National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

Modoc National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Modoc National Wildlife Refuge is located in Modoc County, California, with about 7,100 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 3 closed, covering about 2,294 huntable acres.

2 with special regs3 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
2.3Khuntable acres
7.1KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Modoc 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 Modoc NWR

Hunters can pursue waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds here, 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

There are many fine public duck hunting opportunities on national wildlife refuges nationwide, but certain hunting units at Modoc National Wildlife Refuge have some of the highest success rates on public marshes anywhere.

Youth hunting

A special waterfowl hunt and pheasant hunt are held each fall for youth hunters.

All refuges with youth hunts →
WaterfowlDucks, 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 California regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 2,294 (31%)Closed: 5,048 (69%)2.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations2,294 ac 31%
  • Closed5,048 ac 69%
Units by size (acres)
Closed Tract
3,745 ac
Westside Tract
2,154 ac
Dorris Reservoir
813 ac
Godfrey Tract
490 ac
Grandma Tract
140 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Grandma Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 140 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting on opening weekend requires hunters who have been selected via a Service run drawing to receive a permit.…
🧒 A special waterfowl hunt and pheasant hunt are held each fall for youth hunters.
Westside Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,154 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting on opening weekend requires hunters who have been selected via a Service run drawing to receive a permit.…
🧒 A special waterfowl hunt and pheasant hunt are held each fall for youth hunters.
Closed Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 3,745 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting on opening weekend requires hunters who have been selected via a Service run drawing to receive a permit.…
🧒 A special waterfowl hunt and pheasant hunt are held each fall for youth hunters.
Dorris Reservoir
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 813 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting on opening weekend requires hunters who have been selected via a Service run drawing to receive a permit.…
🧒 A special waterfowl hunt and pheasant hunt are held each fall for youth hunters.
Godfrey Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 490 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting on opening weekend requires hunters who have been selected via a Service run drawing to receive a permit.…
🧒 A special waterfowl hunt and pheasant hunt are held each fall for youth hunters.

Modoc NWR by the numbers

With about 2,294 huntable acres, Modoc NWR ranks #11 of 21 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in California and #318 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 31% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Westside Tract (2,154 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Grandma Tract, covers 140 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

3 units totaling 5,048 acres are closed to hunting (Closed Tract, Dorris Reservoir, and Godfrey Tract). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 7,100 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 834 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Modoc NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. California 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 — Waterfowl, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 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

Required

Hunting on opening weekend requires hunters who have been selected via a Service run drawing to receive a permit. After opening weekend, there is a self check in/out permit for hunting which is available at the three hunt parking lots.

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • ✉️ By mail

You'll also need

  • A valid California hunting license and any required tags or stamps — California 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 Modoc NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include Dorris Reservoir (approximately 1,000 acres, when at full capacity), which is open to fishing February-September 30. Walk-in access only is available February 1-March 31. Boat access is open April 1-September 30.

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

How to get to Modoc NWR

Navigate

Destination: Modoc National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.46048, -120.51261
DMS
41°27′37.7″N 120°30′45.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Alturas, CA2.5 mi SE of town
  • Lakeview, OR51 mi S of town
  • Tulelake, CA61 mi SE of town
  • Susanville, CA72 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • RDD Redding Regional114 mi
  • MFR Rogue Valley–Medford137 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 Modoc 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, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM7:37 PM13h 10m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM7:13 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM6:45 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM6:22 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM4:58 PM10h 26m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM4:43 PM9h 54m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM4:34 PM9h 26m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM4:33 PM9h 12m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM4:41 PM9h 14m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM4:55 PM9h 29m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:16 PM10h 02m

Computed for 41.460, -120.513 (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 Modoc NWR

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…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Modoc NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Modoc NWR?

Yes. Modoc National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (2,294 acres) during 2026–2027 for 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 Modoc NWR?

Yes — Modoc National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk or mail. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Modoc NWR?

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

Where is Modoc NWR located?

Modoc National Wildlife Refuge is in Modoc County, California, about 2 miles SE of Alturas, CA (straight-line). GPS: 41.46048, -120.51261.

What are legal shooting hours at Modoc 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

Clear Lake NWR

Modoc County, CA · 42 mi NW

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️

10K huntable acres

Tule Lake NWR

Siskiyou County, CA · 59 mi NW

3 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

20.4K huntable acres

Sheldon NWR

Humboldt County, NV · 71 mi E

4 open2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

536K huntable acres

Lower Klamath NWR

Siskiyou County, CA · 71 mi NW

3 special2 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

31.3K huntable acres

Bear Valley NWR

Klamath County, OR · 84 mi NW

1 special
🦌

4.2K huntable acres

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge

Lake County, OR · 87 mi NE

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

260K huntable acres

All refuges in California →

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