National Wildlife Refuge · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

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

Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in Kidder County, North Dakota, with about 13,839 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations, covering about 23,197 huntable acres.

2 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
23.2Khuntable acres
13.8KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Long Lake 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 Long Lake NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Scattered over three counties in south-central North Dakota, Long Lake Wetland Management District is in an area known for its wealth of waterfowl-producing potholes and prairie grasslands.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeSmall 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 North Dakota regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 23,197 (100%)23.2Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations23,197 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Unit
20,483 ac
Bow Unit
2,715 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Bow Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,715 —
Hunt Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 20,483 —

Long Lake NWR by the numbers

With about 23,197 huntable acres, Long Lake NWR ranks #10 of 28 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Dakota and #103 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 Hunt Unit (20,483 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Bow Unit, covers 2,715 acres.

Besides 13,839 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 14,767 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Puklich WPA (316 acres, 3 miles E).

When to hunt Long Lake NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Dakota 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, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

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 Long Lake NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is allowed during state seasons. Available species include northern pike, bullhead, carp and, occasionally, walleye and perch. Fishing is poor during dry cycles and excellent during wet cycles.

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

How to get to Long Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.73448, -100.03790
DMS
46°44′04.1″N 100°02′16.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Bismarck, ND36 mi E of town
  • Jamestown, ND64 mi W of town
  • Carrington, ND65 mi SW of town
  • Mobridge, SD85 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • BIS Bismarck Municipal34 mi
  • ABR Aberdeen Regional118 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 Long Lake NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM8:22 PM13h 24m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM7:54 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM7:22 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:26 AM7:56 AM6:55 PM10h 59m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM5:26 PM10h 06m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:11 AM7:41 AM5:08 PM9h 26m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:33 AM8:03 AM4:55 PM8h 51m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:47 AM8:17 AM4:52 PM8h 35m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:54 AM8:24 AM5:01 PM8h 37m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:50 AM8:20 AM5:16 PM8h 56m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:35 AM8:05 AM5:41 PM9h 36m

Computed for 46.734, -100.038 (CDT / 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 Long Lake 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…

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…

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…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

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…

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Long Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Long Lake NWR?

Yes. Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (23,197 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Long Lake NWR?

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

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

Where is Long Lake NWR located?

Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Kidder County, North Dakota, about 36 miles E of Bismarck, ND (straight-line). GPS: 46.73448, -100.03790.

What are legal shooting hours at Long Lake 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

Long Lake WMD

Burleigh County, ND · 10 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

23.7K huntable acres

Slade NWR

Kidder County, ND · 16 mi NE

1 special
🦌🦃🐦🐇

3K huntable acres

Chase Lake NWR

Stutsman County, ND · 34 mi NE

1 special
🦌

4.4K huntable acres

Florence Lake NWR

Burleigh County, ND · 41 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

1.6K huntable acres

Chase Lake Prairie Project WMD

Stutsman County, ND · 47 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

40K huntable acres

Kulm WMD

LaMoure County, ND · 60 mi SE

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

45.1K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in North Dakota →

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