National Wildlife Refuge · Washington · FWS Region 1

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge lies in Pacific County, Washington, with about 19,168 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 10 mapped hunt units: 5 open under general rules, 4 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 14,490 huntable acres.

5 open units4 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
10hunt units
14.5Khuntable acres
19.2KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Willapa 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 Willapa NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing.

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge contains 21,000 acres of uplands and tidelands divided into several management units. All State of Washington hunting regulations apply in addition to all federal and special Refuge regulations.

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 Washington regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (10)

Acreage by status
Open: 5,500 (28%)Special regulations: 8,990 (46%)Closed: 5,113 (26%)14.5Khuntable acres
  • Open5,500 ac 28%
  • Special regulations8,990 ac 46%
  • Closed5,113 ac 26%
Units by size (acres)
Long Island
5,454 ac
Closed Area
5,113 ac
Willapa Bay
2,893 ac
Leadbetter Point
2,080 ac
East Hills
1,865 ac
South Bay
802 ac
South Bay Hills
654 ac
Nemah North
344 ac
Riekkola
262 ac
Nemah South
136 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
East Hills
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,865 —
Nemah North
Show on map · Directions		 Open 344 —
Nemah South
Show on map · Directions		 Open 136 —
Riekkola
Show on map · Directions		 Open 262 —
Willapa Bay
Show on map · Directions		 Open 2,893 —
Leadbetter Point
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,080 —
Long Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,454 —
South Bay
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 802 —
South Bay Hills
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 654 —
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 5,113 —

Willapa NWR by the numbers

With about 14,490 huntable acres, Willapa NWR ranks #3 of 14 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Washington and #143 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 74% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Long Island (5,454 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Nemah South, covers 136 acres.

1 unit totaling 5,113 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 19,168 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 3,814 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Willapa NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Washington 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

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 Washington hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Washington 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 Willapa NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Refuge waters include portions of Willapa Bay and the Bear River. Fishing season is year-round. Available saltwater species include chum salmon and sturgeon. Fishing, from boat or bank, is permitted only on Willapa Bay.

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

How to get to Willapa NWR

Navigate

Destination: Willapa National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.45213, -123.96685
DMS
46°27′07.7″N 123°58′00.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Ilwaco, WA10 mi N of town
  • Astoria, OR19 mi N of town
  • Aberdeen, WA37 mi S of town
  • Olympia, WA65 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • PDX Portland Intl89 mi
  • SEA Seattle–Tacoma104 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 Willapa 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, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM7:57 PM13h 23m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM7:30 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM6:58 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:01 AM7:31 AM6:31 PM10h 60m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM5:02 PM10h 07m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM4:44 PM9h 28m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:08 AM7:38 AM4:31 PM8h 53m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:22 AM7:52 AM4:29 PM8h 37m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:29 AM7:59 AM4:38 PM8h 39m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:25 AM7:55 AM4:53 PM8h 58m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:10 AM7:40 AM5:17 PM9h 37m

Computed for 46.452, -123.967 (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 Willapa 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…

Willapa NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Willapa NWR?

Yes. Willapa National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 9 units (14,490 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 Willapa NWR?

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

Yes. Fishing is permitted (tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Willapa NWR located?

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is in Pacific County, Washington, about 10 miles N of Ilwaco, WA (straight-line). GPS: 46.45213, -123.96685.

What are legal shooting hours at Willapa 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

Lewis and Clark NWR

Clatsop County, OR · 22 mi SE

20 open4 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

12K huntable acres

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer

Wahkiakum County, WA · 30 mi SE

5 open1 special5 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Grays Harbor NWR

Grays Harbor County, WA · 36 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Abernathy FTC

Cowlitz County, WA · 42 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Cape Meares NWR

Tillamook County, OR · 67 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Three Arch Rocks NWR

Tillamook County, OR · 68 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Washington →

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