National Wildlife Refuge · Utah · FWS Region 6

Ouray National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Ouray National Wildlife Refuge is located in Uintah County, Utah, with about 8,167 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 6,785 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
6.8Khuntable acres
8.2KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Ouray 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 Ouray NWR

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

Even though Ouray National Wildlife Refuge is located between major waterfowl migratory bird flyways, there can be surprisingly good hunting here in the fall.

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 partridge

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Utah regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 6,785 (60%)Closed: 4,583 (40%)6.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations6,785 ac 60%
  • Closed4,583 ac 40%
Units by size (acres)
Upland/Big Game
5,469 ac
No Hunting Zone
4,583 ac
Leota Bottom
1,316 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Leota Bottom
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,316 —
Upland/Big Game
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,469 —
No Hunting Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 4,583 —

Ouray NWR by the numbers

With about 6,785 huntable acres, Ouray NWR ranks #3 of 3 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Utah and #239 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 60% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Upland/Big Game (5,469 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Leota Bottom, covers 1,316 acres.

1 unit totaling 4,583 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting Zone). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Ouray NWR

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

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 Utah hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
  • 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 Ouray NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is permitted along numerous access points on the Green River. Fishing season is in accordance with Utah state regulations. The primary fishing is in the Green River for catfish, smallmouth bass and, occasionally, northern pike.

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

How to get to Ouray NWR

Navigate

Destination: Ouray National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
40.16810, -109.59343
DMS
40°10′05.2″N 109°35′36.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Vernal, UT20 mi S of town
  • Green River, WY94 mi S of town
  • Grand Junction, CO95 mi NW of town
  • Rock Springs, WY100 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • GJT Grand Junction Regional92 mi
  • SLC Salt Lake City Intl133 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 Ouray 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, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM7:52 PM13h 07m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM7:29 PM12h 31m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM7:02 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM6:40 PM11h 13m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM5:17 PM10h 31m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM5:03 PM9h 60m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM4:54 PM9h 33m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM4:53 PM9h 20m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:10 AM7:40 AM5:02 PM9h 22m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:08 AM7:38 AM5:15 PM9h 36m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:57 AM7:27 AM5:35 PM10h 07m

Computed for 40.168, -109.593 (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.

Guides for hunting Ouray 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…

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…

Ouray NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Ouray NWR?

Yes. Ouray National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (6,785 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, and upland birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Ouray NWR?

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

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

Where is Ouray NWR located?

Ouray National Wildlife Refuge is in Uintah County, Utah, about 20 miles S of Vernal, UT (straight-line). GPS: 40.16810, -109.59343.

What are legal shooting hours at Ouray 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

Jones Hole NFH

Uintah County, UT · 41 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Browns Park NWR

Moffat County, CO · 56 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🎣

10.8K huntable acres

Colorado River Wildlife Management Area

Mesa County, CO · 90 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Seedskadee NWR

Sweetwater County, WY · 117 mi N

3 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

26K huntable acres

Hotchkiss NFH

Delta County, CO · 137 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Cokeville Meadows NWR

Lincoln County, WY · 144 mi NW

3 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6K huntable acres

All refuges in Utah →

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