Wetland Management District · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management District lies in McHenry County, North Dakota, with about 27,378 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open under general rules, covering about 34,021 huntable acres.

1 open unit
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
34Khuntable acres
27.4KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

J. Clark Salyer WMD 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 J. Clark Salyer WMD

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

With 127 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) offering 27,000 acres of public hunting, J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management District offers a diversity of opportunities in a five-county area of north-central North Dakota.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

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

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Open: 34,021 (100%)34Khuntable acres
  • Open34,021 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 34,021 —

J. Clark Salyer WMD by the numbers

With about 34,021 huntable acres, J. Clark Salyer WMD ranks #5 of 28 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Dakota and #79 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is WPA Open (34,021 acres).

Besides 27,378 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 197,161 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Souris WPA (80 acres, 9 miles NW).

When to hunt J. Clark Salyer WMD

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Dakota 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, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

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 North Dakota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — North Dakota 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 J. Clark Salyer WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is permitted in waterfowl production areas in accordance with North Dakota state seasons.

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

How to get to J. Clark Salyer WMD

Navigate

Destination: J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
48.61739, -100.72855
DMS
48°37′02.6″N 100°43′42.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Bottineau, ND19 mi SW of town
  • Minot, ND37 mi NE of town
  • Rugby, ND38 mi NW of town
  • Kenmare, ND62 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • MOT Minot Intl35 mi
  • BIS Bismarck Municipal128 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 J. Clark Salyer WMD

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM8:27 PM13h 29m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM7:58 PM12h 41m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:10 AM7:40 AM7:24 PM11h 44m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:31 AM8:01 AM6:55 PM10h 55m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM5:25 PM9h 57m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:20 AM7:50 AM5:05 PM9h 15m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:43 AM8:13 AM4:50 PM8h 37m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:58 AM8:28 AM4:47 PM8h 19m
Fri, Jan 1, 20278:05 AM8:35 AM4:56 PM8h 21m
Fri, Jan 15, 20278:00 AM8:30 AM5:12 PM8h 42m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:43 AM8:13 AM5:38 PM9h 25m

Computed for 48.617, -100.729 (CDT / 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.

Waterfowl Production Areas managed by J. Clark Salyer WMD

This district manages 127 named WPAs totaling 27,378 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Round Lake WPAPierce County1,727
Horseshoe Lake WPAPierce County1,482
LaFromboise WPARolette County959
Christenson Lake WPAPierce County907
Mikes Peak WPAMcHenry County858
Baxstrom WPARolette County839
Wolford WPAPierce County757
Rush Lake WPAPierce County649
Ghost Valley WPARolette County609
Hurricane Lake WPAPierce County555
Eidem-Gustafson WPAMcHenry County527
Kilgore Lake WPAPierce County515
Long Lake WPAPierce County495
Holsten WPABottineau County485
Weber WPAMcHenry County481
Beatty WPABottineau County480
Connia Slough WPAMcHenry County468
Carlisle Lake WPARolette County455
Aylmer Lake WPAPierce County441
Cottonwood Lake WPAMcHenry County441
Twin Lake WPARolette County435
Herd Lake WPAPierce County377
Meyer WPAPierce County360
Black-Byrn WPAPierce County360
Spichke WPAMcHenry County358

Showing the 25 largest of 127. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting J. Clark Salyer WMD

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…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, 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…

J. Clark Salyer WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at J. Clark Salyer WMD?

Yes. J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management District offers hunting in 1 unit (34,021 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt J. Clark Salyer WMD?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for J. Clark Salyer WMD. 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 J. Clark Salyer WMD?

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

Where is J. Clark Salyer WMD located?

J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management District is in McHenry County, North Dakota, about 19 miles SW of Bottineau, ND (straight-line). GPS: 48.61739, -100.72855.

What are legal shooting hours at J. Clark Salyer WMD?

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

J. Clark Salyer NWR

McHenry County, ND · 2.7 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🐇🎣

58.9K huntable acres

Upper Souris NWR

Renville County, ND · 40 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

32K huntable acres

Des Lacs NWR

Burke County, ND · 70 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

14K huntable acres

Shell Lake NWR

Mountrail County, ND · 70 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Lake Nettie NWR

McLean County, ND · 71 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

2.1K huntable acres

Audubon NWR

McLean County, ND · 74 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

3.2K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in North Dakota →

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