National Wildlife Refuge · Washington · FWS Region 1

Mcnary National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Mcnary National Wildlife Refuge lies in Walla Walla County, Washington, with about 15,841 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Oregon. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 18 mapped hunt units: 2 open under general rules, 11 open with special regulations, and 5 closed, covering about 13,051 huntable acres.

2 open units11 with special regs5 closedYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
18hunt units
13.1Khuntable acres
15.8KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Mcnary 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 Mcnary NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

In late fall and winter, the backwaters of McNary National Wildlife Refuge echo with the quacks of mallard and the honks of Canada goose.

Youth hunting

Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland 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 Washington regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (18)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,194 (8%)Special regulations: 11,857 (75%)Closed: 2,790 (18%)13.1Khuntable acres
  • Open1,194 ac 8%
  • Special regulations11,857 ac 75%
  • Closed2,790 ac 18%
Units by size (acres)
River
6,282 ac
Closed to Hunting
2,396 ac
Wallula
1,855 ac
Headquarters
1,584 ac
Juniper Canyon
1,042 ac
Peninsula
902 ac
Two Rivers
446 ac
Villard Ponds
378 ac
Stateline - WA
233 ac
Casey Pond
210 ac
Stateline - OR
152 ac
Strawberry Island
128 ac
Woodland Pond
98 ac
Millet Pond
67 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Juniper Canyon
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,042 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Stateline - OR
Show on map · Directions		 Open 152 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Casey Pond Blinds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3.4 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Crescent Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 8.1 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Headquarters
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,584 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Millet Pond
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 67 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Peninsula
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 902 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
River
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 6,282 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Stateline - WA
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 233 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Two Rivers
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 446 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Villard Ponds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 378 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Wallula
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,855 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Woodland Pond
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 98 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Badger Island
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 41 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Casey Pond
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 210 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Closed to Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,396 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Foundation Island
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 15 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Strawberry Island
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 128 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.

Mcnary NWR by the numbers

With about 13,051 huntable acres, Mcnary NWR ranks #5 of 14 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Washington and #150 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 82% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is River (6,282 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Casey Pond Blinds, covers 3.4 acres.

5 units totaling 2,790 acres are closed to hunting (Badger Island, Casey Pond, Closed to Hunting, Foundation Island, and Strawberry Island). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Mcnary NWR

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

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 Washington hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Washington 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 Mcnary NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters open to fishing include select sloughs and ponds, and parts of the Columbia, Snake and Walla Walla Rivers. Available species include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, yellow perch, catfish, walleye and salmon.

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

How to get to Mcnary NWR

Navigate

Destination: Mcnary National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.11878, -118.94837
DMS
46°07′07.6″N 118°56′54.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Kennewick, WA11 mi SE of town
  • Hermiston, OR25 mi NE of town
  • Walla Walla, WA29 mi W of town
  • Pendleton, OR32 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • PSC Tri-Cities (Pasco)13 mi
  • YKM Yakima Air Terminal82 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 Mcnary 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 AM7:37 PM13h 22m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM7:09 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM6:38 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM6:11 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM4:43 PM10h 08m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM4:25 PM9h 30m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM4:13 PM8h 56m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:01 AM7:31 AM4:10 PM8h 40m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:07 AM7:37 AM4:19 PM8h 41m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:04 AM7:34 AM4:34 PM9h 00m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM4:58 PM9h 39m

Computed for 46.119, -118.948 (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 Mcnary 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…

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…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

Mcnary NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Mcnary NWR?

Yes. Mcnary National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 13 units (13,051 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Mcnary NWR?

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

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

Where is Mcnary NWR located?

Mcnary National Wildlife Refuge is in Walla Walla County, Washington, about 11 miles SE of Kennewick, WA (straight-line). GPS: 46.11878, -118.94837.

What are legal shooting hours at Mcnary 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 · 20 mi SW

2 open3 special
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

3.1K huntable acres

Umatilla NWR

Morrow County, OR · 34 mi SW

5 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Mckay Creek NWR

Umatilla County, OR · 38 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🎣

620 huntable acres

Hanford Reach National Monument

Grant County, WA · 44 mi NW

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

56.5K huntable acres

Columbia NWR

Adams County, WA · 55 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

13.5K huntable acres

Toppenish NWR

Yakima County, WA · 68 mi W

8 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

881 huntable acres

All refuges in Washington →

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