National Wildlife Refuge · Alaska · FWS Region 7

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge is located in Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska, with about 1,635,318 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 open with special regulations, covering about 1,635,318 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
1.6Mhuntable acres
1.6MFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Kodiak 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 Kodiak NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing.

Kodiak Island may have the best Sitka black-tailed deer hunting in the world and incredible sea duck hunting, but when Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge is mentioned, most hunters think of one thing: Kodiak brown bear.

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 partridgeSmall 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 (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,632,779 (100%)Special regulations: 2,539 (0%)1.6Mhuntable acres
  • Open1,632,779 ac 100%
  • Special regulations2,539 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge
1,632,779 ac
O'Malley
2,539 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,632,779 —
O'Malley
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,539 —

Kodiak NWR by the numbers

With about 1,635,318 huntable acres, Kodiak NWR ranks #12 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Alaska and #12 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 Refuge (1,632,779 acres), while the smallest, O'Malley, covers 2,539 acres.

When to hunt Kodiak NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Alaska 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, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🐇 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 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 Kodiak NWR

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

Access to Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge is by chartered airplanes or boats only. The refuge is a roadless area with world-class fishing opportunities for a variety of salmon species.

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

How to get to Kodiak NWR

Navigate

Destination: Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
56.86973, -153.86211
DMS
56°52′11.0″N 153°51′43.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Kodiak, AK84 mi SW of town
  • King Salmon, AK163 mi SE of town
  • Homer, AK209 mi SW of town
  • Dillingham, AK226 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • ADQ Kodiak Airport80 mi
  • AKN King Salmon Airport162 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 Kodiak 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, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM9:15 PM13h 60m
Tue, Sep 15, 20267:14 AM7:44 AM8:37 PM12h 53m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:46 AM8:16 AM7:53 PM11h 37m
Thu, Oct 15, 20268:15 AM8:45 AM7:16 PM10h 30m
Sun, Nov 1, 20267:53 AM8:23 AM5:34 PM9h 11m
Sun, Nov 15, 20268:24 AM8:54 AM5:05 PM8h 11m
Tue, Dec 1, 20268:56 AM9:26 AM4:42 PM7h 16m
Tue, Dec 15, 20269:16 AM9:46 AM4:34 PM6h 49m
Fri, Jan 1, 20279:22 AM9:52 AM4:44 PM6h 52m
Fri, Jan 15, 20279:12 AM9:42 AM5:05 PM7h 23m
Mon, Feb 1, 20278:45 AM9:15 AM5:41 PM8h 26m

Computed for 56.870, -153.862 (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.

Guides for hunting Kodiak NWR

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…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Kodiak NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Kodiak NWR?

Yes. Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (1,635,318 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Kodiak NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Kodiak NWR. 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 Kodiak 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 Kodiak NWR located?

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge is in Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska, about 84 miles SW of Kodiak, AK (straight-line). GPS: 56.86973, -153.86211.

What are legal shooting hours at Kodiak 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 · 116 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.2M huntable acres

Alaska Peninsula NWR

Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK · 212 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

3.5M huntable acres

Kenai NWR

Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK · 271 mi NE

2 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.9M huntable acres

Togiak NWR

Bethel Census Area, AK · 306 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.3M huntable acres

Izembek NWR

Aleutians East Borough, AK · 346 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

315K huntable acres

Alaska Maritime NWR

Aleutians East Borough, AK · 439 mi W

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.5M huntable acres

All refuges in Alaska →

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