National Wildlife Refuge · Washington · FWS Region 1

San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is located in Washington, with about 456 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 2 mapped hunt units are listed as closed to hunting.

2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
2hunt units
0huntable acres
456FWS-owned acres
0game categories

San Juan Islands 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 Juan Islands NWR

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

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Closed: 456 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed456 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Closed to Hunting
423 ac
Turn Island
33 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Closed to Hunting Closed 423 —
Turn Island Closed 33 —

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 Washington hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at San Juan Islands NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

Shoreline fishing is allowed from the public use area of Turn Island, which is accessible only by boat.

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

How to get to San Juan Islands NWR

Navigate

Destination: San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
48.74644, -122.83689
DMS
48°44′47.2″N 122°50′12.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Bellingham, WA16 mi W of town
  • Mount Vernon, WA32 mi NW of town
  • Port Angeles, WA51 mi NE of town
  • Seattle, WA82 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • BLI Bellingham Intl14 mi
  • SEA Seattle–Tacoma93 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 Juan Islands 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, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM7:56 PM13h 30m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM7:27 PM12h 41m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM6:52 PM11h 44m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:59 AM7:29 AM6:24 PM10h 55m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM4:53 PM9h 57m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM4:33 PM9h 14m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM4:18 PM8h 36m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:27 AM7:57 AM4:15 PM8h 18m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:34 AM8:04 AM4:24 PM8h 20m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:29 AM7:59 AM4:40 PM8h 41m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:12 AM7:42 AM5:06 PM9h 24m

Computed for 48.746, -122.837 (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.

San Juan Islands NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at San Juan Islands NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt San Juan Islands NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for San Juan Islands 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 San Juan Islands NWR?

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

Where is San Juan Islands NWR located?

San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is in Washington, about 16 miles W of Bellingham, WA (straight-line). GPS: 48.74644, -122.83689.

What are legal shooting hours at San Juan Islands 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

Dungeness NWR

Clallam County, WA · 43 mi S

2 closed
🎣

Protection Island NWR

WA · 43 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Quilcene NFH

Jefferson County, WA · 65 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Flattery Rocks NWR

Clallam County, WA · 97 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Quillayute Needles NWR

Jefferson County, WA · 101 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Copalis NWR

Grays Harbor County, WA · 113 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Washington →

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