Hunt unit · Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

S. Malheur Lake Hunt Unit Map & Access

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The S. Malheur Lake unit is one of 8 mapped hunt units on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, OR. It covers approximately 6,397 acres and is listed as “open to hunting” for 2026–2027. Hunting generally follows state seasons and bag limits, along with general refuge rules.

Navigate to unit Refuge overview Official hunt info ↗
6,397acres
Openstatus 2026–27
Norefuge permit
Harney Countycounty

S. Malheur Lake map

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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
Downloads (whole refuge):KMLGPX

Rules & permits for this unit

Status: Open to hunting

Hunting follows Oregon seasons, bag limits and licensing, plus general National Wildlife Refuge rules.

Game at Malheur NWR

Species listed for the refuge as a whole — a special-regulation unit may be limited to certain species. Confirm in the hunt brochure.

Getting to the S. Malheur Lake unit

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Destination: center of the S. Malheur Lake unit

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Decimal
43.30963, -118.82511
DMS
43°18′34.7″N 118°49′30.4″W

Nearest towns

  • Burns, OR22 mi SE of town
  • Ontario, OR106 mi SW of town
  • Lakeview, OR109 mi NE of town

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is a point inside the unit polygon, not necessarily a parking area or legal access point. Use satellite view to find roads, gates and designated parking, and respect closed areas and private inholdings.

Shooting hours at this unit

Today at S. Malheur Lake

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, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM7:33 PM13h 15m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:07 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM6:38 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:14 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM4:48 PM10h 19m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM4:32 PM9h 45m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:21 PM9h 14m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM4:20 PM9h 00m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:57 AM7:27 AM4:28 PM9h 02m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:54 AM7:24 AM4:43 PM9h 18m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:41 AM7:11 AM5:05 PM9h 53m

Computed for 43.310, -118.825 (PDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

Weather forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Other units at Malheur NWR

UnitStatusAcresPermit
BoundaryOpen2,588—
Buena VistaSpecial regs36,244—
N. Malheur LakeSpecial regs22,579—
Double OClosed19,172—
Harney/Mud LakesClosed45,639—
P RanchClosed25,405—
Safety ZonesClosed30,046—

Back to Malheur NWR →