National Wildlife Refuge · Montana · FWS Region 6

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is located in Beaverhead County, Montana, with about 50,502 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 3 open under general rules and 2 closed, covering about 35,151 huntable acres.

3 open units2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
35.2Khuntable acres
50.5KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Red Rock Lakes 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 Red Rock Lakes NWR

Hunters can pursue big game and waterfowl here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, in the high-elevation Centennial Valley, is important for its wetlands and the habitat it provides for species with large home ranges like grizzly bear and wolverine.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

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

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Open: 35,151 (68%)Closed: 16,253 (32%)35.2Khuntable acres
  • Open35,151 ac 68%
  • Closed16,253 ac 32%
Units by size (acres)
Elk/Deer/Pronghorn
21,254 ac
Closed
11,456 ac
Waterfowl/Elk/Deer/Pronghorn
8,558 ac
Moose
5,339 ac
Wildlife Tour
4,797 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Elk/Deer/Pronghorn
Show on map · Directions		 Open 21,254 —
Moose
Show on map · Directions		 Open 5,339 —
Waterfowl/Elk/Deer/Pronghorn
Show on map · Directions		 Open 8,558 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 11,456 —
Wildlife Tour
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 4,797 —

Red Rock Lakes NWR by the numbers

With about 35,151 huntable acres, Red Rock Lakes NWR ranks #3 of 23 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Montana and #77 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 68% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Elk/Deer/Pronghorn (21,254 acres), while the smallest, Moose, covers 5,339 acres.

2 units totaling 16,253 acres are closed to hunting (Closed and Wildlife Tour). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 50,502 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 22,877 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Red Rock Lakes NWR

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
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose

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 Red Rock Lakes NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include Arctic grayling, cutthroat/rainbow hybrids and brook trout.

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

How to get to Red Rock Lakes NWR

Navigate

Destination: Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
44.63663, -111.73243
DMS
44°38′11.9″N 111°43′56.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Dillon, MT60 mi SE of town
  • Bozeman, MT80 mi SW of town
  • Idaho Falls, ID81 mi N of town
  • Jackson, WY93 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • IDA Idaho Falls Regional80 mi
  • BZN Bozeman Yellowstone84 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 Red Rock Lakes 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, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM8:06 PM13h 18m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM7:40 PM12h 36m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM7:09 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:10 AM7:40 AM6:44 PM11h 04m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM5:17 PM10h 14m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM5:00 PM9h 38m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:13 AM7:43 AM4:49 PM9h 06m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:26 AM7:56 AM4:47 PM8h 51m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:33 AM8:03 AM4:55 PM8h 52m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:30 AM8:00 AM5:10 PM9h 10m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:16 AM7:46 AM5:33 PM9h 47m

Computed for 44.637, -111.732 (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 Red Rock Lakes 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…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Red Rock Lakes NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Red Rock Lakes NWR?

Yes. Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (35,151 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game and waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Red Rock Lakes NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Red Rock Lakes 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 Red Rock Lakes NWR?

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

Where is Red Rock Lakes NWR located?

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is in Beaverhead County, Montana, about 60 miles SE of Dillon, MT (straight-line). GPS: 44.63663, -111.73243.

What are legal shooting hours at Red Rock Lakes 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

Ennis NFH

Madison County, MT · 40 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Camas NWR

Jefferson County, ID · 55 mi SW

3 open1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️

8.1K huntable acres

Bozeman FTC

Gallatin County, MT · 83 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Jackson NFH

Teton County, WY · 91 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

National Elk Refuge

Teton County, WY · 91 mi SE

7 special1 closed
🦌🎣

22.5K huntable acres

Grays Lake NWR

Bonneville County, ID · 110 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

4.9K huntable acres

All refuges in Montana →

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