National Wildlife Refuge · South Dakota · FWS Region 6

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge is located in Bennett County, South Dakota, with about 16,572 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 8 mapped hunt units: 7 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 11,419 huntable acres.

7 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
8hunt units
11.4Khuntable acres
16.6KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Lacreek 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 Lacreek NWR

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

Diversity is the name of the game at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge. Hunters can pursue up to 18 species on more than 11,000 acres of diverse habitat types.

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 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 South Dakota regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (8)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 11,419 (69%)Closed: 5,152 (31%)11.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations11,419 ac 69%
  • Closed5,152 ac 31%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
5,152 ac
Pool 9
3,725 ac
Brown Ranch
2,613 ac
Pool 10
2,154 ac
South Sandhills
1,471 ac
West Sandhills
1,075 ac
Little White River Rec Area
222 ac
Marty Quarter
159 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Brown Ranch
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,613 —
Little White River Rec Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 222 —
Marty Quarter
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 159 —
Pool 9
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,725 —
Pool 10
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,154 —
South Sandhills
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,471 —
West Sandhills
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,075 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 5,152 —

Lacreek NWR by the numbers

With about 11,419 huntable acres, Lacreek NWR ranks #7 of 11 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in South Dakota and #173 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 69% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Pool 9 (3,725 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Marty Quarter, covers 159 acres.

1 unit totaling 5,152 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 16,572 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 3,369 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Lacreek NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. South 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 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 South Dakota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
  • 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 Lacreek NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The fishing season is open year-round, with ice fishing in winter, throughout all refuge lakes. Available species include rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and sauger.

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

How to get to Lacreek NWR

Navigate

Destination: Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.09731, -101.58622
DMS
43°05′50.3″N 101°35′10.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Martin, SD8.8 mi SE of town
  • Valentine, NE55 mi W of town
  • Alliance, NE95 mi NE of town
  • Rapid City, SD107 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • RAP Rapid City Regional99 mi
  • PIR Pierre Regional110 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 Lacreek 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, 20265:39 AM6:09 AM7:23 PM13h 14m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM6:58 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM6:29 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:05 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:49 AM6:19 AM4:40 PM10h 20m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM4:24 PM9h 46m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM4:13 PM9h 16m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM4:12 PM9h 01m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:20 PM9h 03m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM4:34 PM9h 20m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:32 AM7:02 AM4:56 PM9h 54m

Computed for 43.097, -101.586 (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.

Guides for hunting Lacreek 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…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

Lacreek NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lacreek NWR?

Yes. Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 7 units (11,419 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Lacreek NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Lacreek 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 Lacreek NWR?

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

Where is Lacreek NWR located?

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge is in Bennett County, South Dakota, about 9 miles SE of Martin, SD (straight-line). GPS: 43.09731, -101.58622.

What are legal shooting hours at Lacreek 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

Fort Niobrara NWR

Cherry County, NE · 60 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

5.1K huntable acres

Valentine NWR

Cherry County, NE · 68 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

70.9K huntable acres

Crescent Lake NWR

Garden County, NE · 103 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

41.9K huntable acres

John W. and Louise Seier NWR

Rock County, NE · 118 mi SE

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

2.4K huntable acres

North Platte NWR

Scotts Bluff County, NE · 128 mi SW

2 special2 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

1.5K huntable acres

Bear Butte NWR

Meade County, SD · 132 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

402 huntable acres

All refuges in South Dakota →

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