National Wildlife Refuge · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

Shell Lake National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Shell Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in Mountrail County, North Dakota, with about 786 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
786FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Shell Lake 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 Shell Lake 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.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 786 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed786 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 786 —

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

Fishing at Shell Lake NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Shell Lake NWR.

How to get to Shell Lake NWR

Navigate

Destination: Shell Lake National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
48.18456, -102.11067
DMS
48°11′04.4″N 102°06′38.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Kenmare, ND34 mi S of town
  • Minot, ND37 mi W of town
  • Garrison, ND49 mi NW of town
  • Williston, ND70 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • MOT Minot Intl39 mi
  • BIS Bismarck Municipal117 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 Shell Lake NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM8:32 PM13h 28m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM8:03 PM12h 40m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:15 AM7:45 AM7:30 PM11h 44m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:36 AM8:06 AM7:01 PM10h 56m
Sun, Nov 1, 20267:02 AM7:32 AM5:31 PM9h 59m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:24 AM7:54 AM5:12 PM9h 18m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:47 AM8:17 AM4:58 PM8h 41m
Tue, Dec 15, 20268:01 AM8:31 AM4:55 PM8h 23m
Fri, Jan 1, 20278:08 AM8:38 AM5:03 PM8h 25m
Fri, Jan 15, 20278:04 AM8:34 AM5:19 PM8h 45m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:47 AM8:17 AM5:45 PM9h 28m

Computed for 48.185, -102.111 (CDT / 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.

Shell Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Shell Lake NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Shell Lake NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Shell Lake NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Shell Lake NWR located?

Shell Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Mountrail County, North Dakota, about 34 miles S of Kenmare, ND (straight-line). GPS: 48.18456, -102.11067.

What are legal shooting hours at Shell Lake 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

Mclean NWR

McLean County, ND · 27 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

342 huntable acres

Lostwood NWR

Burke County, ND · 33 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

26.2K huntable acres

Lostwood WMD

Burke County, ND · 34 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11K huntable acres

Upper Souris NWR

Renville County, ND · 35 mi NE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

32K huntable acres

Des Lacs NWR

Burke County, ND · 54 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

14K huntable acres

Audubon WMD

McLean County, ND · 58 mi SE

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

26.2K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in North Dakota →

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