National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area is located in Butte County, California, with about 2,811 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: 3 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 741 huntable acres.

3 with special regs2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
5hunt units
741huntable acres
2.8KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area 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 North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area

Hunters can pursue waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

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: 741 (26%)Closed: 2,070 (74%)741huntable acres
  • Special regulations741 ac 26%
  • Closed2,070 ac 74%
Units by size (acres)
Llano Seco Unit
1,732 ac
Closed
338 ac
Free Roam - West
324 ac
Assigned Ponds
244 ac
Free Roam - East
173 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Assigned Ponds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 244 —
Free Roam - East
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 173 —
Free Roam - West
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 324 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 338 —
Llano Seco Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,732 —

North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area by the numbers

With about 741 huntable acres, North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area ranks #18 of 21 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in California and #369 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 26% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Free Roam - West (324 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Free Roam - East, covers 173 acres.

2 units totaling 2,070 acres are closed to hunting (Closed and Llano Seco Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 2,811 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 15,081 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area

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

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 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 North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area.

How to get to North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area

Navigate

Destination: North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.59618, -121.92221
DMS
39°35′46.2″N 121°55′20.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Chico, CA10 mi SW of town
  • Willows, CA15 mi E of town
  • Yuba City, CA35 mi NW of town
  • Redding, CA73 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • SMF Sacramento Intl64 mi
  • RDD Redding Regional66 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 North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area

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, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM7:41 PM13h 06m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:18 PM12h 31m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM6:52 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM6:30 PM11h 14m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM5:07 PM10h 33m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM4:53 PM10h 02m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM4:45 PM9h 36m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM4:44 PM9h 24m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM4:53 PM9h 25m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM5:06 PM9h 39m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:25 PM10h 10m

Computed for 39.596, -121.922 (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 North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area

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…

North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area FAQ

Is hunting allowed at North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area?

Yes. North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area offers hunting in 3 units (741 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 North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area located?

North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area is in Butte County, California, about 10 miles SW of Chico, CA (straight-line). GPS: 39.59618, -121.92221.

What are legal shooting hours at North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area?

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

Sacramento NWR

Glenn County, CA · 18 mi SW

4 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

3.5K huntable acres

Delevan NWR

Colusa County, CA · 22 mi SW

5 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

2K huntable acres

Colusa NWR

Colusa County, CA · 31 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

1.3K huntable acres

Sacramento River NWR

Tehama County, CA · 37 mi N

22 special17 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐗🎣

6.1K huntable acres

Sutter NWR

Sutter County, CA · 38 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

1.2K huntable acres

Coleman NFH

Shasta County, CA · 57 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in California →

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