National Wildlife Refuge · Washington · FWS Region 1

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

Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in Skamania County, Washington, with about 586 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
586FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Franz 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 Franz Lake 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: 583 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed583 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 583 —

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 Washington hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Washington 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 Franz Lake NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Franz Lake NWR.

How to get to Franz Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.60328, -122.08068
DMS
45°36′11.8″N 122°04′50.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Vancouver, WA28 mi E of town
  • Portland, OR30 mi E of town
  • Salem, OR65 mi NE of town
  • Tillamook, OR86 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • PDX Portland Intl25 mi
  • YKM Yakima Air Terminal100 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 Franz Lake 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, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM7:48 PM13h 21m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM7:22 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM6:50 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM6:24 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM4:57 PM10h 10m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM4:39 PM9h 33m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM4:27 PM8h 59m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:11 AM7:41 AM4:25 PM8h 44m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:18 AM7:48 AM4:33 PM8h 45m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:15 AM7:45 AM4:48 PM9h 04m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:00 AM7:30 AM5:12 PM9h 42m

Computed for 45.603, -122.081 (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.

Franz Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Franz Lake NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Franz Lake NWR?

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

Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Skamania County, Washington, about 28 miles E of Vancouver, WA (straight-line). GPS: 45.60328, -122.08068.

What are legal shooting hours at Franz 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

Pierce NWR

Skamania County, WA · 4.3 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Steigerwald Lake NWR

Clark County, WA · 11 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Little White Salmon NFH

Skamania County, WA · 23 mi E

1 open1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

114 huntable acres

Eagle Creek NFH

Clackamas County, OR · 23 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Willard NFH

Skamania County, WA · 24 mi NE

1 closed
🎣

Spring Creek NFH

Klickitat County, WA · 29 mi E

1 open1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

38 huntable acres

All refuges in Washington →

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