National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge is located in Tehama County, California, with about 10,195 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 39 mapped hunt units: 22 open with special regulations and 17 closed, covering about 6,083 huntable acres.

22 with special regs17 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
39hunt units
6.1Khuntable acres
10.2KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Sacramento River 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 River NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge is composed of 30 separate units along an 80-mile stretch of the Sacramento River – from Red Bluff to Princeton, in Tehama, Butte, Glenn, and Colusa counties.

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 craneFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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

Hunt units (39)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 6,083 (60%)Closed: 4,118 (40%)6.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations6,083 ac 60%
  • Closed4,118 ac 40%
Units by size (acres)
La Barranca
1,034 ac
Llano Seco Riparian Sanctuary
751 ac
Capay
666 ac
Ohm Closed
625 ac
Rio Vista Open
602 ac
Sul Norte
591 ac
Dead Man's Reach Closed
571 ac
Rio Vista Closed
547 ac
Flynn Open
491 ac
Pine Creek Closed
453 ac
Packer Closed
378 ac
Codora Open
336 ac
Phelan Island
309 ac
Drumheller
293 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Afton Open Special regs 130 —
Bogg's Bend Special regs 128 —
Capay Special regs 666 —
Codora Open Special regs 336 —
Dead Man's Reach Open Special regs 66 —
Drumheller Special regs 293 —
Flynn Open Special regs 491 —
Foster Island Special regs 181 —
Heron Island Special regs 125 —
Jacinto Special regs 69 —
La Barranca Special regs 1,034 —
Llano Seco Island 1 Special regs 56 —
Llano Seco Island 2 Special regs 100 —
Mooney Special regs 234 —
Ohm Open Special regs 132 —
Packer Open Special regs 21 —
Phelan Island Special regs 309 —
Pine Creek Open Special regs 113 —
Rio Vista Open Special regs 602 —
South Ord Special regs 122 —
Sul Norte Special regs 591 —
Todd Island Special regs 284 —
Afton Closed Closed 92 —
Blackberry Island Closed 48 —
Codora Closed Closed 80 —
Dead Man's Reach Closed Closed 571 —
Drumheller Closed Closed 69 —
Flynn Closed Closed 85 —
Hartley Island Closed 77 —
Llano Seco Riparian Sanctuary Closed 751 —
McIntosh Landing North Closed 63 —
McIntosh Landing South Closed 134 —
North Ord Closed 28 —
Ohm Closed Closed 625 —
Ord Bend Closed 111 —
Packer Closed Closed 378 —
Pine Creek Closed Closed 453 —
Rio Vista Closed Closed 547 —
Sul Norte Closed Closed 4.7 —

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 River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge is composed of 30 separate units along an 80-mile stretch of the Sacramento River – from Red Bluff to Princeton, in Tehama, Butte, Glenn, and Colusa counties.

— U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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

How to get to Sacramento River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
40.10109, -122.13876
DMS
40°06′03.9″N 122°08′19.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Chico, CA30 mi NW of town
  • Redding, CA36 mi S of town
  • Willows, CA40 mi N of town
  • Yuba City, CA72 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • RDD Redding Regional29 mi
  • SMF Sacramento Intl101 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 River 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, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM7:42 PM13h 07m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM7:19 PM12h 31m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM6:52 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM6:30 PM11h 13m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM5:07 PM10h 31m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM4:53 PM10h 00m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM4:44 PM9h 33m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM4:43 PM9h 21m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:00 AM7:30 AM4:52 PM9h 22m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM5:05 PM9h 37m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:25 PM10h 08m

Computed for 40.101, -122.139 (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.

Sacramento River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Sacramento River NWR?

Yes. Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 22 units (6,083 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Sacramento River NWR?

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

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

Where is Sacramento River NWR located?

Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge is in Tehama County, California, about 30 miles NW of Chico, CA (straight-line). GPS: 40.10109, -122.13876.

What are legal shooting hours at Sacramento River 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

Coleman NFH

Shasta County, CA · 21 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area

Butte County, CA · 37 mi S

3 special2 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

741 huntable acres

Sacramento NWR

Glenn County, CA · 48 mi S

4 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

3.5K huntable acres

Delevan NWR

Colusa County, CA · 55 mi S

5 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

2K huntable acres

Colusa NWR

Colusa County, CA · 66 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

1.3K huntable acres

Sutter NWR

Sutter County, CA · 74 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

1.2K huntable acres

All refuges in California →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.