National Wildlife Refuge · Wyoming · FWS Region 6

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

Located in Albany County, Wyoming, Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 1,637 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 1,650 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closed
3hunt units
1.7Khuntable acres
1.6KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Hutton 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

Hunting at Hutton Lake NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in a high-plains ecosystem known as the Laramie Basin. It is a high-elevation, dry grassland surrounded by mountains in the southern part of the Laramie Plains.

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

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,650 (83%)Closed: 340 (17%)1.7Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,650 ac 83%
  • Closed340 ac 17%
Units by size (acres)
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open, Excluding Waterfowl Special regs 901 —
Open, Waterfowl Only Special regs 750 —
No Hunting Closed 340 —

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 Wyoming hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Wyoming Game and Fish Department
  • 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 Hutton Lake NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Hutton Lake NWR.

How to get to Hutton Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Decimal
41.17757, -105.71583
DMS
41°10′39.3″N 105°42′57.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Laramie, WY11 mi SW of town
  • Walden, CO43 mi NE of town
  • Cheyenne, WY47 mi W of town
  • Fort Collins, CO52 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • DEN Denver Intl106 mi
  • CPR Casper/Natrona County126 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 Hutton Lake NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Denver local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM7:38 PM13h 10m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:14 PM12h 32m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM6:46 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM6:23 PM11h 11m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM5:00 PM10h 27m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM4:45 PM9h 55m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM4:35 PM9h 27m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM4:34 PM9h 14m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM4:43 PM9h 15m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM4:56 PM9h 31m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:17 PM10h 03m

Computed for 41.178, -105.716 (MDT / 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.

Hutton Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Hutton Lake NWR?

Yes. Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (1,650 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Hutton Lake NWR?

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

Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Albany County, Wyoming, about 11 miles SW of Laramie, WY (straight-line). GPS: 41.17757, -105.71583.

What are legal shooting hours at Hutton 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

Wyoming Toad Conservation Area

Albany County, WY · 1.6 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Mortenson Lake NWR

Albany County, WY · 5.4 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Bamforth NWR

Albany County, WY · 13 mi N

2 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇

1.2K huntable acres

Arapaho NWR

Jackson County, CO · 52 mi SW

2 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Saratoga NFH

Carbon County, WY · 60 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Rocky Flats NWR

Jefferson County, CO · 94 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌

3.1K huntable acres

All refuges in Wyoming →

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