National Wildlife Refuge · Montana · FWS Region 6

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Ravalli County, Montana, Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 2,818 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, 2 open with special regulations, and 2 closed, covering about 2,304 huntable acres.

2 open units2 with special regs2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
2.3Khuntable acres
2.8KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Lee Metcalf 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 Lee Metcalf NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, and wild turkey here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

With the Bitteroot Mountains forming a dramatic backdrop worthy of postcards, Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is certainly one of the most scenic refuges in the country.

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 turkey

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

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,531 (54%)Special regulations: 773 (27%)Closed: 514 (18%)2.3Khuntable acres
  • Open1,531 ac 54%
  • Special regulations773 ac 27%
  • Closed514 ac 18%
Units by size (acres)
Archery
1,493 ac
Waterfowl
598 ac
Safety Zone
390 ac
Open River
174 ac
Wildlife Viewing
125 ac
River West
38 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Archery
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,493 —
River West
Show on map · Directions		 Open 38 —
Open River
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 174 —
Waterfowl
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 598 —
Safety Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 390 —
Wildlife Viewing
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 125 —

Lee Metcalf NWR by the numbers

With about 2,304 huntable acres, Lee Metcalf NWR ranks #16 of 23 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Montana and #317 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 82% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Archery (1,493 acres), while the smallest, River West, covers 38 acres.

2 units totaling 514 acres are closed to hunting (Safety Zone and Wildlife Viewing). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 2,818 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 7.0 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Lee Metcalf NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Montana 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, Wild Turkey
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)

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 Montana hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Montana Fish, Wildlife & 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 Lee Metcalf NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The primary fishing opportunities are the Bitterroot River and Francois Slough. The Bitterroot River (five miles) on the western boundary of the refuge can be accessed from state and city landings or the wildlife viewing area.

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

How to get to Lee Metcalf NWR

Navigate

Destination: Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.55600, -114.08537
DMS
46°33′21.6″N 114°05′07.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Stevensville, MT3.2 mi N of town
  • Missoula, MT22 mi S of town
  • Butte, MT84 mi NW of town
  • Helena, MT97 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • MSO Missoula Montana25 mi
  • FCA Glacier Park Intl121 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 Lee Metcalf 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, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM8:18 PM13h 23m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM7:50 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM7:18 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:22 AM7:52 AM6:51 PM10h 60m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM5:23 PM10h 06m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM5:04 PM9h 27m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:29 AM7:59 AM4:52 PM8h 53m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:43 AM8:13 AM4:49 PM8h 36m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:50 AM8:20 AM4:58 PM8h 38m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:46 AM8:16 AM5:13 PM8h 57m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:31 AM8:01 AM5:37 PM9h 37m

Computed for 46.556, -114.085 (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 Lee Metcalf 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…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Lee Metcalf NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lee Metcalf NWR?

Yes. Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (2,304 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, and wild turkey. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Lee Metcalf NWR?

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

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

Where is Lee Metcalf NWR located?

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is in Ravalli County, Montana, about 3 miles N of Stevensville, MT (straight-line). GPS: 46.55600, -114.08537.

What are legal shooting hours at Lee Metcalf 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

Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County

Lake County, MT · 57 mi N

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

3.6K huntable acres

Ninepipe NWR

Lake County, MT · 61 mi N

1 closed
🎣

Pablo NWR

Lake County, MT · 75 mi N

1 closed
🎣

Swan River NWR

Lake County, MT · 94 mi N

2 special
🦌🦆🎣

1.9K huntable acres

Northwest Montana WMD-Flathead County

Flathead County, MT · 105 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

7.2K huntable acres

Creston NFH

Flathead County, MT · 113 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Montana →

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