National Wildlife Refuge · Washington · FWS Region 1

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is located in Clark County, Washington, with about 4,991 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 5 closed, covering about 920 huntable acres.

1 with special regs5 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
920huntable acres
5KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Ridgefield 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 Ridgefield NWR

Hunters can pursue waterfowl and migratory birds here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Ridgefield NWR’s waterfowl hunt program offers a quality duck and goose hunting experience with a maximum of 21 spaced blinds on 760 acres.

Youth hunting

A youth hunt day is planned each year.

All refuges with youth hunts →
WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill crane

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

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 920 (18%)Closed: 4,072 (82%)920huntable acres
  • Special regulations920 ac 18%
  • Closed4,072 ac 82%
Units by size (acres)
Bachelor Island
1,527 ac
River S
920 ac
Carty
750 ac
Roth
657 ac
River S No Hunting
576 ac
Ridgeport Dairy
562 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
River S
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 920 Required
Other		 Waterfowl hunting.
🧒 A youth hunt day is planned each year.
Bachelor Island
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,527 Required
Other		 Waterfowl hunting.
🧒 A youth hunt day is planned each year.
Carty
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 750 Required
Other		 Waterfowl hunting.
🧒 A youth hunt day is planned each year.
Ridgeport Dairy
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 562 Required
Other		 Waterfowl hunting.
🧒 A youth hunt day is planned each year.
River S No Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 576 Required
Other		 Waterfowl hunting.
🧒 A youth hunt day is planned each year.
Roth
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 657 Required
Other		 Waterfowl hunting.
🧒 A youth hunt day is planned each year.

Ridgefield NWR by the numbers

With about 920 huntable acres, Ridgefield NWR ranks #10 of 14 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Washington and #359 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 18% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is River S (920 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

5 units totaling 4,072 acres are closed to hunting (Bachelor Island, Carty, Ridgeport Dairy, River S No Hunting, and Roth). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 4,991 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 21 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Ridgefield NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Washington 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 — Waterfowl, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Waterfowl hunting.

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

  • A valid Washington hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • 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 Ridgefield NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to Ridgefield NWR

Navigate

Destination: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.78763, -122.75583
DMS
45°47′15.5″N 122°45′21.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Vancouver, WA11 mi NW of town
  • Portland, OR19 mi N of town
  • Tillamook, OR57 mi NE of town
  • Astoria, OR59 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • PDX Portland Intl16 mi
  • SEA Seattle–Tacoma117 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 Ridgefield NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM7:51 PM13h 21m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:24 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:53 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM6:27 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM4:59 PM10h 10m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM4:41 PM9h 32m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:01 AM7:31 AM4:29 PM8h 58m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:14 AM7:44 AM4:27 PM8h 42m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:21 AM7:51 AM4:35 PM8h 44m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:18 AM7:48 AM4:50 PM9h 02m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:03 AM7:33 AM5:14 PM9h 41m

Computed for 45.788, -122.756 (PDT / 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 Ridgefield NWR

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…

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…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose 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…

Ridgefield NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Ridgefield NWR?

Yes. Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (920 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Ridgefield NWR?

Yes — Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Ridgefield NWR?

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

Where is Ridgefield NWR located?

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is in Clark County, Washington, about 11 miles NW of Vancouver, WA (straight-line). GPS: 45.78763, -122.75583.

What are legal shooting hours at Ridgefield 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

Steigerwald Lake NWR

Clark County, WA · 27 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Tualatin River NWR

Washington County, OR · 28 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

232 huntable acres

Wapato Lake NWR

Washington County, OR · 31 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

270 huntable acres

Franz Lake NWR

Skamania County, WA · 35 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Abernathy FTC

Cowlitz County, WA · 36 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

Pierce NWR

Skamania County, WA · 38 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Washington →

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