Wetland Management District · Montana · FWS Region 6

Northeast Montana Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Sheridan County, Montana, Northeast Montana Wetland Management District is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 12,108 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into North Dakota. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open under general rules, covering about 12,073 huntable acres.

1 open unit
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
12.1Khuntable acres
12.1KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Northeast Montana WMD 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 Northeast Montana WMD

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

The Northeast Montana Wetland Management District consists of 44 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) in Sheridan, Daniels, and Roosevelt Counties. Hunting is allowed on all WPAs.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland 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 (1)

Acreage by status
Open: 12,073 (100%)12.1Khuntable acres
  • Open12,073 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 12,073 —

Northeast Montana WMD by the numbers

With about 12,073 huntable acres, Northeast Montana WMD ranks #7 of 23 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Montana and #163 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is WPA Open (12,073 acres).

Besides 12,108 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 23,828 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Carlson WPA (78 acres, 2 miles W).

When to hunt Northeast Montana WMD

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Montana 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, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ 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 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 Northeast Montana WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to Northeast Montana WMD

Navigate

Destination: Northeast Montana Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
48.48348, -104.45121
DMS
48°29′00.5″N 104°27′04.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Plentywood, MT20 mi S of town
  • Williston, ND45 mi NW of town
  • Sidney, MT54 mi N of town
  • Crosby, ND61 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • MOT Minot Intl146 mi
  • BIS Bismarck Municipal209 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 Northeast Montana WMD

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 AM7:13 PM12h 40m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 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 38m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM4:03 PM8h 21m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:19 AM7:49 AM4:11 PM8h 22m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:14 AM7:44 AM4:28 PM8h 43m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:57 AM7:27 AM4:53 PM9h 26m

Computed for 48.483, -104.451 (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.

Waterfowl Production Areas managed by Northeast Montana WMD

This district manages 44 named WPAs totaling 12,108 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Goose Lake WPASheridan County1,674
Erickson WPASheridan County1,160
Big Slough WPASheridan County1,006
International Marsh WPADaniels County951
State Line WPADivide County612
Wigeon Slough WPASheridan County556
Parry WPASheridan County553
Anderson WPASheridan County531
Gjesdal West WPASheridan County401
Base Camp WPASheridan County359
North Root WPASheridan County323
Rich Johnson WPASheridan County322
Salter WPASheridan County322
South Root WPASheridan County319
Rabenberg WPASheridan County314
Northeast WPADivide County219
Long Lake WPASheridan County213
Redhead Retreat WPASheridan County207
Jerde WPASheridan County183
Johnson Lake WPARoosevelt County182
Rivers WPASheridan County162
Mallard Pond WPASheridan County160
Pintail Marsh WPASheridan County148
Flaxville WPADaniels County147
Gjesdal East WPASheridan County123

Showing the 25 largest of 44. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting Northeast Montana WMD

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…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, 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…

Northeast Montana WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Northeast Montana WMD?

Yes. Northeast Montana Wetland Management District offers hunting in 1 unit (12,073 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Northeast Montana WMD?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Northeast Montana WMD. 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 Northeast Montana WMD?

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

Where is Northeast Montana WMD located?

Northeast Montana Wetland Management District is in Sheridan County, Montana, about 20 miles S of Plentywood, MT (straight-line). GPS: 48.48348, -104.45121.

What are legal shooting hours at Northeast Montana WMD?

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

Medicine Lake NWR

Sheridan County, MT · 4.3 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

22K huntable acres

Lake Zahl NWR

Williams County, ND · 37 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🐦

3.3K huntable acres

Crosby WMD

Divide County, ND · 59 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

18.8K huntable acres

Lostwood NWR

Burke County, ND · 92 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

26.2K huntable acres

Lostwood WMD

Burke County, ND · 94 mi E

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11K huntable acres

Shell Lake NWR

Mountrail County, ND · 109 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 October 28, 2026.