National Wildlife Refuge · Oregon · FWS Region 1

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge is located in Clatsop County, Oregon, with about 13,080 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 24 mapped hunt units: 20 open under general rules and 4 closed, covering about 11,988 huntable acres.

20 open units4 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
24hunt units
12Khuntable acres
13.1KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Lewis and Clark 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 Lewis and Clark NWR

Hunting opportunities include waterfowl and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing and tidal / saltwater fishing.

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge is a group of small islands near the mouth of the Columbia River before it meets the Pacific Ocean.

WaterfowlDucks, 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 Oregon regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (24)

Acreage by status
Open: 11,988 (92%)Closed: 1,098 (8%)12Khuntable acres
  • Open11,988 ac 92%
  • Closed1,098 ac 8%
Units by size (acres)
Lois Island
2,181 ac
Russian Island
1,350 ac
Karlson Island
1,115 ac
Welch Island
1,050 ac
Marsh Island
1,047 ac
Quinns Island
849 ac
Horseshoe Island
716 ac
Miller Sands
638 ac
McGregor Island
554 ac
Miller Sands West
519 ac
Snag Islands
435 ac
Green Island
370 ac
Karlson Dike
314 ac
Seal Island
305 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Brush Island Open 205 —
East Grassy Island Open 175 —
Fitzpatrick Island Open 48 —
Goose Island Open 49 —
Green Island Open 370 —
Horseshoe Island Open 716 —
Karlson Island Open 1,115 —
Lois Island Open 2,181 —
Marsh Island Open 1,047 —
McGregor Island Open 554 —
Miller Sands West Open 519 —
Minaker Island Open 252 —
Quinns Island Open 849 —
Russian Island Open 1,350 —
Seal Island Open 305 —
Snag Islands Open 435 —
Tronson Island Open 212 —
Welch Island Open 1,050 —
West Grassy Island Open 272 —
Woody Island Open 283 —
Emerald Heights Closed 70 —
Karlson Dike Closed 314 —
Miller Sands Closed 638 —
Tongue Point Closed 77 —

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 Oregon hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Oregon Department of Fish 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 Lewis and Clark NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

Refuge is accessible by boat only. Refuge waters include the Columbia River. Fishing season is generally open for at least one species year-round. Species include Chinook and coho salmon and sturgeon.

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

How to get to Lewis and Clark NWR

Navigate

Destination: Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.18454, -123.71177
DMS
46°11′04.3″N 123°42′42.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Astoria, OR5.7 mi E of town
  • Ilwaco, WA18 mi SE of town
  • Tillamook, OR50 mi N of town
  • Aberdeen, WA55 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • PDX Portland Intl67 mi
  • SEA Seattle–Tacoma110 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 Lewis and Clark NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Los Angeles local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM7:56 PM13h 22m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM7:28 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM6:57 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM6:30 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM5:02 PM10h 08m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM4:44 PM9h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:06 AM7:36 AM4:31 PM8h 55m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:20 AM7:50 AM4:29 PM8h 39m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:27 AM7:57 AM4:38 PM8h 41m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:23 AM7:53 AM4:53 PM8h 60m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:08 AM7:38 AM5:17 PM9h 39m

Computed for 46.185, -123.712 (PDT / 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.

Lewis and Clark NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lewis and Clark NWR?

Yes. Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 20 units (11,988 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Lewis and Clark NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Lewis and Clark 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 Lewis and Clark NWR?

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

Where is Lewis and Clark NWR located?

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge is in Clatsop County, Oregon, about 6 miles E of Astoria, OR (straight-line). GPS: 46.18454, -123.71177.

What are legal shooting hours at Lewis and Clark 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

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer

Wahkiakum County, WA · 15 mi E

5 open1 special5 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Willapa NWR

Pacific County, WA · 22 mi NW

5 open4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

14.5K huntable acres

Abernathy FTC

Cowlitz County, WA · 27 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Cape Meares NWR

Tillamook County, OR · 50 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Three Arch Rocks NWR

Tillamook County, OR · 51 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Ridgefield NWR

Clark County, WA · 53 mi SE

1 special5 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

920 huntable acres

All refuges in Oregon →

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