National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

San Diego National Wildlife Refuge is located in San Diego County, California, with about 12,487 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 161 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
161huntable acres
12.5KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

San Diego 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 San Diego NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

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: 161 (1%)Closed: 12,427 (99%)161huntable acres
  • Open161 ac 1%
  • Closed12,427 ac 99%
Units by size (acres)
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
12,427 ac
Otay Hunt Unit
161 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Otay Hunt Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Open 161 —
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 12,427 —

San Diego NWR by the numbers

With about 161 huntable acres, San Diego NWR ranks #20 of 21 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in California and #401 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 1% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Otay Hunt Unit (161 acres).

1 unit totaling 12,427 acres is closed to hunting (San Diego National Wildlife Refuge). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt San Diego 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 — Big Game, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

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 San Diego NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for San Diego NWR.

How to get to San Diego NWR

Navigate

Destination: San Diego National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
32.68783, -116.96681
DMS
32°41′16.2″N 116°58′00.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • San Diego, CA11 mi E of town
  • El Centro, CA82 mi W of town
  • Palm Springs, CA83 mi S of town
  • Los Angeles, CA119 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • SAN San Diego Intl13 mi
  • PSP Palm Springs Intl83 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 San Diego 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, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM7:14 PM12h 52m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM6:55 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM6:34 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM6:16 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:34 AM6:04 AM4:58 PM10h 54m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:47 AM6:17 AM4:47 PM10h 30m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM4:42 PM10h 10m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM4:43 PM10h 01m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:19 AM6:49 AM4:51 PM10h 02m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:19 AM6:49 AM5:03 PM10h 13m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:13 AM6:43 AM5:19 PM10h 36m

Computed for 32.688, -116.967 (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 San Diego 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…

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…

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…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

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…

San Diego NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at San Diego NWR?

Yes. San Diego National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (161 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt San Diego NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for San Diego 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 San Diego NWR located?

San Diego National Wildlife Refuge is in San Diego County, California, about 11 miles E of San Diego, CA (straight-line). GPS: 32.68783, -116.96681.

What are legal shooting hours at San Diego 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

San Diego Bay NWR

San Diego County, CA · 10 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Tijuana Slough NWR

San Diego County, CA · 13 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

Imperial County, CA · 81 mi NE

2 special3 closed
🦆🎣

827 huntable acres

Coachella Valley NWR

Riverside County, CA · 85 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Seal Beach NWR

Orange County, CA · 97 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Imperial NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 136 mi E

2 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

22.4K huntable acres

All refuges in California →

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