National Wildlife Refuge · Oregon · FWS Region 1

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

Located in Washington County, Oregon, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 1,358 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 232 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
232huntable acres
1.4KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Tualatin 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 Tualatin River NWR

Hunters can pursue waterfowl and migratory birds here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

On the outskirts of Portland, Oregon, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is one of a handful of urban national wildlife refuges in the country. The refuge hosts a high quality, walk-in-controlled youth waterfowl hunting program.

Youth hunting

Youth only.

All refuges with youth hunts →
WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsMigratory 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 Oregon regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 232 (17%)Closed: 1,152 (83%)232huntable acres
  • Special regulations232 ac 17%
  • Closed1,152 ac 83%
Units by size (acres)
Closed to Hunting
1,152 ac
Riverboat
232 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Riverboat
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 232 — 🧒 Youth only.
Closed to Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,152 — 🧒 Youth only.

Tualatin River NWR by the numbers

With about 232 huntable acres, Tualatin River NWR ranks #14 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Oregon and #394 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 17% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Riverboat (232 acres, special regulations).

1 unit totaling 1,152 acres is closed to hunting (Closed to Hunting). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Tualatin River NWR

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

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Tualatin River NWR.

How to get to Tualatin River NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.38357, -122.84151
DMS
45°23′00.9″N 122°50′29.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Portland, OR12 mi SW of town
  • Vancouver, WA20 mi SW of town
  • Salem, OR32 mi N of town
  • Tillamook, OR49 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • PDX Portland Intl18 mi
  • EUG Eugene Airport89 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 Tualatin River 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, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM7:51 PM13h 20m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM7:25 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:54 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM6:28 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM5:00 PM10h 11m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:43 PM9h 34m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM4:31 PM9h 01m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:13 AM7:43 AM4:29 PM8h 45m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:20 AM7:50 AM4:37 PM8h 47m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:17 AM7:47 AM4:52 PM9h 05m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:03 AM7:33 AM5:15 PM9h 43m

Computed for 45.384, -122.842 (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 Tualatin River 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…

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…

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…

Tualatin River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Tualatin River NWR?

Yes. Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (232 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Tualatin River NWR?

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

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is in Washington County, Oregon, about 12 miles SW of Portland, OR (straight-line). GPS: 45.38357, -122.84151.

What are legal shooting hours at Tualatin 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

Wapato Lake NWR

Washington County, OR · 14 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

270 huntable acres

Ridgefield NWR

Clark County, WA · 28 mi N

1 special5 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

920 huntable acres

Steigerwald Lake NWR

Clark County, WA · 29 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Eagle Creek NFH

Clackamas County, OR · 33 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Baskett Slough NWR

Polk County, OR · 35 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦆

1.1K huntable acres

Franz Lake NWR

Skamania County, WA · 40 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Oregon →

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