National Wildlife Refuge · Oregon · FWS Region 1

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge lies in Lake County, Oregon, with about 278,348 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 under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 260,339 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
260Khuntable acres
278KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge 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 Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

In eastern Oregon, sagebrush stretches to the horizon, and the night skies shine without interference from city lights.

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 Oregon regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 260,339 (93%)Closed: 18,115 (7%)260Khuntable acres
  • Open260,339 ac 93%
  • Closed18,115 ac 7%
Units by size (acres)
Open
260,339 ac
Closed
18,115 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 260,339 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 18,115 —

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge by the numbers

With about 260,339 huntable acres, Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge ranks #1 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Oregon and #22 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 93% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open (260,339 acres).

1 unit totaling 18,115 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Oregon 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 Oregon hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Oregon 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 Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is allowed at Rock Creek, Guano Creek and Warner Pond. All visitors must follow refuge public use regulations, state regulations and refuge hunting and fishing regulations.

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

How to get to Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge

Navigate

Destination: Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
42.54921, -119.65558
DMS
42°32′57.2″N 119°39′20.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Lakeview, OR43 mi NE of town
  • Burns, OR78 mi SW of town
  • Alturas, CA86 mi NE of town
  • Tulelake, CA102 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • RDM Redmond (Bend)139 mi
  • MFR Rogue Valley–Medford164 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 Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge

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, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM7:35 PM13h 13m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:10 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM6:42 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:18 PM11h 08m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM4:53 PM10h 22m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM4:37 PM9h 49m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM4:27 PM9h 19m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM4:26 PM9h 05m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM4:34 PM9h 07m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:55 AM7:25 AM4:48 PM9h 23m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM5:10 PM9h 57m

Computed for 42.549, -119.656 (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 Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge

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…

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge?

Yes. Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (260,339 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 Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. 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 Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge?

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

Where is Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge located?

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge is in Lake County, Oregon, about 43 miles NE of Lakeview, OR (straight-line). GPS: 42.54921, -119.65558.

What are legal shooting hours at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge?

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

Malheur NWR

Harney County, OR · 53 mi NE

2 open2 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

67.8K huntable acres

Sheldon NWR

Humboldt County, NV · 55 mi SE

4 open2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

536K huntable acres

Modoc NWR

Modoc County, CA · 87 mi SW

2 special3 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🎣

2.3K huntable acres

Clear Lake NWR

Modoc County, CA · 87 mi SW

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️

10K huntable acres

Tule Lake NWR

Siskiyou County, CA · 105 mi SW

3 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

20.4K huntable acres

Klamath Marsh NWR

Klamath County, OR · 107 mi W

1 open1 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

11.7K huntable acres

All refuges in Oregon →

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