National Fish Hatchery · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

Valley City National Fish Hatchery Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Valley City National Fish Hatchery lies in Barnes County, North Dakota, with about 78 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
78FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Valley City NFH 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 Valley City NFH

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 78 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed78 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 78 —

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 North Dakota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — North Dakota Game and Fish Department
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Valley City NFH

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Valley City National Fish Hatchery offers access to the Sheyenne River in multiple spots providing anglers with some good fishing opportunities. The hatchery also has fishing poles available to borrow while visiting the facility.

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

How to get to Valley City NFH

Navigate

Destination: Valley City National Fish Hatchery (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.96279, -98.02777
DMS
46°57′46.0″N 98°01′40.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Valley City, ND3.2 mi NW of town
  • Jamestown, ND32 mi E of town
  • Fargo, ND59 mi W of town
  • Moorhead, MN60 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • FAR Fargo Hector Intl57 mi
  • GFK Grand Forks Intl79 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 Valley City NFH

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, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM8:14 PM13h 24m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM7:46 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:59 AM7:29 AM7:14 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:18 AM7:48 AM6:47 PM10h 59m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM5:18 PM10h 05m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM4:59 PM9h 25m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:26 AM7:56 AM4:46 PM8h 50m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:40 AM8:10 AM4:43 PM8h 33m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:47 AM8:17 AM4:52 PM8h 35m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:43 AM8:13 AM5:07 PM8h 54m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:27 AM7:57 AM5:32 PM9h 35m

Computed for 46.963, -98.028 (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.

Valley City NFH FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Valley City NFH?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Valley City National Fish Hatchery. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Valley City NFH?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Valley City NFH. 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 Valley City NFH?

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

Where is Valley City NFH located?

Valley City National Fish Hatchery is in Barnes County, North Dakota, about 3 miles NW of Valley City, ND (straight-line). GPS: 46.96279, -98.02777.

What are legal shooting hours at Valley City NFH?

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

Valley City WMD

Barnes County, ND · 0.4 mi SE

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

19.7K huntable acres

Arrowwood NWR

Stutsman County, ND · 39 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

12.7K huntable acres

Arrowwood WMD

Stutsman County, ND · 44 mi NW

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6.3K huntable acres

Chase Lake Prairie Project WMD

Stutsman County, ND · 58 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

40K huntable acres

Kulm WMD

LaMoure County, ND · 63 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

45.1K huntable acres

Chase Lake NWR

Stutsman County, ND · 67 mi W

1 special
🦌

4.4K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in North Dakota →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.