National Wildlife Refuge · Missouri · FWS Region 3

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

Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in Chariton County, Missouri, with about 11,728 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 8 mapped hunt units: 7 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 11,672 huntable acres.

7 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
8hunt units
11.7Khuntable acres
11.7KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Swan 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 Swan Lake NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big-game hunting were expanded in 2015. Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established to protect habitat for ducks and prairie chickens.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, 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 craneSmall 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 Missouri regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (8)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 11,672 (100%)Closed: 37 (0%)11.7Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations11,672 ac 100%
  • Closed37 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
Main Refuge
8,767 ac
Perimeter
973 ac
Yellow Creek Bottom
901 ac
Truman Reservoir
446 ac
North Entrance
305 ac
Bates
230 ac
Yellow Creek Triangle
51 ac
Closed
37 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Bates
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 230 Required
Other		 Waterfowl
Main Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 8,767 Required
Other		 Waterfowl
North Entrance
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 305 Required
Other		 Waterfowl
Perimeter
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 973 Required
Other		 Waterfowl
Truman Reservoir
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 446 Required
Other		 Waterfowl
Yellow Creek Bottom
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 901 Required
Other		 Waterfowl
Yellow Creek Triangle
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 51 Required
Other		 Waterfowl
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 37 Required
Other		 Waterfowl

Swan Lake NWR by the numbers

With about 11,672 huntable acres, Swan Lake NWR ranks #3 of 5 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Missouri and #169 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Main Refuge (8,767 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Yellow Creek Triangle, covers 51 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 37 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 11,728 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 1,963 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Swan Lake NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Missouri 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, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 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
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Waterfowl

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

  • A valid Missouri hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Missouri Department of Conservation
  • 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 Swan Lake NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Major species include carp, buffalo and bluegill. Fishing season is March 1-October 15. Boat motors on Silver Lake are restricted to 10 hp or less.

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

How to get to Swan Lake NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.61147, -93.18491
DMS
39°36′41.3″N 93°11′05.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Chillicothe, MO23 mi SE of town
  • Columbia, MO65 mi NW of town
  • Kansas City, MO82 mi NE of town
  • St. Joseph, MO89 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • MCI Kansas City Intl84 mi
  • DSM Des Moines Intl135 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 Swan 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, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM7:46 PM13h 06m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM7:23 PM12h 31m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:57 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM6:35 PM11h 14m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM5:12 PM10h 32m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM4:58 PM10h 02m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM4:50 PM9h 36m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM4:49 PM9h 24m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:03 AM7:33 AM4:58 PM9h 25m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:01 AM7:31 AM5:11 PM9h 39m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM5:30 PM10h 10m

Computed for 39.611, -93.185 (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.

Guides for hunting Swan 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…

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…

Swan Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Swan Lake NWR?

Yes. Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 7 units (11,672 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Swan Lake NWR?

Yes — Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Swan Lake NWR?

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

Where is Swan Lake NWR located?

Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Chariton County, Missouri, about 23 miles SE of Chillicothe, MO (straight-line). GPS: 39.61147, -93.18491.

What are legal shooting hours at Swan 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

Big Muddy NFWR

Cooper County, MO · 59 mi SE

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

21.9K huntable acres

Great River NWR

Adams County, IL · 95 mi E

5 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

11.3K huntable acres

Loess Bluffs NWR

Holt County, MO · 114 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🎣

7.4K huntable acres

Marais des Cygnes NWR

Linn County, KS · 124 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5K huntable acres

Clarence Cannon NWR

Pike County, MO · 130 mi E

1 open2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Neal Smith NWR

Jasper County, IA · 135 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

4.6K huntable acres

All refuges in Missouri →

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