National Wildlife Refuge · New Mexico · FWS Region 2

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge lies in Socorro County, New Mexico, with about 227,850 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations, covering about 227,772 huntable acres.

4 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
228Khuntable acres
228KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Sevilleta 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 Sevilleta NWR

Hunting opportunities include waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is along the picturesque Rio Grande 50 miles south of Albuquerque. Three units of the refuge provide great opportunities for waterfowl and upland bird hunting.

WaterfowlDucks, 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 mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 227,772 (100%)228Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations227,772 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Unit C
226,879 ac
Rio Puerco
530 ac
Unit A
245 ac
Unit B
117 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Rio Puerco
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 530 —
Unit A
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 245 —
Unit B
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 117 —
Unit C
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 226,879 —

Sevilleta NWR by the numbers

With about 227,772 huntable acres, Sevilleta NWR ranks #1 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in New Mexico and #24 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Unit C (226,879 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Unit B, covers 117 acres.

Besides 227,850 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 62 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Sevilleta NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. New Mexico 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, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

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 New Mexico hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
  • 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 Sevilleta NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to Sevilleta NWR

Navigate

Destination: Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
34.32491, -106.94585
DMS
34°19′29.7″N 106°56′45.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Socorro, NM19 mi N of town
  • Albuquerque, NM55 mi S of town
  • Santa Fe, NM110 mi SW of town
  • Las Vegas, NM131 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • ABQ Albuquerque Sunport53 mi
  • ELP El Paso Intl177 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 Sevilleta NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM7:35 PM12h 55m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM7:16 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:53 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM6:34 PM11h 23m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM5:15 PM10h 49m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM5:04 PM10h 24m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM4:58 PM10h 03m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM4:59 PM9h 53m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM5:07 PM9h 54m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM5:19 PM10h 06m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:36 PM10h 30m

Computed for 34.325, -106.946 (MDT / 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 Sevilleta 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…

Sevilleta NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Sevilleta NWR?

Yes. Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (227,772 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Sevilleta NWR?

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

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

Where is Sevilleta NWR located?

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is in Socorro County, New Mexico, about 19 miles N of Socorro, NM (straight-line). GPS: 34.32491, -106.94585.

What are legal shooting hours at Sevilleta 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

Bosque del Apache NWR

Socorro County, NM · 36 mi S

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

47.6K huntable acres

Valle de Oro NWR

Bernalillo County, NM · 48 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

San Andres NWR

Doña Ana County, NM · 115 mi S

1 open1 closed
🦌🐗

57.3K huntable acres

Las Vegas NWR

San Miguel County, NM · 131 mi NE

2 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️

7.3K huntable acres

Mora NFH

Mora County, NM · 148 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area

Mora County, NM · 149 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in New Mexico →

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