National Wildlife Refuge · Oregon · FWS Region 1

Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge is located in Morrow County, Oregon, with about 3,349 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Washington. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 9 mapped hunt units: 5 open with special regulations and 4 closed, covering about 15,358 huntable acres.

5 with special regs4 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
9hunt units
15.4Khuntable acres
3.3KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Umatilla 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 Umatilla NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds, 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Hunting is an extremely popular activity on Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge. Regulated deer hunting is permitted on portions of the refuge, as is waterfowl and upland game bird hunting.

Youth hunting

A youth hunt is held annually.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, 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 Oregon regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (9)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 15,358 (65%)Closed: 8,412 (35%)15.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations15,358 ac 65%
  • Closed8,412 ac 35%
Units by size (acres)
Paterson
4,704 ac
Whitcomb
4,442 ac
McCormack
4,028 ac
Closed Areas - OR
3,179 ac
Closed Areas - WA
2,998 ac
Columbia River Islands - WA
2,020 ac
Boardman
1,608 ac
Ridge
576 ac
Columbia River Islands - OR
215 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Boardman
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,608 Required
Other		 Waterfowl and upland game bird hunting on McCormack
🧒 A youth hunt is held annually.
McCormack
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,028 Required
Other		 Waterfowl and upland game bird hunting on McCormack
🧒 A youth hunt is held annually.
Paterson
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,704 Required
Other		 Waterfowl and upland game bird hunting on McCormack
🧒 A youth hunt is held annually.
Ridge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 576 Required
Other		 Waterfowl and upland game bird hunting on McCormack
🧒 A youth hunt is held annually.
Whitcomb
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,442 Required
Other		 Waterfowl and upland game bird hunting on McCormack
🧒 A youth hunt is held annually.
Closed Areas - OR
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 3,179 Required
Other		 Waterfowl and upland game bird hunting on McCormack
🧒 A youth hunt is held annually.
Closed Areas - WA
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,998 Required
Other		 Waterfowl and upland game bird hunting on McCormack
🧒 A youth hunt is held annually.
Columbia River Islands - OR
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 215 Required
Other		 Waterfowl and upland game bird hunting on McCormack
🧒 A youth hunt is held annually.
Columbia River Islands - WA
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,020 Required
Other		 Waterfowl and upland game bird hunting on McCormack
🧒 A youth hunt is held annually.

Umatilla NWR by the numbers

With about 15,358 huntable acres, Umatilla NWR ranks #4 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Oregon and #139 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 65% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Paterson (4,704 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Ridge, covers 576 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

4 units totaling 8,412 acres are closed to hunting (Closed Areas - OR, Closed Areas - WA, Columbia River Islands - OR, and Columbia River Islands - WA). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Umatilla 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 — Big Game, Waterfowl, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 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

Required

Waterfowl and upland game bird hunting on McCormack

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

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 Umatilla NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is available in select refuge ponds and backwaters, and on the Columbia River. Available species include bass, crappie and carp in the refuge ponds and sturgeon, salmon, steelhead, walleye, crappie, sunfish, trout and bass in the river.

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

How to get to Umatilla NWR

Navigate

Destination: Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.89876, -119.59281
DMS
45°53′55.5″N 119°35′34.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Hermiston, OR15 mi W of town
  • Kennewick, WA31 mi SW of town
  • Pendleton, OR42 mi NW of town
  • Walla Walla, WA61 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • PSC Tri-Cities (Pasco)34 mi
  • YKM Yakima Air Terminal65 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 Umatilla 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, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM7:39 PM13h 21m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM7:12 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM6:40 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM6:14 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM4:46 PM10h 09m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM4:28 PM9h 31m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:48 AM7:18 AM4:16 PM8h 57m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:02 AM7:32 AM4:14 PM8h 41m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:09 AM7:39 AM4:22 PM8h 43m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:06 AM7:36 AM4:37 PM9h 02m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM5:01 PM9h 40m

Computed for 45.899, -119.593 (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 Umatilla 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…

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…

Umatilla NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Umatilla NWR?

Yes. Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (15,358 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, 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 Umatilla NWR?

Yes — Umatilla 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 Umatilla NWR?

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

Where is Umatilla NWR located?

Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge is in Morrow County, Oregon, about 15 miles W of Hermiston, OR (straight-line). GPS: 45.89876, -119.59281.

What are legal shooting hours at Umatilla 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

Cold Springs NWR

Umatilla County, OR · 21 mi E

2 open3 special
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

3.1K huntable acres

Mcnary NWR

Walla Walla County, WA · 34 mi NE

2 open11 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

13.1K huntable acres

Mckay Creek NWR

Umatilla County, OR · 45 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🎣

620 huntable acres

Toppenish NWR

Yakima County, WA · 46 mi NW

8 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

881 huntable acres

Hanford Reach National Monument

Grant County, WA · 55 mi N

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

56.5K huntable acres

Columbia NWR

Adams County, WA · 70 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🎣

13.5K huntable acres

All refuges in Oregon →

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