National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

Sutter National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Sutter National Wildlife Refuge is located in Sutter County, California, with about 2,617 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: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 1,222 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
1.2Khuntable acres
2.6KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Sutter 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 Sutter NWR

Hunting opportunities include waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

At nearly 2,600 acres, Sutter National Wildlife Refuge provides good opportunities for waterfowl, pheasant and turkey hunters. The check stations are operated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as a type-A area.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland 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 California regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,222 (47%)Closed: 1,394 (53%)1.2Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,222 ac 47%
  • Closed1,394 ac 53%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
1,394 ac
Free Roam
686 ac
Assigned Ponds
406 ac
Pheasant Only
130 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Assigned Ponds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 406 —
Free Roam
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 686 —
Pheasant Only
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 130 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,394 —

Sutter NWR by the numbers

With about 1,222 huntable acres, Sutter NWR ranks #16 of 21 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in California and #349 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 47% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Free Roam (686 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Pheasant Only, covers 130 acres.

1 unit totaling 1,394 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Sutter NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. California 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, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 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 California hunting license and any required tags or stamps — California Department of Fish and 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 Sutter NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Sutter NWR.

How to get to Sutter NWR

Navigate

Destination: Sutter National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.06847, -121.75085
DMS
39°04′06.5″N 121°45′03.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Yuba City, CA8.6 mi SW of town
  • Sacramento, CA37 mi NW of town
  • Willows, CA39 mi SE of town
  • Chico, CA46 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • SMF Sacramento Intl27 mi
  • RDD Redding Regional104 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 Sutter 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, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM7:39 PM13h 05m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:17 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:51 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM6:30 PM11h 15m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM5:07 PM10h 34m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM4:54 PM10h 05m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM4:45 PM9h 39m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:48 AM7:18 AM4:45 PM9h 27m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:55 AM7:25 AM4:53 PM9h 28m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:54 AM7:24 AM5:06 PM9h 42m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:26 PM10h 12m

Computed for 39.068, -121.751 (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 Sutter 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…

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…

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…

Sutter NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Sutter NWR?

Yes. Sutter National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (1,222 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Sutter NWR?

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

Sutter National Wildlife Refuge is in Sutter County, California, about 9 miles SW of Yuba City, CA (straight-line). GPS: 39.06847, -121.75085.

What are legal shooting hours at Sutter 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

Colusa NWR

Colusa County, CA · 17 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

1.3K huntable acres

Delevan NWR

Colusa County, CA · 25 mi NW

5 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

2K huntable acres

Sacramento NWR

Glenn County, CA · 32 mi NW

4 special1 closed
🦆🦃🐦🕊️

3.5K huntable acres

North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area

Butte County, CA · 38 mi N

3 special2 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

741 huntable acres

Stone Lakes NWR

Sacramento County, CA · 50 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦆🎣

174 huntable acres

Antioch Dunes NWR

Contra Costa County, CA · 73 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in California →

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