National Wildlife Refuge · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

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

Located in Slope County, North Dakota, Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 638 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 638 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
2hunt units
638huntable acres
638FWS-owned acres
4game categories

Stewart 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 Stewart Lake NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeSmall 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 North Dakota regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 638 (29%)Closed: 1,594 (71%)638huntable acres
  • Special regulations638 ac 29%
  • Closed1,594 ac 71%
Units by size (acres)
Closed Unit
1,594 ac
Hunt Unit
638 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Unit Special regs 638 —
Closed Unit Closed 1,594 —

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 Stewart Lake NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Stewart Lake NWR.

How to get to Stewart Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.35126, -103.42801
DMS
46°21′04.5″N 103°25′40.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Dickinson, ND47 mi SW of town
  • Sidney, MT101 mi S of town
  • Miles City, MT115 mi E of town
  • Williston, ND125 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • BIS Bismarck Municipal130 mi
  • RAP Rapid City Regional160 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 Stewart Lake 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, 20265:42 AM6:12 AM7:35 PM13h 23m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM7:07 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM6:36 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:09 PM11h 00m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM4:41 PM10h 07m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM4:22 PM9h 28m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM4:10 PM8h 54m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:59 AM7:29 AM4:07 PM8h 38m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:06 AM7:36 AM4:16 PM8h 40m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:03 AM7:33 AM4:31 PM8h 59m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:55 PM9h 38m

Computed for 46.351, -103.428 (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.

Stewart Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Stewart Lake NWR?

Yes. Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (638 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Stewart Lake NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Stewart 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 Stewart Lake NWR located?

Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Slope County, North Dakota, about 47 miles SW of Dickinson, ND (straight-line). GPS: 46.35126, -103.42801.

What are legal shooting hours at Stewart 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

White Lake NWR

Slope County, ND · 13 mi NE

1 special
🦌🦃🐦🐇

1K huntable acres

Lake Ilo NWR

Dunn County, ND · 77 mi NE

1 closed
🎣

Mclean NWR

McLean County, ND · 122 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

342 huntable acres

Bear Butte NWR

Meade County, SD · 131 mi S

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

402 huntable acres

D.C. Booth Historic NFH

Lawrence County, SD · 131 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Audubon WMD

McLean County, ND · 133 mi NE

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

26.2K huntable acres

All refuges in North Dakota →

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