National Wildlife Refuge · Alaska · FWS Region 7

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is located in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, with about 1,943,116 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 2 open under general rules, 2 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 1,938,387 huntable acres.

2 open units2 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
1.9Mhuntable acres
1.9MFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Kenai 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
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Kenai NWR

Hunting opportunities include 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, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Kenai Peninsula is internationally famous for its brown bears, which come to the rivers each summer to feed on migrating salmon. In addition to brown bear, hunters come here for a variety of other large game, including moose.

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 Alaska regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Open: 134,199 (7%)Special regulations: 1,804,189 (93%)Closed: 4,735 (0%)1.9Mhuntable acres
  • Open134,199 ac 7%
  • Special regulations1,804,189 ac 93%
  • Closed4,735 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge
1,781,872 ac
Swanson River
95,730 ac
Skilak
38,468 ac
Safety Area
22,316 ac
Administrative
4,735 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Skilak Open 38,468 Required
Special Use Permit		 Hunting Black Bears over bait stations, Hunting Black Bears with aid or use of a dog
Swanson River Open 95,730 Required
Special Use Permit		 Hunting Black Bears over bait stations, Hunting Black Bears with aid or use of a dog
Refuge Special regs 1,781,872 Required
Special Use Permit		 Hunting Black Bears over bait stations, Hunting Black Bears with aid or use of a dog
Safety Area Special regs 22,316 Required
Special Use Permit		 Hunting Black Bears over bait stations, Hunting Black Bears with aid or use of a dog
Administrative Closed 4,735 Required
Special Use Permit		 Hunting Black Bears over bait stations, Hunting Black Bears with aid or use of a dog

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Hunting Black Bears over bait stations, Hunting Black Bears with aid or use of a dog

Type: Special Use Permit

How to get it:

  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

  • A valid Alaska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  • 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 Kenai NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge contains ponds, thousands of lakes, several major rivers and numerous streams. Estuarine areas limited to the remote Chickaloon River flats on Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet. Rivers include the Russian and the upper Kenai.

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

How to get to Kenai NWR

Navigate

Destination: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
60.37397, -150.48218
DMS
60°22′26.3″N 150°28′55.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Soldotna, AK21 mi E of town
  • Kenai, AK29 mi SE of town
  • Anchorage, AK62 mi S of town
  • Homer, AK63 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • ENA Kenai Municipal29 mi
  • ANC Anchorage Ted Stevens57 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 Kenai NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM9:10 PM14h 17m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:56 AM7:26 AM8:27 PM13h 01m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:34 AM8:04 AM7:38 PM11h 33m
Thu, Oct 15, 20268:09 AM8:39 AM6:55 PM10h 16m
Sun, Nov 1, 20267:53 AM8:23 AM5:07 PM8h 44m
Sun, Nov 15, 20268:30 AM9:00 AM4:33 PM7h 33m
Tue, Dec 1, 20269:08 AM9:38 AM4:03 PM6h 25m
Tue, Dec 15, 20269:32 AM10:02 AM3:51 PM5h 50m
Fri, Jan 1, 20279:37 AM10:07 AM4:01 PM5h 54m
Fri, Jan 15, 20279:23 AM9:53 AM4:27 PM6h 34m
Mon, Feb 1, 20278:49 AM9:19 AM5:10 PM7h 50m

Computed for 60.374, -150.482 (AKDT / 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.

Kenai NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Kenai NWR?

Yes. Kenai National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (1,938,387 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 Kenai NWR?

Yes — Kenai National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Special Use Permit. Permits can be obtained other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Kenai NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Kenai NWR located?

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, about 21 miles E of Soldotna, AK (straight-line). GPS: 60.37397, -150.48218.

What are legal shooting hours at Kenai 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

Becharof NWR

Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK · 260 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.2M huntable acres

Kodiak NWR

Kodiak Island Borough, AK · 271 mi SW

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🐦🐇🎣

1.6M huntable acres

Nowitna NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 314 mi N

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.9M huntable acres

Tetlin NWR

Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK · 326 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

728K huntable acres

Innoko NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 329 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4M huntable acres

Togiak NWR

Bethel Census Area, AK · 349 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.3M huntable acres

All refuges in Alaska →

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