Ninepipe NWR
Lake County, MT · 8.3 mi NE
✕1 closed
🎣
Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County 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
Hunting at Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County
- Big Game
- Waterfowl
- Wild Turkey
- Upland Birds
- Migratory Birds
- Small Game
-
Feral & Exotic - Fishing
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.
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)
- Special regulations3,557 ac 100%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPA Open Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 3,557 | — |
Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County by the numbers
With about 3,557 huntable acres, Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County ranks #13 of 23 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Montana and #286 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 (3,557 acres, special regulations).
Besides 3,669 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 5,983 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 Herak WPA (84 acres, 5 miles NE).
When to hunt Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County
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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
🦆 Waterfowl
🦃 Wild Turkey
🐦 Upland Birds
🕊️ Migratory Birds
🐇 Small Game
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 Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County
- 🐟 Freshwater fishing
The primary fishing opportunities are on Smith Lake Waterfowl Production Area in Flathead Valley. People can access shoreline fishing on Flathead Lake from the Flathead Waterfowl Production Area.
State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.
How to get to Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County
Navigate
Destination: Northwest Montana Wetland Management District-Lake County (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
47.36696, -114.25640- DMS
47°22′01.1″N 114°15′23.0″W
Nearest towns
- Missoula, MT37 mi N of town
- Kalispell, MT58 mi S of town
- Stevensville, MT60 mi N of town
- Helena, MT117 mi NW of town
Closest airports
- MSO Missoula Montana32 mi
- FCA Glacier Park Intl65 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 Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County
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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:24 AM | 6:54 AM | 8:20 PM | 13h 25m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:42 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:51 PM | 12h 39m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 7:04 AM | 7:34 AM | 7:19 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:23 AM | 7:53 AM | 6:51 PM | 10h 58m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:49 AM | 7:19 AM | 5:22 PM | 10h 03m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 7:10 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:03 PM | 9h 23m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:32 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:49 PM | 8h 47m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:47 AM | 8:17 AM | 4:47 PM | 8h 30m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:54 AM | 8:24 AM | 4:55 PM | 8h 32m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:49 AM | 8:19 AM | 5:11 PM | 8h 51m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:34 AM | 8:04 AM | 5:36 PM | 9h 32m |
Computed for 47.367, -114.256 (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 Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County
This district manages 9 named WPAs totaling 3,669 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.
| WPA | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Crow WPA | Lake County | 1,533 |
| Duck Haven WPA | Lake County | 821 |
| Sandsmark WPA | Lake County | 419 |
| Cruz WPA | Lake County | 322 |
| Kickinghorse WPA | Lake County | 174 |
| Anderson WPA | Lake County | 163 |
| Montgomery WPA | Lake County | 84 |
| Herak WPA | Lake County | 84 |
| Johnson WPA | Lake County | 70 |
Guides for hunting Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County
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…
Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County?
Yes. Northwest Montana Wetland Management District-Lake County offers hunting in 1 unit (3,557 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 Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County?
FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County. 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 Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County?
Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.
Where is Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County located?
Northwest Montana Wetland Management District-Lake County is in Lake County, Montana, about 37 miles N of Missoula, MT (straight-line). GPS: 47.36696, -114.25640.
What are legal shooting hours at Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County?
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
Pablo NWR
Lake County, MT · 19 mi N
✕1 closed
🎣
Swan River NWR
Lake County, MT · 42 mi NE
!2 special
🦌🦆🎣
1.9K huntable acres
Northwest Montana WMD-Flathead County
Flathead County, MT · 50 mi N
!2 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
7.2K huntable acres
Lee Metcalf NWR
Ravalli County, MT · 57 mi S
✓2 open!2 special✕2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🎣
2.3K huntable acres
Creston NFH
Flathead County, MT · 58 mi N
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles
- Herak WPA 84 ac · 4.6 mi NE
- Johnson WPA 70 ac · 5.6 mi NE
- Sandsmark WPA 419 ac · 5.8 mi NE
- Montgomery WPA 84 ac · 5.9 mi NE
- Crow WPA 1,533 ac · 8.4 mi N
- Anderson WPA 163 ac · 9.7 mi NE
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.