National Wildlife Refuge · South Dakota · FWS Region 6

Waubay National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Waubay National Wildlife Refuge is located in Day County, South Dakota, with about 4,631 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 under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 4,550 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
4.6Khuntable acres
4.6KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Waubay 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 Waubay NWR

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

Hunting opportunities include big game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Visitors to Waubay National Wildlife Refuge find a lot of woodlands, an unusual habitat in eastern South Dakota. These woods provide good habitat for white-tailed deer, but too many deer can strip the forest bare.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammals

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

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 4,550 (98%)Closed: 80 (2%)4.6Khuntable acres
  • Open4,550 ac 98%
  • Closed80 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Unit
4,550 ac
Closed Area
80 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Open 4,550 —
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 80 —

Waubay NWR by the numbers

With about 4,550 huntable acres, Waubay NWR ranks #8 of 11 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in South Dakota and #268 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 98% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Unit (4,550 acres).

1 unit totaling 80 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Lewno WPA (148 acres, 1 miles S).

When to hunt Waubay NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. South Dakota 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
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer

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

Fishing at Waubay NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The refuge provides year-round sport fishing opportunities from non-motorized boats, canoes and kayaks on 2,840 acres for walleye, perch and northern pike. Special lake regulations limit yellow perch and restrict walleye size and limit.

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

How to get to Waubay NWR

Navigate

Destination: Waubay National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.42057, -97.33580
DMS
45°25′14.1″N 97°20′08.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Watertown, SD37 mi N of town
  • Aberdeen, SD56 mi E of town
  • Wahpeton, ND68 mi SW of town
  • Morris, MN70 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • ABR Aberdeen Regional53 mi
  • FAR Fargo Hector Intl106 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 Waubay NWR

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, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM8:09 PM13h 20m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM7:43 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM7:11 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:13 AM7:43 AM6:46 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM5:18 PM10h 11m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM5:01 PM9h 34m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:18 AM7:48 AM4:48 PM9h 01m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:31 AM8:01 AM4:46 PM8h 45m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:38 AM8:08 AM4:55 PM8h 47m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:35 AM8:05 AM5:10 PM9h 05m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:21 AM7:51 AM5:33 PM9h 43m

Computed for 45.421, -97.336 (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.

Guides for hunting Waubay 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…

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…

Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

Waubay NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Waubay NWR?

Yes. Waubay National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (4,550 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Waubay NWR?

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

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

Where is Waubay NWR located?

Waubay National Wildlife Refuge is in Day County, South Dakota, about 37 miles N of Watertown, SD (straight-line). GPS: 45.42057, -97.33580.

What are legal shooting hours at Waubay 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

Waubay WMD

Day County, SD · 0.5 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

41.1K huntable acres

Tewaukon WMD

Sargent County, ND · 40 mi N

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

16K huntable acres

Tewaukon NWR

Sargent County, ND · 40 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

6.9K huntable acres

Big Stone NWR

Lac qui Parle County, MN · 49 mi E

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.6K huntable acres

Big Stone WMD

Big Stone County, MN · 50 mi E

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

4.4K huntable acres

Sand Lake NWR

Brown County, SD · 51 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🐦🎣

19.5K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in South Dakota →

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