National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

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

Located in Merced County, California, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 17,815 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 7 mapped hunt units: 6 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 10,145 huntable acres.

6 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
7hunt units
10.1Khuntable acres
17.8KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

San Luis 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 Luis NWR

Hunters can pursue waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge in California’s San Joaquin Valley is a major wintering ground and migratory stopover point on the Pacific Flyway for large concentrations of waterfowl, shorebirds and other waterbirds.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland 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 (7)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 10,145 (57%)Closed: 7,670 (43%)10.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations10,145 ac 57%
  • Closed7,670 ac 43%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
7,670 ac
Kesterson Unit
4,381 ac
San Luis Unit
2,565 ac
North Freitas Unit
2,318 ac
Upland Freitas Unit
671 ac
South Freitas Unit
126 ac
Blue Goose Unit
85 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Blue Goose Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 85 —
Kesterson Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,381 —
North Freitas Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,318 —
San Luis Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,565 —
South Freitas Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 126 —
Upland Freitas Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 671 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 7,670 —

San Luis NWR by the numbers

With about 10,145 huntable acres, San Luis NWR ranks #5 of 21 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in California and #190 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 57% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Kesterson Unit (4,381 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Blue Goose Unit, covers 85 acres.

1 unit totaling 7,670 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt San Luis 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 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 San Luis NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

A section of Salt Slough, accessed via the Elk Tour Route, is open to fishing daily year-round. Refuge visitation hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset (dawn to dusk).

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

How to get to San Luis NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
37.27835, -120.90272
DMS
37°16′42.1″N 120°54′09.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Los Banos, CA15 mi N of town
  • Merced, CA23 mi W of town
  • Modesto, CA25 mi S of town
  • Stockton, CA52 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • SJC San Jose Mineta57 mi
  • FAT Fresno Yosemite74 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 Luis 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, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:34 PM13h 01m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM7:13 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM6:48 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:28 PM11h 18m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM5:07 PM10h 40m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM4:54 PM10h 12m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM4:47 PM9h 48m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM4:47 PM9h 37m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:55 PM9h 38m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:07 PM9h 51m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:37 AM7:07 AM5:26 PM10h 19m

Computed for 37.278, -120.903 (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 Luis 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…

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…

San Luis NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at San Luis NWR?

Yes. San Luis National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 6 units (10,145 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl, 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 San Luis NWR?

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

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

Where is San Luis NWR located?

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge is in Merced County, California, about 15 miles N of Los Banos, CA (straight-line). GPS: 37.27835, -120.90272.

What are legal shooting hours at San Luis 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

Grasslands Wildlife Management Area

Merced County, CA · 11 mi E

6 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🎣

3K huntable acres

Merced NWR

Merced County, CA · 16 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

1.9K huntable acres

San Joaquin River NWR

Stanislaus County, CA · 30 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Butte Sink Wildlife Management Area

Stanislaus County, CA · 31 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Ellicott Slough NWR

Santa Cruz County, CA · 57 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Salinas River NWR

Monterey County, CA · 62 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦆

60 huntable acres

All refuges in California →

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