National Wildlife Refuge · Nebraska · FWS Region 6

Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge is located in Cherry County, Nebraska, with about 19,093 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 5,065 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
5.1Khuntable acres
19.1KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Fort Niobrara 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 Fort Niobrara NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

The land and water of Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge have sustained a rich diversity of wildlife for thousands of years.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, 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 craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 5,065 (27%)Closed: 14,028 (73%)5.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations5,065 ac 27%
  • Closed14,028 ac 73%
Units by size (acres)
Closed Area
14,028 ac
Open
5,065 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,065 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Muzzleloader deer hunters must possess a refuge hunt permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application?National Wildlife…
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 14,028 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Muzzleloader deer hunters must possess a refuge hunt permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application?National Wildlife…

Fort Niobrara NWR by the numbers

With about 5,065 huntable acres, Fort Niobrara NWR ranks #5 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Nebraska and #257 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 27% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open (5,065 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 14,028 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 19,093 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 678 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Fort Niobrara NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Nebraska 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, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Muzzleloader deer hunters must possess a refuge hunt permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application?National Wildlife Refuge System) and comply with all of its terms and conditions.

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Nebraska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
  • 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 Fort Niobrara NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Fishing is permitted on refuge portions of Minnechaduza Creek and downstream from Cornell Dam along the Niobrara River. The river through the refuge is not known as a high-value fishery.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Fort Niobrara NWR

Navigate

Destination: Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
42.88351, -100.44221
DMS
42°53′00.6″N 100°26′32.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Valentine, NE5.5 mi E of town
  • Martin, SD68 mi E of town
  • Lake Andes, SD98 mi W of town
  • Pierre, SD103 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • PIR Pierre Regional104 mi
  • RAP Rapid City Regional154 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 Fort Niobrara 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, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM8:18 PM13h 14m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM7:54 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM7:25 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:23 AM7:53 AM7:01 PM11h 08m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM5:35 PM10h 21m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM5:20 PM9h 47m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:22 AM7:52 AM5:09 PM9h 17m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:35 AM8:05 AM5:08 PM9h 03m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:42 AM8:12 AM5:16 PM9h 04m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:39 AM8:09 AM5:30 PM9h 21m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:27 AM7:57 AM5:52 PM9h 55m

Computed for 42.884, -100.442 (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 Fort Niobrara 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…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

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…

Fort Niobrara NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Fort Niobrara NWR?

Yes. Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (5,065 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Fort Niobrara NWR?

Yes — Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained mail or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Fort Niobrara NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Fort Niobrara NWR located?

Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge is in Cherry County, Nebraska, about 6 miles E of Valentine, NE (straight-line). GPS: 42.88351, -100.44221.

What are legal shooting hours at Fort Niobrara 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

Valentine NWR

Cherry County, NE · 28 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

70.9K huntable acres

Lacreek NWR

Bennett County, SD · 60 mi W

7 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.4K huntable acres

John W. and Louise Seier NWR

Rock County, NE · 64 mi SE

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

2.4K huntable acres

Karl E. Mundt NWR

Gregory County, SD · 97 mi E

1 special2 closed
🦌

697 huntable acres

Lake Andes WMD

Charles Mix County, SD · 102 mi E

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

15.1K huntable acres

Lake Andes NWR

Charles Mix County, SD · 104 mi E

1 open3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.2K huntable acres

All refuges in Nebraska →

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