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
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 638 —
Closed Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,594 —

Stewart Lake NWR by the numbers

With about 638 huntable acres, Stewart Lake NWR ranks #27 of 28 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Dakota and #376 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 29% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Unit (638 acres, special regulations).

1 unit totaling 1,594 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Stewart Lake NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Dakota 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, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

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.

Guides for hunting Stewart Lake 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…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, 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…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

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 October 28, 2026.