National Wildlife Refuge · New Mexico · FWS Region 2

Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge lies in Colfax County, New Mexico, with about 2,747 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
2.7KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Maxwell 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 Maxwell NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 3,637 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed3,637 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Closed Closed 3,637 —

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 New Mexico hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Maxwell NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Lake 13 (300 acres) on the refuge offers rainbow trout, channel catfish, yellow perch and largemouth bass. Fishing season is March 1-October 31. Small boats (trolling speed only) are allowed on Lake 13.

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

How to get to Maxwell NWR

Navigate

Destination: Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
36.57125, -104.58428
DMS
36°34′16.5″N 104°35′03.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Raton, NM24 mi S of town
  • Las Vegas, NM77 mi NE of town
  • Alamosa, CO94 mi SE of town
  • Santa Fe, NM97 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • COS Colorado Springs155 mi
  • ABQ Albuquerque Sunport155 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 Maxwell 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, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM7:28 PM12h 60m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM7:07 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM6:43 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM6:23 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM5:03 PM10h 42m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM4:50 PM10h 15m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM4:43 PM9h 52m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM4:43 PM9h 41m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM4:52 PM9h 42m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:04 PM9h 55m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:30 AM7:00 AM5:22 PM10h 22m

Computed for 36.571, -104.584 (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.

Maxwell NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Maxwell NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Maxwell NWR?

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

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

Where is Maxwell NWR located?

Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge is in Colfax County, New Mexico, about 24 miles S of Raton, NM (straight-line). GPS: 36.57125, -104.58428.

What are legal shooting hours at Maxwell 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

Mora NFH

Mora County, NM · 57 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area

Mora County, NM · 57 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Las Vegas NWR

San Miguel County, NM · 78 mi SW

2 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️

7.3K huntable acres

Alamosa NWR

Alamosa County, CO · 88 mi NW

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🎣

6.8K huntable acres

Monte Vista NWR

Rio Grande County, CO · 105 mi NW

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇

11.2K huntable acres

Baca NWR

Saguache County, CO · 112 mi NW

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌

45K huntable acres

All refuges in New Mexico →

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