National Wildlife Refuge · Alaska · FWS Region 7

Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge is located in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, with about 1,900,515 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open under general rules, covering about 1,900,516 huntable acres.

1 open unit
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
1.9Mhuntable acres
1.9MFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Nowitna 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 Nowitna NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing.

For hunters willing to put in the effort, Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge can be an excellent moose hunting destination.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland 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 Alaska regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,900,516 (100%)1.9Mhuntable acres
  • Open1,900,516 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,900,516 —

Nowitna NWR by the numbers

With about 1,900,516 huntable acres, Nowitna NWR ranks #11 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Alaska and #11 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 Refuge (1,900,516 acres).

When to hunt Nowitna NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Alaska 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 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 Alaska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  • 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 Nowitna NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Access is by commercial airline from Anchorage and Fairbanks to Galena, then to Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge by charter aircraft or licensed fishing guide/transporter.

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

How to get to Nowitna NWR

Navigate

Destination: Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
64.65312, -153.84204
DMS
64°39′11.2″N 153°50′31.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Galena, AK91 mi E of town
  • McGrath, AK129 mi NE of town
  • Fairbanks, AK181 mi W of town
  • Anchorage, AK268 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • FAI Fairbanks Intl177 mi
  • ANC Anchorage Ted Stevens269 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 Nowitna NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Anchorage local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM9:38 PM14h 45m
Tue, Sep 15, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM8:46 PM13h 12m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:51 AM8:21 AM7:48 PM11h 27m
Thu, Oct 15, 20268:33 AM9:03 AM6:58 PM9h 54m
Sun, Nov 1, 20268:28 AM8:58 AM4:59 PM8h 01m
Sun, Nov 15, 20269:16 AM9:46 AM4:14 PM6h 28m
Tue, Dec 1, 202610:08 AM10:38 AM3:30 PM4h 53m
Tue, Dec 15, 202610:41 AM11:11 AM3:09 PM3h 58m
Fri, Jan 1, 202710:46 AM11:16 AM3:20 PM4h 04m
Fri, Jan 15, 202710:21 AM10:51 AM3:56 PM5h 06m
Mon, Feb 1, 20279:32 AM10:02 AM4:54 PM6h 51m

Computed for 64.653, -153.842 (AKDT / 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 Nowitna 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…

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…

Nowitna NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Nowitna NWR?

Yes. Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (1,900,516 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Nowitna NWR?

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

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Nowitna NWR located?

Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge is in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, about 91 miles E of Galena, AK (straight-line). GPS: 64.65312, -153.84204.

What are legal shooting hours at Nowitna 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

Koyukuk NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 83 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4M huntable acres

Kanuti NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 135 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.3M huntable acres

Selawik NWR

Northwest Arctic Borough, AK · 185 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.7M huntable acres

Innoko NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 196 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4M huntable acres

Yukon Flats NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 243 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

9.1M huntable acres

Kenai NWR

Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK · 314 mi S

2 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.9M huntable acres

All refuges in Alaska →

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