National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge lies in San Luis Obispo County, California, with about 2,501 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
1hunt units
0huntable acres
2.5KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes 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

Hunting at Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes 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: 2,501 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed2,501 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 2,501 —

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 Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes NWR.

How to get to Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes NWR

Navigate

Destination: Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Decimal
35.00218, -120.61821
DMS
35°00′07.8″N 120°37′05.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Santa Barbara, CA66 mi NW of town
  • Ventura, CA90 mi NW of town
  • Bakersfield, CA94 mi W of town
  • Fresno, CA129 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • SBA Santa Barbara59 mi
  • BFL Bakersfield Meadows93 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 Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes 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, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM7:31 PM12h 57m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM7:11 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM6:48 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:28 PM11h 22m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM5:09 PM10h 47m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM4:58 PM10h 22m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM4:51 PM9h 60m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM4:52 PM9h 49m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM5:00 PM9h 50m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:12 PM10h 02m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:31 AM7:01 AM5:29 PM10h 28m

Computed for 35.002, -120.618 (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.

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes 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 Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes NWR located?

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is in San Luis Obispo County, California, about 66 miles NW of Santa Barbara, CA (straight-line). GPS: 35.00218, -120.61821.

What are legal shooting hours at Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes 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

Bitter Creek NWR

Kern County, CA · 72 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Kern NWR

Kern County, CA · 77 mi NE

3 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

3.2K huntable acres

Pixley NWR

Tulare County, CA · 94 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Hopper Mountain NWR

Ventura County, CA · 108 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Blue Ridge NWR

Tulare County, CA · 133 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Salinas River NWR

Monterey County, CA · 137 mi NW

1 open1 closed
🦆

60 huntable acres

All refuges in California →

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