National Wildlife Refuge · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge is located in Ramsey County, North Dakota, with about 8,638 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: 2 open with special regulations, covering about 12,070 huntable acres.

2 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
12.1Khuntable acres
8.6KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Lake Alice 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 Lake Alice NWR

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.

Designated areas of Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) are open to hunting in accordance with State and Refuge-specific regulations.

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 (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 12,070 (100%)12.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations12,070 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Unit 2
7,900 ac
Unit 1
4,170 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Unit 1 Special regs 4,170 —
Unit 2 Special regs 7,900 —

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 Lake Alice NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Lake Alice offers opportunities to catch northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, and white bass. The Refuge is open to ice fishing according to state and Refuge-specific regulations.

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

How to get to Lake Alice NWR

Navigate

Destination: Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
48.33547, -99.11255
DMS
48°20′07.7″N 99°06′45.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Devils Lake, ND19 mi NW of town
  • Rugby, ND40 mi E of town
  • Carrington, ND61 mi N of town
  • Bottineau, ND70 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • GFK Grand Forks Intl93 mi
  • MOT Minot Intl100 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 Lake Alice NWR

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, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM8:20 PM13h 28m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM7:51 PM12h 40m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM7:18 PM11h 44m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:24 AM7:54 AM6:49 PM10h 56m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM5:19 PM9h 59m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM4:59 PM9h 17m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:35 AM8:05 AM4:45 PM8h 40m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:50 AM8:20 AM4:42 PM8h 22m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:57 AM8:27 AM4:51 PM8h 24m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:52 AM8:22 AM5:07 PM8h 44m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:36 AM8:06 AM5:33 PM9h 27m

Computed for 48.335, -99.113 (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.

Lake Alice NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lake Alice NWR?

Yes. Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (12,070 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 Lake Alice NWR?

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

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

Where is Lake Alice NWR located?

Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge is in Ramsey County, North Dakota, about 19 miles NW of Devils Lake, ND (straight-line). GPS: 48.33547, -99.11255.

What are legal shooting hours at Lake Alice 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

Devils Lake WMD

Ramsey County, ND · 19 mi SE

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

52.7K huntable acres

White Horse Hill National Game Preserve

Benson County, ND · 25 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

J. Clark Salyer NWR

McHenry County, ND · 74 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🐇🎣

58.9K huntable acres

Arrowwood WMD

Stutsman County, ND · 75 mi S

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6.3K huntable acres

J. Clark Salyer WMD

McHenry County, ND · 77 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

34K huntable acres

Arrowwood NWR

Stutsman County, ND · 82 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

12.7K 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 September 29, 2026.