National Wildlife Refuge · Alaska · FWS Region 7

Selawik National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Selawik National Wildlife Refuge is located in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, with about 2,718,984 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open under general rules, covering about 2,718,909 huntable acres.

1 open unit
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
2.7Mhuntable acres
2.7MFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Selawik 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 Selawik NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing.

Alaska Native residents have been fed and dressed by the Western Arctic caribou herd for thousands of years. These subsistence hunters still rely on the caribou each year, and most hunting at Selawik National Wildlife Refuge is in pursuit of caribou.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland 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 Alaska regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Open: 2,718,909 (100%)2.7Mhuntable acres
  • Open2,718,909 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge Open 2,718,909 —

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 Alaska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  • 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 Selawik NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Access is by commercial aircraft from Anchorage or Fairbanks to Kotzebue. In Kotzebue, small commercial aircraft can be chartered to nearby villages or directly to Selawik National Wildlife Refuge.

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

How to get to Selawik NWR

Navigate

Destination: Selawik National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
66.17251, -159.15835
DMS
66°10′21.0″N 159°09′30.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Kotzebue, AK107 mi SE of town
  • Galena, AK118 mi NW of town
  • Nome, AK214 mi NE of town
  • McGrath, AK246 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • OTZ Kotzebue Ralph Wien107 mi
  • OME Nome Airport215 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 Selawik NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Anchorage local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM10:05 PM14h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20267:23 AM7:53 AM9:10 PM13h 18m
Thu, Oct 1, 20268:13 AM8:43 AM8:08 PM11h 25m
Thu, Oct 15, 20268:59 AM9:29 AM7:14 PM9h 45m
Sun, Nov 1, 20268:59 AM9:29 AM5:10 PM7h 41m
Sun, Nov 15, 20269:52 AM10:22 AM4:20 PM5h 57m
Tue, Dec 1, 202610:54 AM11:24 AM3:27 PM4h 04m
Tue, Dec 15, 202611:36 AM12:06 PM2:56 PM2h 50m
Fri, Jan 1, 202711:40 AM12:10 PM3:08 PM2h 59m
Fri, Jan 15, 202711:05 AM11:35 AM3:55 PM4h 20m
Mon, Feb 1, 202710:07 AM10:37 AM5:01 PM6h 24m

Computed for 66.173, -159.158 (AKDT / 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.

Selawik NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Selawik NWR?

Yes. Selawik National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (2,718,909 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Selawik NWR?

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

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

Where is Selawik NWR located?

Selawik National Wildlife Refuge is in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, about 107 miles SE of Kotzebue, AK (straight-line). GPS: 66.17251, -159.15835.

What are legal shooting hours at Selawik 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

Koyukuk NWR

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Yukon Delta NWR

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Arctic NWR

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All refuges in Alaska →

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