National Wildlife Refuge · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

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

Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge lies in Dunn County, North Dakota, with about 2,952 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
3KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Lake Ilo 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 Ilo NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 3,929 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed3,929 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 3,929 —

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
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Lake Ilo NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The refuge is open sunrise to sunset. Portions of Lake Ilo are open for fishing. Boat fishing is open May 1-September 30. Motors are restricted to idle speed only. Shoreline fishing is open year-round.

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

How to get to Lake Ilo NWR

Navigate

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

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Decimal
47.34144, -102.67137
DMS
47°20′29.2″N 102°40′16.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Dickinson, ND32 mi N of town
  • Garrison, ND62 mi W of town
  • Williston, ND71 mi SE of town
  • Sidney, MT74 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • MOT Minot Intl91 mi
  • BIS Bismarck Municipal99 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 Ilo 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, 20265:38 AM6:08 AM7:33 PM13h 25m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM7:05 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM6:32 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:05 PM10h 58m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM4:35 PM10h 03m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM4:16 PM9h 23m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM4:03 PM8h 47m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM4:00 PM8h 30m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:07 AM7:37 AM4:09 PM8h 32m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:03 AM7:33 AM4:25 PM8h 52m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:50 PM9h 32m

Computed for 47.341, -102.671 (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.

Lake Ilo NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lake Ilo NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Lake Ilo NWR?

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

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

Where is Lake Ilo NWR located?

Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge is in Dunn County, North Dakota, about 32 miles N of Dickinson, ND (straight-line). GPS: 47.34144, -102.67137.

What are legal shooting hours at Lake Ilo 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

Mclean NWR

McLean County, ND · 46 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

342 huntable acres

Shell Lake NWR

Mountrail County, ND · 64 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

White Lake NWR

Slope County, ND · 65 mi SW

1 special
🦌🦃🐦🐇

1K huntable acres

Audubon WMD

McLean County, ND · 69 mi E

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

26.2K huntable acres

Audubon NWR

McLean County, ND · 72 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

3.2K huntable acres

Stewart Lake NWR

Slope County, ND · 77 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

638 huntable acres

All refuges in North Dakota →

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