National Wildlife Refuge · Washington · FWS Region 1

Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Yakima County, Washington, Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 1,998 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 9 mapped hunt units: 8 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 881 huntable acres.

8 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
9hunt units
881huntable acres
2KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Toppenish 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 Toppenish NWR

Hunters can pursue waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Water from Toppenish Creek –- the refuge’s namesake waterway –- and Snake Creek fill the refuge’s managed ponds during fall and winter. These ponds attract mallard and other ducks.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland 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 Washington regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (9)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 881 (44%)Closed: 1,118 (56%)881huntable acres
  • Special regulations881 ac 44%
  • Closed1,118 ac 56%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
1,118 ac
Pumphouse
253 ac
Robbins Rd
190 ac
Isiri
82 ac
Petty
81 ac
Webb
81 ac
Halvorson
79 ac
Chambers
76 ac
Cloe
40 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Chambers
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 76 —
Cloe
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 40 —
Halvorson
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 79 —
Isiri
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 82 —
Petty
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 81 —
Pumphouse
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 253 —
Robbins Rd
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 190 —
Webb
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 81 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,118 —

Toppenish NWR by the numbers

With about 881 huntable acres, Toppenish NWR ranks #11 of 14 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Washington and #361 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 44% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Pumphouse (253 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Cloe, covers 40 acres.

1 unit totaling 1,118 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Toppenish NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Washington 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 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 Washington hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Washington 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 Toppenish NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Toppenish NWR.

How to get to Toppenish NWR

Navigate

Destination: Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.31168, -120.35341
DMS
46°18′42.0″N 120°21′12.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Yakima, WA21 mi S of town
  • Kennewick, WA58 mi W of town
  • Hermiston, OR60 mi NW of town
  • Othello, WA66 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • YKM Yakima Air Terminal20 mi
  • PSC Tri-Cities (Pasco)59 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 Toppenish 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, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM7:43 PM13h 23m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:15 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:43 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM6:17 PM11h 00m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM4:48 PM10h 08m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM4:30 PM9h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM4:17 PM8h 54m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM4:15 PM8h 38m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:14 AM7:44 AM4:24 PM8h 40m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:10 AM7:40 AM4:39 PM8h 59m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:55 AM7:25 AM5:03 PM9h 38m

Computed for 46.312, -120.353 (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 Toppenish 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…

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…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Toppenish NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Toppenish NWR?

Yes. Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 8 units (881 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl, 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 Toppenish NWR?

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

Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge is in Yakima County, Washington, about 21 miles S of Yakima, WA (straight-line). GPS: 46.31168, -120.35341.

What are legal shooting hours at Toppenish 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

Umatilla NWR

Morrow County, OR · 46 mi SE

5 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Conboy Lake NWR

Klickitat County, WA · 52 mi SW

1 special2 closed
🦆🕊️

2.1K huntable acres

Hanford Reach National Monument

Grant County, WA · 53 mi NE

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

56.5K huntable acres

Columbia NWR

Adams County, WA · 65 mi NE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

13.5K huntable acres

Cold Springs NWR

Umatilla County, OR · 66 mi SE

2 open3 special
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

3.1K huntable acres

Spring Creek NFH

Klickitat County, WA · 68 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

38 huntable acres

All refuges in Washington →

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