National Wildlife Refuge · Montana · FWS Region 6

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in Sheridan County, Montana, with about 31,329 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 22,000 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closedYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
22Khuntable acres
31.3KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Medicine Lake 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 Medicine Lake NWR

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

A mix of shortgrass prairie and wetlands creates ideal habitat for various game species at Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge amid a major agricultural area in northeastern Montana.

Youth hunting

A two-day waterfowl hunt is held.

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 craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Montana regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 22,000 (70%)Closed: 9,487 (30%)22Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations22,000 ac 70%
  • Closed9,487 ac 30%
Units by size (acres)
Area 2
14,682 ac
Closed Unit
9,487 ac
Area 1
4,033 ac
Area 3
3,285 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Area 1 Special regs 4,033 — 🧒 A two-day waterfowl hunt is held.
Area 2 Special regs 14,682 — 🧒 A two-day waterfowl hunt is held.
Area 3 Special regs 3,285 — 🧒 A two-day waterfowl hunt is held.
Closed Unit Closed 9,487 — 🧒 A two-day waterfowl hunt is held.

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 Montana hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
  • 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 Medicine Lake NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The primary fishing opportunities include boat, shore and ice fishing for northern pike in Medicine Lake (8,700 acres), Gaffney Lake (750 acres), Lake 10 (114 acres) and Lake 12 (426 acres). Fishing seasons for these lakes are year-round.

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

How to get to Medicine Lake NWR

Navigate

Destination: Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
48.45806, -104.36504
DMS
48°27′29.0″N 104°21′54.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Plentywood, MT23 mi SE of town
  • Williston, ND40 mi NW of town
  • Sidney, MT52 mi N of town
  • Crosby, ND58 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • MOT Minot Intl142 mi
  • BIS Bismarck Municipal205 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 Medicine Lake 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, 20265:43 AM6:13 AM7:42 PM13h 29m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM7:12 PM12h 40m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM6:39 PM11h 44m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM6:10 PM10h 55m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM4:40 PM9h 58m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM4:20 PM9h 16m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM4:06 PM8h 39m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM4:02 PM8h 21m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:19 AM7:49 AM4:11 PM8h 23m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:14 AM7:44 AM4:27 PM8h 43m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:57 AM7:27 AM4:53 PM9h 26m

Computed for 48.458, -104.365 (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.

Medicine Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Medicine Lake NWR?

Yes. Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (22,000 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Medicine Lake NWR?

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

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

Where is Medicine Lake NWR located?

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Sheridan County, Montana, about 23 miles SE of Plentywood, MT (straight-line). GPS: 48.45806, -104.36504.

What are legal shooting hours at Medicine Lake 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

Northeast Montana WMD

Sheridan County, MT · 4.3 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.1K huntable acres

Lake Zahl NWR

Williams County, ND · 34 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🐦

3.3K huntable acres

Crosby WMD

Divide County, ND · 56 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

18.8K huntable acres

Lostwood NWR

Burke County, ND · 88 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

26.2K huntable acres

Lostwood WMD

Burke County, ND · 91 mi E

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11K huntable acres

Shell Lake NWR

Mountrail County, ND · 105 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in Montana →

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