National Wildlife Refuge · Washington · FWS Region 1

Hanford Reach National Monument Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Hanford Reach National Monument is located in Grant County, Washington. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 3 closed, covering about 56,487 huntable acres.

3 with special regs3 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
56.5Khuntable acres
0boundary acres
4game categories

Hanford Reach National Monument 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 Hanford Reach National Monument

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill crane

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

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 56,487 (35%)Closed: 107,028 (65%)56.5Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations56,487 ac 35%
  • Closed107,028 ac 65%
Units by size (acres)
Rattlesnake
73,809 ac
Wahluke West
31,361 ac
Wahluke East
29,529 ac
Saddle Mountain
24,054 ac
Ringold
2,905 ac
Columbia River Corridor
1,858 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Ringold
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,905 —
Saddle Mountain
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 24,054 —
Wahluke East
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 29,529 —
Columbia River Corridor
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,858 —
Rattlesnake
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 73,809 —
Wahluke West
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 31,361 —

Hanford Reach National Monument by the numbers

With about 56,487 huntable acres, Hanford Reach National Monument ranks #1 of 14 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Washington and #42 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 35% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Wahluke East (29,529 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Ringold, covers 2,905 acres.

3 units totaling 107,028 acres are closed to hunting (Columbia River Corridor, Rattlesnake, and Wahluke West). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Hanford Reach National Monument

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Washington 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split

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
  • 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 Hanford Reach National Monument

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to Hanford Reach National Monument

Navigate

Destination: Hanford Reach National Monument (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.68132, -119.38135
DMS
46°40′52.8″N 119°22′52.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Othello, WA14 mi SW of town
  • Moses Lake, WA31 mi S of town
  • Kennewick, WA35 mi N of town
  • Yakima, WA54 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • PSC Tri-Cities (Pasco)32 mi
  • YKM Yakima Air Terminal56 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 Hanford Reach National Monument

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, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM7:39 PM13h 24m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:11 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM6:39 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM6:12 PM10h 59m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM4:44 PM10h 06m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM4:25 PM9h 27m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM4:12 PM8h 52m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM4:10 PM8h 35m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:11 AM7:41 AM4:18 PM8h 37m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:08 AM7:38 AM4:34 PM8h 56m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:52 AM7:22 AM4:58 PM9h 36m

Computed for 46.681, -119.381 (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.

Guides for hunting Hanford Reach National Monument

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…

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…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

Hanford Reach National Monument FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Hanford Reach National Monument?

Yes. Hanford Reach National Monument offers hunting in 3 units (56,487 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Hanford Reach National Monument?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Hanford Reach National Monument. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Hanford Reach National Monument?

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

Where is Hanford Reach National Monument located?

Hanford Reach National Monument is in Grant County, Washington, about 14 miles SW of Othello, WA (straight-line). GPS: 46.68132, -119.38135.

What are legal shooting hours at Hanford Reach National Monument?

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

Columbia NWR

Adams County, WA · 15 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

13.5K huntable acres

Mcnary NWR

Walla Walla County, WA · 44 mi SE

2 open11 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

13.1K huntable acres

Toppenish NWR

Yakima County, WA · 53 mi SW

8 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

881 huntable acres

Umatilla NWR

Morrow County, OR · 55 mi S

5 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Cold Springs NWR

Umatilla County, OR · 58 mi S

2 open3 special
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

3.1K huntable acres

Mckay Creek NWR

Umatilla County, OR · 81 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🎣

620 huntable acres

All refuges in Washington →

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