National Fish Hatchery · Colorado · FWS Region 6

Leadville National Fish Hatchery Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Leadville National Fish Hatchery is located in Lake County, Colorado, with about 3,071 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open under general rules, covering about 3,071 huntable acres.

1 open unitPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
3.1Khuntable acres
3.1KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Leadville NFH 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 Leadville NFH

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Leadville National Fish Hatchery is open for hunting in accordance with Colorado Parks and Wildlife hunting regulations.

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 Colorado regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Open: 3,071 (100%)3.1Khuntable acres
  • Open3,071 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station
Show on map · Directions		 Open 3,071 Required
Special Use Permit		 Waterfowl hunting and Fishing in sedimentation ponds and Evergreen Lakes

Leadville NFH by the numbers

With about 3,071 huntable acres, Leadville NFH ranks #7 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Colorado and #300 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 Station (3,071 acres). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

When to hunt Leadville NFH

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Colorado 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

Required

Waterfowl hunting and Fishing in sedimentation ponds and Evergreen Lakes

Type: Special Use Permit

You'll also need

  • A valid Colorado hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Colorado Parks and Wildlife
  • 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 Leadville NFH

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Leadville National Fish Hatchery provides exciting visitor opportunities. The hatchery grounds are open to the public for hiking and wildlife viewing. Fishing is allowed on Rock Creek, about a one-mile hike from the hatchery compound.

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

How to get to Leadville NFH

Navigate

Destination: Leadville National Fish Hatchery (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.22074, -106.43136
DMS
39°13′14.7″N 106°25′52.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Denver, CO85 mi SW of town
  • Colorado Springs, CO91 mi W of town
  • Walden, CO105 mi S of town
  • Craig, CO108 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • COS Colorado Springs97 mi
  • DEN Denver Intl104 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 Leadville NFH

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, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:38 PM13h 05m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM7:16 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM6:50 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM6:28 PM11h 15m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM5:06 PM10h 34m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM4:52 PM10h 04m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM4:44 PM9h 38m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM4:43 PM9h 26m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:54 AM7:24 AM4:52 PM9h 27m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM5:05 PM9h 41m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM5:24 PM10h 11m

Computed for 39.221, -106.431 (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 Leadville NFH

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…

Leadville NFH FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Leadville NFH?

Yes. Leadville National Fish Hatchery offers hunting in 1 unit (3,071 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 Leadville NFH?

Yes — Leadville National Fish Hatchery requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Special Use Permit. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Leadville NFH?

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

Where is Leadville NFH located?

Leadville National Fish Hatchery is in Lake County, Colorado, about 85 miles SW of Denver, CO (straight-line). GPS: 39.22074, -106.43136.

What are legal shooting hours at Leadville NFH?

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

Hotchkiss NFH

Delta County, CO · 77 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Rocky Flats NWR

Jefferson County, CO · 80 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌

3.1K huntable acres

Two Ponds NWR

Jefferson County, CO · 82 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Arapaho NWR

Jackson County, CO · 95 mi N

2 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR

Adams County, CO · 96 mi NE

1 closed
🎣

Baca NWR

Saguache County, CO · 99 mi S

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌

45K huntable acres

All refuges in Colorado →

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