National Wildlife Refuge · Colorado · FWS Region 6

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Rio Grande County, Colorado, Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 16,200 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules, 1 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 11,167 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 with special regs1 closedYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
11.2Khuntable acres
16.2KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Monte Vista 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 Monte Vista NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Historically, snowpack from the surrounding mountains filled the creeks, rivers and aquifers to overflowing creating thousands of acres of wetlands across the immense San Luis Valley in southern Colorado.

Youth hunting

A youth waterfowl hunt is offered.

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 cootsMigratory 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 Colorado regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Open: 6,189 (38%)Special regulations: 4,978 (31%)Closed: 5,045 (31%)11.2Khuntable acres
  • Open6,189 ac 38%
  • Special regulations4,978 ac 31%
  • Closed5,045 ac 31%
Units by size (acres)
Elk
6,189 ac
Closed
5,045 ac
Open
4,978 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Elk
Show on map · Directions		 Open 6,189 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is offered.
Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,978 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is offered.
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 5,045 — 🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is offered.

Monte Vista NWR by the numbers

With about 11,167 huntable acres, Monte Vista NWR ranks #3 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Colorado and #175 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 69% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Elk (6,189 acres), while the smallest, Open, covers 4,978 acres.

1 unit totaling 5,045 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Monte Vista NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Colorado 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, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

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 Colorado hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Colorado Parks 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 Monte Vista NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Monte Vista NWR.

How to get to Monte Vista NWR

Navigate

Destination: Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
37.48819, -106.09317
DMS
37°29′17.5″N 106°05′35.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Alamosa, CO12 mi W of town
  • Pueblo, CO97 mi SW of town
  • Durango, CO99 mi E of town
  • Raton, NM100 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • COS Colorado Springs119 mi
  • ABQ Albuquerque Sunport172 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 Monte Vista 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, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:35 PM13h 02m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM7:14 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:49 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM6:28 PM11h 18m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM5:07 PM10h 39m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM4:55 PM10h 12m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM4:47 PM9h 47m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM4:47 PM9h 36m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:48 AM7:18 AM4:55 PM9h 37m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:08 PM9h 50m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM5:26 PM10h 18m

Computed for 37.488, -106.093 (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.

Guides for hunting Monte Vista 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…

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…

Monte Vista NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Monte Vista NWR?

Yes. Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (11,167 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Monte Vista NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Monte Vista NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Monte Vista NWR located?

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is in Rio Grande County, Colorado, about 12 miles W of Alamosa, CO (straight-line). GPS: 37.48819, -106.09317.

What are legal shooting hours at Monte Vista 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

Alamosa NWR

Alamosa County, CO · 18 mi E

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🎣

6.8K huntable acres

Baca NWR

Saguache County, CO · 31 mi NE

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌

45K huntable acres

Maxwell NWR

Colfax County, NM · 105 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Mora NFH

Mora County, NM · 112 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Leadville NFH

Lake County, CO · 121 mi N

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

3.1K huntable acres

Hotchkiss NFH

Delta County, CO · 127 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in Colorado →

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