National Wildlife Refuge · Nevada · FWS Region 1

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is located in Humboldt County, Nevada, with about 576,480 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Oregon. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 4 open under general rules and 2 closed, covering about 535,895 huntable acres.

4 open units2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
536Khuntable acres
576KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Sheldon 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 Sheldon NWR

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

The “Old West” lives on at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, which includes rocky canyons, homesteads and numerous species of wildlife found only in the Great Basin. Rolling hills covered with sagebrush and mountain mahogany stretch to the horizon.

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 crane

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

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Open: 535,895 (93%)Closed: 40,646 (7%)536Khuntable acres
  • Open535,895 ac 93%
  • Closed40,646 ac 7%
Units by size (acres)
Open - NV
534,598 ac
Little Sheldon
34,340 ac
Virgin Valley
6,306 ac
Open - OR
623 ac
Big Springs Reservoir
600 ac
Catnip Reservoir
73 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Big Springs Reservoir
Show on map · Directions		 Open 600 —
Catnip Reservoir
Show on map · Directions		 Open 73 —
Open - NV
Show on map · Directions		 Open 534,598 —
Open - OR
Show on map · Directions		 Open 623 —
Little Sheldon
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 34,340 —
Virgin Valley
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 6,306 —

Sheldon NWR by the numbers

With about 535,895 huntable acres, Sheldon NWR ranks #2 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Nevada and #20 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 93% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open - NV (534,598 acres), while the smallest, Catnip Reservoir, covers 73 acres.

2 units totaling 40,646 acres are closed to hunting (Little Sheldon and Virgin Valley). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Sheldon NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Nevada 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, Waterfowl, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 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 Nevada hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Nevada Department of 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 Sheldon NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Partial fishing. Not all fishable water on this station is open to fishing.The refuge has opportunities for trout and warm-water game fishing. Boats may be used on Big Spring Reservoir, Catnip Reservoir and Dufurrena Ponds.

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

How to get to Sheldon NWR

Navigate

Destination: Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.81690, -119.21973
DMS
41°49′00.8″N 119°13′11.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Lakeview, OR63 mi SE of town
  • Alturas, CA72 mi E of town
  • Winnemucca, NV96 mi NW of town
  • Tulelake, CA117 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • RNO Reno–Tahoe163 mi
  • RDD Redding Regional183 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 Sheldon 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, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM7:32 PM13h 11m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM7:08 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM6:40 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:17 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM4:52 PM10h 25m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM4:37 PM9h 52m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM4:27 PM9h 23m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM4:26 PM9h 10m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:54 AM7:24 AM4:35 PM9h 11m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM4:49 PM9h 27m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM5:10 PM10h 00m

Computed for 41.817, -119.220 (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 Sheldon 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…

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…

Sheldon NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Sheldon NWR?

Yes. Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (535,895 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, 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 Sheldon NWR?

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

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

Where is Sheldon NWR located?

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is in Humboldt County, Nevada, about 63 miles SE of Lakeview, OR (straight-line). GPS: 41.81690, -119.21973.

What are legal shooting hours at Sheldon 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

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge

Lake County, OR · 55 mi NW

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

260K huntable acres

Modoc NWR

Modoc County, CA · 71 mi W

2 special3 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🎣

2.3K huntable acres

Clear Lake NWR

Modoc County, CA · 97 mi W

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️

10K huntable acres

Malheur NWR

Harney County, OR · 99 mi N

2 open2 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

67.8K huntable acres

Tule Lake NWR

Siskiyou County, CA · 117 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

20.4K huntable acres

Lower Klamath NWR

Siskiyou County, CA · 129 mi W

3 special2 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

31.3K huntable acres

All refuges in Nevada →

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