National Wildlife Refuge · Kansas · FWS Region 6

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge is located in Stafford County, Kansas, with about 22,163 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 8,158 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
8.2Khuntable acres
22.2KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Quivira 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 Quivira NWR

Hunting opportunities include 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.

Many marshes echo with the sounds of geese each fall. At Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, wetlands virtually roar as geese darken the skies and blanket the waters.

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 Kansas regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 8,158 (37%)Closed: 14,006 (63%)8.2Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations8,158 ac 37%
  • Closed14,006 ac 63%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
14,006 ac
Open
8,158 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 8,158 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 14,006 —

Quivira NWR by the numbers

With about 8,158 huntable acres, Quivira NWR ranks #2 of 4 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Kansas and #220 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 37% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open (8,158 acres, special regulations).

1 unit totaling 14,006 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Quivira NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Kansas 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 Kansas hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Kansas Department of Wildlife and 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 Quivira NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include 32 water units within the refuge, all of which are open to fishing year-round, and Rattlesnake Creek. Available species include catfish and carp. No boats are allowed on refuge waters.

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

How to get to Quivira NWR

Navigate

Destination: Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
38.05046, -98.54159
DMS
38°03′01.7″N 98°32′29.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Great Bend, KS24 mi SE of town
  • Hutchinson, KS33 mi W of town
  • Wichita, KS70 mi W of town
  • Hays, KS71 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • ICT Wichita Eisenhower67 mi
  • OKC Oklahoma City Will Rogers191 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 Quivira NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM8:05 PM13h 03m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM7:44 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM7:18 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:11 AM7:41 AM6:58 PM11h 17m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM5:36 PM10h 38m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM5:23 PM10h 09m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:01 AM7:31 AM5:15 PM9h 44m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM5:15 PM9h 33m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:20 AM7:50 AM5:24 PM9h 34m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:19 AM7:49 AM5:36 PM9h 48m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:09 AM7:39 AM5:55 PM10h 16m

Computed for 38.050, -98.542 (CDT / 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 Quivira 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…

Quivira NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Quivira NWR?

Yes. Quivira National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (8,158 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 Quivira NWR?

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

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

Where is Quivira NWR located?

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge is in Stafford County, Kansas, about 24 miles SE of Great Bend, KS (straight-line). GPS: 38.05046, -98.54159.

What are legal shooting hours at Quivira 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

Salt Plains NWR

Alfalfa County, OK · 91 mi S

11 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.6K huntable acres

Kirwin NWR

Phillips County, KS · 116 mi N

3 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5.8K huntable acres

Flint Hills NWR

Coffey County, KS · 144 mi E

2 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.6K huntable acres

Washita NWR

Custer County, OK · 173 mi S

4 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

5.9K huntable acres

Rainwater Basin WMD

Phelps County, NE · 174 mi N

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

24.9K huntable acres

Optima NWR

Texas County, OK · 176 mi SW

1 special
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇

4.3K huntable acres

All refuges in Kansas →

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