National Wildlife Refuge · Washington · FWS Region 1

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Wahkiakum County, Washington, Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 5,968 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Oregon. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 11 mapped hunt units: 5 open under general rules, 1 open with special regulations, and 5 closed, covering about 3,879 huntable acres.

5 open units1 with special regs5 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
11hunt units
3.9Khuntable acres
6KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer 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 Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer

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

At many national wildlife refuges, white-tailed deer hunting is important to help conserve habitat and keep deer populations in check.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsMigratory 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 (11)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,941 (33%)Special regulations: 1,938 (32%)Closed: 2,089 (35%)3.9Khuntable acres
  • Open1,941 ac 33%
  • Special regulations1,938 ac 32%
  • Closed2,089 ac 35%
Units by size (acres)
Mainland
1,938 ac
Tenasillahe
1,936 ac
Hunting
824 ac
Wallace
561 ac
Crims
504 ac
Westport Closed
135 ac
Price
43 ac
Closed Area Hunting - OR
13 ac
Westport Hunting
10 ac
Closed Area Hunting - WA
4.0 ac
Closed Area Price
2.0 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Crims Open 504 —
Hunting Open 824 —
Price Open 43 —
Wallace Open 561 —
Westport Hunting Open 10 —
Mainland Special regs 1,938 —
Closed Area Hunting - OR Closed 13 —
Closed Area Hunting - WA Closed 4.0 —
Closed Area Price Closed 2.0 —
Tenasillahe Closed 1,936 —
Westport Closed Closed 135 —

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 Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include Elochoman and Columbia Rivers. Fishing season is year-round. Available species include steelhead, Chinook and coho salmon, largemouth bass and sturgeon.

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

How to get to Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer

Navigate

Destination: Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.24915, -123.41800
DMS
46°14′56.9″N 123°25′04.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Astoria, OR20 mi E of town
  • Ilwaco, WA30 mi E of town
  • Aberdeen, WA54 mi S of town
  • Vancouver, WA56 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • PDX Portland Intl60 mi
  • SEA Seattle–Tacoma98 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 Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer

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, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM7:55 PM13h 22m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM7:27 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:56 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:59 AM7:29 AM6:29 PM11h 00m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM5:01 PM10h 08m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM4:43 PM9h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:05 AM7:35 AM4:30 PM8h 55m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:19 AM7:49 AM4:28 PM8h 39m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:26 AM7:56 AM4:36 PM8h 40m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:22 AM7:52 AM4:51 PM8h 59m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:07 AM7:37 AM5:16 PM9h 38m

Computed for 46.249, -123.418 (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.

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer?

Yes. Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer offers hunting in 6 units (3,879 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer. 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 Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer?

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

Where is Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer located?

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer is in Wahkiakum County, Washington, about 20 miles E of Astoria, OR (straight-line). GPS: 46.24915, -123.41800.

What are legal shooting hours at Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer?

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

Abernathy FTC

Cowlitz County, WA · 13 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Lewis and Clark NWR

Clatsop County, OR · 15 mi W

20 open4 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

12K huntable acres

Willapa NWR

Pacific County, WA · 30 mi NW

5 open4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

14.5K huntable acres

Ridgefield NWR

Clark County, WA · 45 mi SE

1 special5 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

920 huntable acres

Grays Harbor NWR

Grays Harbor County, WA · 56 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Cape Meares NWR

Tillamook County, OR · 59 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Washington →

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