Northwest Montana WMD-Flathead County
Flathead County, MT · 35 mi E
!2 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
7.2K huntable acres
Lost Trail 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
Hunting at Lost Trail NWR
- Big Game
-
Waterfowl - Wild Turkey
- Upland Birds
-
Migratory Birds -
Small Game -
Feral & Exotic -
Fishing
Hunters can pursue big game, wild turkey, and upland birds here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.
The Pleasant Valley in Montana's Flathead County has long been known for its picturesque mountain setting and abundant wildlife habitat.
Youth hunting
Youth hunting is encouraged by limiting the first week of archery deer and elk season and the first week of the general deer and elk season to youths 12-14 years of age accompanied by an adult and/or guardian who is at least 21 years of age.
All refuges with youth hunts →
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 partridge
Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Montana regulations plus refuge-specific rules.
Hunt units (2)
- Open3,244 ac 41%
- Closed4,652 ac 59%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Green Show on map · Directions |
✓Open | 3,244 | Required Special Use Permit |
The disabled hunters have vehicle access to administrative roads that are normally closed to motorized access. 🧒 Youth hunting is encouraged by limiting the first week of archery deer and elk season and the… |
| Dark Green Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 4,652 | Required Special Use Permit |
The disabled hunters have vehicle access to administrative roads that are normally closed to motorized access. 🧒 Youth hunting is encouraged by limiting the first week of archery deer and elk season and the… |
Lost Trail NWR by the numbers
With about 3,244 huntable acres, Lost Trail NWR ranks #14 of 23 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Montana and #294 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 41% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is Light Green (3,244 acres). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.
1 unit totaling 4,652 acres is closed to hunting (Dark Green). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.
6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Lost Trail WPA (82 acres, 1 miles NW).
When to hunt Lost Trail 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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
🦃 Wild Turkey
🐦 Upland Birds
Permits & licenses
Refuge permit
Required
The disabled hunters have vehicle access to administrative roads that are normally closed to motorized access.
Type: Special Use Permit
How to get it:
- 📋 Other (see refuge)
You'll also need
- A valid Montana hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
- Hunter education certification where your state requires it
- The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)
Fishing at Lost Trail NWR
USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Lost Trail NWR.
How to get to Lost Trail NWR
Navigate
Destination: Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
48.17907, -114.89293- DMS
48°10′44.7″N 114°53′34.5″W
Nearest towns
- Kalispell, MT27 mi W of town
- Bonners Ferry, ID74 mi SE of town
- Coeur d'Alene, ID94 mi E of town
- Missoula, MT100 mi NW of town
Closest airports
- FCA Glacier Park Intl30 mi
- MSO Missoula Montana95 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 Lost Trail 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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:26 AM | 6:56 AM | 8:23 PM | 13h 28m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:44 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:54 PM | 12h 40m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 7:06 AM | 7:36 AM | 7:21 PM | 11h 44m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:27 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:53 PM | 10h 56m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:53 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:22 PM | 9h 59m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 7:15 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:03 PM | 9h 18m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:38 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:49 PM | 8h 41m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:53 AM | 8:23 AM | 4:46 PM | 8h 23m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:59 AM | 8:29 AM | 4:54 PM | 8h 25m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:55 AM | 8:25 AM | 5:10 PM | 8h 45m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:38 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:36 PM | 9h 28m |
Computed for 48.179, -114.893 (MDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day hunting weather
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Guides for hunting Lost Trail 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…
Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply
Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.
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…
Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather
The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…
Lost Trail NWR FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Lost Trail NWR?
Yes. Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (3,244 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, and upland birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.
Do I need a permit to hunt Lost Trail NWR?
Yes — Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Special Use Permit. Permits can be obtained other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.
Where is Lost Trail NWR located?
Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge is in Flathead County, Montana, about 27 miles W of Kalispell, MT (straight-line). GPS: 48.17907, -114.89293.
What are legal shooting hours at Lost Trail 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
Creston NFH
Flathead County, MT · 36 mi E
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Pablo NWR
Lake County, MT · 51 mi SE
✕1 closed
🎣
Swan River NWR
Lake County, MT · 51 mi E
!2 special
🦌🦆🎣
1.9K huntable acres
Ninepipe NWR
Lake County, MT · 62 mi SE
✕1 closed
🎣
Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County
Lake County, MT · 63 mi SE
!1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
3.6K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles
- Lost Trail WPA 82 ac · 1.2 mi NW
- Prongua WPA 2,465 ac · 4.6 mi W
- McGregor Meadows WPA 826 ac · 12 mi SE
- Smith Lake WPA 1,583 ac · 20 mi E
- Batavia WPA 531 ac · 22 mi E
- Trust for Public Land WPA 536 ac · 32 mi E
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.