National Wildlife Refuge · New Mexico · FWS Region 2

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge lies in San Miguel County, New Mexico, with about 8,713 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 2 open under general rules, 3 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 7,261 huntable acres.

2 open units3 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
7.3Khuntable acres
8.7KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Waterfowl looking for a resting place in New Mexico need reliable water. That's why Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge has created permanent lakes, ponds and marshes throughout its lands.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill crane

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow New Mexico regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Open: 6,167 (71%)Special regulations: 1,094 (13%)Closed: 1,452 (17%)7.3Khuntable acres
  • Open6,167 ac 71%
  • Special regulations1,094 ac 13%
  • Closed1,452 ac 17%
Units by size (acres)
Vegosa
4,321 ac
Gallinas
1,847 ac
Closed Area
1,452 ac
Range Unit 9
563 ac
Ag Field
365 ac
Ag Field East
166 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Gallinas
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,847 Required
Other		 Goose and dove hunts
Vegosa
Show on map · Directions		 Open 4,321 Required
Other		 Goose and dove hunts
Ag Field
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 365 Required
Other		 Goose and dove hunts
Ag Field East
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 166 Required
Other		 Goose and dove hunts
Range Unit 9
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 563 Required
Other		 Goose and dove hunts
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,452 Required
Other		 Goose and dove hunts

Las Vegas NWR by the numbers

With about 7,261 huntable acres, Las Vegas NWR ranks #5 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in New Mexico and #227 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 83% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Vegosa (4,321 acres), while the smallest, Ag Field East, covers 166 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 1,452 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Las Vegas NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. New Mexico 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, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Goose and dove hunts

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid New Mexico hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
  • 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 Las Vegas NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Las Vegas NWR.

How to get to Las Vegas NWR

Navigate

Destination: Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.53490, -105.15458
DMS
35°32′05.6″N 105°09′16.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Las Vegas, NM5.3 mi SE of town
  • Santa Fe, NM45 mi E of town
  • Albuquerque, NM90 mi E of town
  • Raton, NM102 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • ABQ Albuquerque Sunport89 mi
  • AMA Rick Husband Amarillo195 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 Las Vegas 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, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM7:29 PM12h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:09 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM6:46 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM6:26 PM11h 21m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM5:06 PM10h 45m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM4:55 PM10h 20m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM4:48 PM9h 57m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM4:48 PM9h 47m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM4:57 PM9h 48m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:09 PM9h 60m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:30 AM7:00 AM5:26 PM10h 26m

Computed for 35.535, -105.155 (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 Las Vegas 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…

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…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Las Vegas NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Las Vegas NWR?

Yes. Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (7,261 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Las Vegas NWR?

Yes — Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained mail or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Las Vegas NWR located?

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge is in San Miguel County, New Mexico, about 5 miles SE of Las Vegas, NM (straight-line). GPS: 35.53490, -105.15458.

What are legal shooting hours at Las Vegas 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

Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area

Mora County, NM · 22 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Mora NFH

Mora County, NM · 33 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Maxwell NWR

Colfax County, NM · 78 mi NE

1 closed
🎣

Valle de Oro NWR

Bernalillo County, NM · 94 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Sevilleta NWR

Socorro County, NM · 131 mi SW

4 special
🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

228K huntable acres

Alamosa NWR

Alamosa County, CO · 134 mi N

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🎣

6.8K huntable acres

All refuges in New Mexico →

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