National Wildlife Refuge · Nebraska · FWS Region 6

North Platte National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, North Platte National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 2,916 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: 2 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 1,507 huntable acres.

2 with special regs2 closedYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
1.5Khuntable acres
2.9KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

North Platte 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 North Platte NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Bowhunters at North Platte National Wildlife Refuge in the Nebraska Panhandle can expect to see vast panoramas of mostly untouched grasslands when they visit the refuge's Lake Alice unit, which is open for a brief archery deer season.

Youth hunting

A youth hunt is held for small game, pheasant and raccoon.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeSmall 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 Nebraska regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,507 (52%)Closed: 1,409 (48%)1.5Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,507 ac 52%
  • Closed1,409 ac 48%
Units by size (acres)
Lake Alice Unit
1,373 ac
Winters Creek Lake
980 ac
Lake Minatare
428 ac
Stateline Island
134 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Lake Alice Unit Special regs 1,373 — 🧒 A youth hunt is held for small game, pheasant and raccoon.
Stateline Island Special regs 134 — 🧒 A youth hunt is held for small game, pheasant and raccoon.
Lake Minatare Closed 428 — 🧒 A youth hunt is held for small game, pheasant and raccoon.
Winters Creek Lake Closed 980 — 🧒 A youth hunt is held for small game, pheasant and raccoon.

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 Nebraska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at North Platte NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The primary fishing opportunities include Lake Minatare (2,000 acres) and Winters Creek Lake (237 acres). Available species include northern pike, "wiper" (hybrid white/striped bass), white bass, yellow perch, catfish, walleye, crappie and carp.

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

How to get to North Platte NWR

Navigate

Destination: North Platte National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.98886, -103.61286
DMS
41°59′19.9″N 103°36′46.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Scottsbluff, NE8.7 mi N of town
  • Alliance, NE39 mi W of town
  • Cheyenne, WY86 mi NE of town
  • Laramie, WY112 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • RAP Rapid City Regional145 mi
  • DEN Denver Intl157 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 Platte 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, 20265:49 AM6:19 AM7:30 PM13h 12m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:06 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM6:38 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM6:14 PM11h 09m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM4:50 PM10h 24m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM4:34 PM9h 51m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM4:24 PM9h 22m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM4:23 PM9h 09m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:52 AM7:22 AM4:32 PM9h 10m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:50 AM7:20 AM4:46 PM9h 26m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM5:07 PM9h 59m

Computed for 41.989, -103.613 (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.

North Platte NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at North Platte NWR?

Yes. North Platte National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (1,507 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt North Platte NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for North Platte 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 North Platte NWR?

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

Where is North Platte NWR located?

North Platte National Wildlife Refuge is in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, about 9 miles N of Scottsbluff, NE (straight-line). GPS: 41.98886, -103.61286.

What are legal shooting hours at North Platte 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

Crescent Lake NWR

Garden County, NE · 73 mi E

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

41.9K huntable acres

Bamforth NWR

Albany County, WY · 118 mi W

2 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇

1.2K huntable acres

Wyoming Toad Conservation Area

Albany County, WY · 122 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Hutton Lake NWR

Albany County, WY · 122 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🐇

1.7K huntable acres

Mortenson Lake NWR

Albany County, WY · 126 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Lacreek NWR

Bennett County, SD · 128 mi NE

7 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Nebraska →

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