.319 (CDT / 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.

Guides for hunting Florence Lake NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

Florence Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Florence Lake NWR?

Yes. Florence Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (1,560 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Florence Lake NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Florence Lake 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 Florence Lake NWR located?

Florence Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Burleigh County, North Dakota, about 40 miles NE of Bismarck, ND (straight-line). GPS: 47.29845, -100.31911.

What are legal shooting hours at Florence Lake 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

Lake Nettie NWR

McLean County, ND · 38 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

2.1K huntable acres

Long Lake NWR

Kidder County, ND · 41 mi S

2 special
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

23.2K huntable acres

Slade NWR

Kidder County, ND · 43 mi SE

1 special
🦌🦃🐦🐇

3K huntable acres

Long Lake WMD

Burleigh County, ND · 44 mi S

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

23.7K huntable acres

Audubon NWR

McLean County, ND · 44 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

3.2K huntable acres

Chase Lake NWR

Stutsman County, ND · 46 mi SE

1 special
🦌

4.4K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in North Dakota →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.