National Wildlife Refuge · Oregon · FWS Region 1

Mckay Creek National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Mckay Creek National Wildlife Refuge is located in Umatilla County, Oregon, with about 21 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: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 620 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
620huntable acres
21FWS-owned acres
5game categories

Mckay Creek 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 Mckay Creek NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

The lack of other wetland habitat between the plains and the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon makes McKay Creek National Wildlife Refuge a magnet for migratory birds.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory 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 (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 620 (34%)Closed: 1,207 (66%)620huntable acres
  • Special regulations620 ac 34%
  • Closed1,207 ac 66%
Units by size (acres)
North End
1,207 ac
South End
620 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
South End
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 620 Required
Other		 1st weekend of upland game requires permit via lottery
North End
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,207 Required
Other		 1st weekend of upland game requires permit via lottery

Mckay Creek NWR by the numbers

With about 620 huntable acres, Mckay Creek NWR ranks #11 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Oregon and #377 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 34% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is South End (620 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 1,207 acres is closed to hunting (North End). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Mckay Creek NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Oregon 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, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

1st weekend of upland game requires permit via lottery

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)

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 Mckay Creek NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is allowed on McKay Creek Reservoir from March 1-September 30. The reservoir consists of 1,300 acres of water at full pool and decreases to an average of 250 acres of water by late September.

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

How to get to Mckay Creek NWR

Navigate

Destination: Mckay Creek National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.58670, -118.78307
DMS
45°35′12.1″N 118°46′59.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Pendleton, OR5.8 mi S of town
  • Hermiston, OR30 mi SE of town
  • Walla Walla, WA39 mi SW of town
  • Kennewick, WA46 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • PSC Tri-Cities (Pasco)49 mi
  • LWS Lewiston–Nez Perce100 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 Mckay Creek 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, 20265:45 AM6:15 AM7:35 PM13h 21m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM7:08 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM6:37 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:11 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM4:43 PM10h 10m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM4:26 PM9h 33m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM4:14 PM8h 60m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM4:12 PM8h 44m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:05 AM7:35 AM4:20 PM8h 45m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:01 AM7:31 AM4:35 PM9h 04m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:59 PM9h 42m

Computed for 45.587, -118.783 (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.

Guides for hunting Mckay Creek 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…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

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…

Mckay Creek NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Mckay Creek NWR?

Yes. Mckay Creek National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (620 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Mckay Creek NWR?

Yes — Mckay Creek National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained mail or online through fws. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Mckay Creek NWR?

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

Where is Mckay Creek NWR located?

Mckay Creek National Wildlife Refuge is in Umatilla County, Oregon, about 6 miles S of Pendleton, OR (straight-line). GPS: 45.58670, -118.78307.

What are legal shooting hours at Mckay Creek 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

Cold Springs NWR

Umatilla County, OR · 26 mi NW

2 open3 special
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

3.1K huntable acres

Mcnary NWR

Walla Walla County, WA · 38 mi N

2 open11 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

13.1K huntable acres

Umatilla NWR

Morrow County, OR · 45 mi NW

5 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Hanford Reach National Monument

Grant County, WA · 81 mi N

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

56.5K huntable acres

Toppenish NWR

Yakima County, WA · 91 mi NW

8 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

881 huntable acres

Columbia NWR

Adams County, WA · 93 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

13.5K huntable acres

All refuges in Oregon →

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