National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Glenn County, California, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 10,947 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: 4 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 3,545 huntable acres.

4 with special regs1 closedYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
5hunt units
3.5Khuntable acres
10.9KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Sacramento 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 Sacramento NWR

Hunters can pursue waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, and migratory birds here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

At nearly 11,000 acres, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge provides opportunities for hundreds of waterfowl, pheasant and turkey hunters. The check stations are operated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as a type-A area.

— U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Youth hunting

Youth hunts are available.

All refuges with youth hunts →
WaterfowlDucks, 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 crane

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

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 3,545 (32%)Closed: 7,402 (68%)3.5Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations3,545 ac 32%
  • Closed7,402 ac 68%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
7,402 ac
Spaced Hunt Sites
1,283 ac
Free Roam
1,249 ac
Assigned Ponds
886 ac
Pheasant Only
127 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Assigned Ponds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 886 — 🧒 Youth hunts are available.
Free Roam
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,249 — 🧒 Youth hunts are available.
Pheasant Only
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 127 — 🧒 Youth hunts are available.
Spaced Hunt Sites
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,283 — 🧒 Youth hunts are available.
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 7,402 — 🧒 Youth hunts are available.

Sacramento NWR by the numbers

With about 3,545 huntable acres, Sacramento NWR ranks #8 of 21 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in California and #288 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 32% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Spaced Hunt Sites (1,283 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Pheasant Only, covers 127 acres.

1 unit totaling 7,402 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Sacramento NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. California 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, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 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

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 California hunting license and any required tags or stamps — California 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 Sacramento NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Sacramento NWR.

How to get to Sacramento NWR

Navigate

Destination: Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.40975, -122.16410
DMS
39°24′35.1″N 122°09′50.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Willows, CA7.7 mi S of town
  • Chico, CA28 mi SW of town
  • Yuba City, CA35 mi NW of town
  • Sacramento, CA68 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • SMF Sacramento Intl58 mi
  • RDD Redding Regional76 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 Sacramento 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, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM7:41 PM13h 06m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM7:19 PM12h 31m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM6:53 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM6:31 PM11h 14m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM5:08 PM10h 33m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM4:55 PM10h 03m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:46 PM9h 37m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM4:46 PM9h 25m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM4:54 PM9h 26m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:57 AM7:27 AM5:07 PM9h 40m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:27 PM10h 10m

Computed for 39.410, -122.164 (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 Sacramento 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…

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…

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…

Sacramento NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Sacramento NWR?

Yes. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (3,545 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Sacramento NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Sacramento NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Sacramento NWR located?

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is in Glenn County, California, about 8 miles S of Willows, CA (straight-line). GPS: 39.40975, -122.16410.

What are legal shooting hours at Sacramento 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

Delevan NWR

Colusa County, CA · 7.9 mi SE

5 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

2K huntable acres

North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area

Butte County, CA · 18 mi NE

3 special2 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

741 huntable acres

Colusa NWR

Colusa County, CA · 19 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

1.3K huntable acres

Sutter NWR

Sutter County, CA · 32 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

1.2K huntable acres

Sacramento River NWR

Tehama County, CA · 48 mi N

22 special17 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐗🎣

6.1K huntable acres

Coleman NFH

Shasta County, CA · 68 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in California →

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