National Wildlife Refuge · Montana · FWS Region 6

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

Swan River National Wildlife Refuge is located in Lake County, Montana, with about 1,933 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: 2 open with special regulations, covering about 1,933 huntable acres.

2 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
1.9Khuntable acres
1.9KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Swan River 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 River NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game and waterfowl, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

For bowhunters, all of Swan River National Wildlife Refuge offers the only public archery-only hunting for elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and black bear in northwestern Montana. Black bear hunting is allowed only during the fall hunting season.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Montana regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,933 (100%)1.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,933 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Big Game
1,173 ac
Waterfowl
760 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Big Game
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,173 —
Waterfowl
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 760 —

Swan River NWR by the numbers

With about 1,933 huntable acres, Swan River NWR ranks #17 of 23 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Montana and #328 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 Big Game (1,173 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Waterfowl, covers 760 acres.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Cruz WPA (322 acres, 2 miles S).

When to hunt Swan River NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Montana 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
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose

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 Montana hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
  • 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 River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include yellow perch, northern pike, kokanee salmon, cutthroat trout, brook trout, bull trout and mountain whitefish. Bull trout are a federally listed species and must be released if caught.

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

How to get to Swan River NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
47.90494, -113.85861
DMS
47°54′17.8″N 113°51′31.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Kalispell, MT29 mi SE of town
  • Missoula, MT72 mi N of town
  • Stevensville, MT97 mi N of town
  • Great Falls, MT122 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • FCA Glacier Park Intl34 mi
  • MSO Missoula Montana69 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 River 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, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM8:19 PM13h 27m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM7:50 PM12h 40m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:02 AM7:32 AM7:17 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:22 AM7:52 AM6:49 PM10h 57m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:48 AM7:18 AM5:19 PM10h 01m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:10 AM7:40 AM4:59 PM9h 19m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:33 AM8:03 AM4:46 PM8h 43m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:47 AM8:17 AM4:43 PM8h 25m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:54 AM8:24 AM4:51 PM8h 27m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:50 AM8:20 AM5:07 PM8h 48m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:33 AM8:03 AM5:33 PM9h 29m

Computed for 47.905, -113.859 (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 Swan River 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…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

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…

Swan River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Swan River NWR?

Yes. Swan River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (1,933 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game and waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Swan River NWR?

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

Can you fish at Swan River NWR?

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

Where is Swan River NWR located?

Swan River National Wildlife Refuge is in Lake County, Montana, about 29 miles SE of Kalispell, MT (straight-line). GPS: 47.90494, -113.85861.

What are legal shooting hours at Swan River 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

Northwest Montana WMD-Flathead County

Flathead County, MT · 18 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

7.2K huntable acres

Creston NFH

Flathead County, MT · 23 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pablo NWR

Lake County, MT · 23 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Ninepipe NWR

Lake County, MT · 34 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Northwest Montana WMD-Lake County

Lake County, MT · 42 mi SW

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

3.6K huntable acres

Lost Trail NWR

Flathead County, MT · 51 mi W

1 open1 closed
🦌🦃🐦

3.2K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in Montana →

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