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 Open 1,042 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Stateline - OR Open 152 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Casey Pond Blinds Special regs 3.4 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Crescent Island Special regs 8.1 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Headquarters Special regs 1,584 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Millet Pond Special regs 67 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Peninsula Special regs 902 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
River Special regs 6,282 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Stateline - WA Special regs 233 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Two Rivers Special regs 446 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Villard Ponds Special regs 378 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Wallula Special regs 1,855 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Woodland Pond Special regs 98 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Badger Island Closed 41 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Casey Pond Closed 210 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Closed to Hunting Closed 2,396 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Foundation Island Closed 15 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.
Strawberry Island Closed 128 — 🧒 Offered in December; apply by mail by early September.

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.

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 September 29, 2026.