National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

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

Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge lies in Monterey County, California, with about 386 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 under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 60 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
60huntable acres
386FWS-owned acres
1game categories

Salinas 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 Salinas River NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

Hunters can pursue waterfowl here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge, 11 miles north of Monterey, conserves the place where the Salinas River empties into Monterey Bay. Monterey Bay is recognized as providing habitat for some of the most interesting wildlife in the country.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

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

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 60 (16%)Closed: 326 (84%)60huntable acres
  • Open60 ac 16%
  • Closed326 ac 84%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
326 ac
Hunt Unit
60 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Unit Open 60 —
Closed Closed 326 —

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 Salinas River NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Salinas River NWR.

How to get to Salinas River NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.73916, -121.79963
DMS
36°44′21.0″N 121°47′58.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • San Jose, CA42 mi S of town
  • Los Banos, CA57 mi SW of town
  • Modesto, CA77 mi SW of town
  • San Francisco, CA79 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • SJC San Jose Mineta43 mi
  • SFO San Francisco Intl69 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 Salinas 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, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:37 PM13h 00m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM7:16 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:52 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM6:32 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM5:11 PM10h 42m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM4:59 PM10h 15m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM4:52 PM9h 51m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM4:52 PM9h 40m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM5:00 PM9h 41m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:48 AM7:18 AM5:12 PM9h 54m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:30 PM10h 21m

Computed for 36.739, -121.800 (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.

Salinas River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Salinas River NWR?

Yes. Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (60 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Salinas River NWR?

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

Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge is in Monterey County, California, about 42 miles S of San Jose, CA (straight-line). GPS: 36.73916, -121.79963.

What are legal shooting hours at Salinas 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

Ellicott Slough NWR

Santa Cruz County, CA · 13 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR

Alameda County, CA · 53 mi N

12 open8 special1 closed
🦆🎣

10.4K huntable acres

San Luis NWR

Merced County, CA · 62 mi NE

6 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🎣

10.1K huntable acres

Grasslands Wildlife Management Area

Merced County, CA · 69 mi NE

6 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🎣

3K huntable acres

Merced NWR

Merced County, CA · 71 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

1.9K huntable acres

San Joaquin River NWR

Stanislaus County, CA · 72 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in California →

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