Hunt unit · Waubay National Wildlife Refuge

Hunt Unit Hunt Unit Map & Access

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The Hunt Unit is one of 2 mapped hunt units on Waubay National Wildlife Refuge in Day County, SD. It covers approximately 4,550 acres and is listed as “open to hunting” for 2026–2027. Hunting generally follows state seasons and bag limits, along with general refuge rules.

Navigate to unit Refuge overview Official hunt info ↗
4,550acres
Openstatus 2026–27
Norefuge permit
Day Countycounty

Hunt Unit map

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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
Downloads (whole refuge):KMLGPX

Rules & permits for this unit

Status: Open to hunting

Hunting follows South Dakota seasons, bag limits and licensing, plus general National Wildlife Refuge rules.

Game at Waubay NWR

Species listed for the refuge as a whole — a special-regulation unit may be limited to certain species. Confirm in the hunt brochure.

Getting to the Hunt Unit

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Destination: center of the Hunt Unit

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Decimal
45.42050, -97.32922
DMS
45°25′13.8″N 97°19′45.2″W

Nearest towns

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

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is a point inside the unit polygon, not necessarily a parking area or legal access point. Use satellite view to find roads, gates and designated parking, and respect closed areas and private inholdings.

Shooting hours at this unit

Today at Hunt Unit

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 45.420, -97.329 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

Weather forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Other units at Waubay NWR

UnitStatusAcresPermit
Closed AreaClosed80—

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