National Wildlife Refuge · Alaska · FWS Region 7

Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 9,052,998 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open under general rules, covering about 9,052,525 huntable acres.

1 open unit
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
9.1Mhuntable acres
9.1MFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Yukon Flats 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 Yukon Flats NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing.

Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge has some great moose habitat, but that doesn't mean the moose are easy to find. Much of the refuge is covered in water, including shallow lakes, sloughs and meandering streams.

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 craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

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

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Open: 9,052,525 (100%)9.1Mhuntable acres
  • Open9,052,525 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Open 9,052,525 —

Yukon Flats NWR by the numbers

With about 9,052,525 huntable acres, Yukon Flats NWR ranks #3 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Alaska and #3 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Refuge (9,052,525 acres).

When to hunt Yukon Flats NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Alaska 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, Small Game
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
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

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 Alaska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  • 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 Yukon Flats NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Access is generally by commercial or charter aircraft from Fairbanks. The nearest road access is from the Steese Highway and from the Dalton Highway. Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge straddles the Arctic Circle.

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

How to get to Yukon Flats NWR

Navigate

Destination: Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
65.95867, -146.01174
DMS
65°57′31.2″N 146°00′42.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Fort Yukon, AK47 mi SW of town
  • Fairbanks, AK92 mi NE of town
  • Tok, AK202 mi NW of town
  • Galena, AK325 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • FAI Fairbanks Intl95 mi
  • ANC Anchorage Ted Stevens353 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 Yukon Flats NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Anchorage local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM9:12 PM14h 56m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM8:17 PM13h 17m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:21 AM7:51 AM7:16 PM11h 25m
Thu, Oct 15, 20268:06 AM8:36 AM6:22 PM9h 46m
Sun, Nov 1, 20268:05 AM8:35 AM4:19 PM7h 44m
Sun, Nov 15, 20268:57 AM9:27 AM3:29 PM6h 02m
Tue, Dec 1, 20269:57 AM10:27 AM2:39 PM4h 11m
Tue, Dec 15, 202610:38 AM11:08 AM2:09 PM3h 01m
Fri, Jan 1, 202710:42 AM11:12 AM2:21 PM3h 10m
Fri, Jan 15, 202710:08 AM10:38 AM3:06 PM4h 28m
Mon, Feb 1, 20279:13 AM9:43 AM4:11 PM6h 28m

Computed for 65.959, -146.012 (AKDT / 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 Yukon Flats 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…

Yukon Flats NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Yukon Flats NWR?

Yes. Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (9,052,525 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Yukon Flats NWR?

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

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

Where is Yukon Flats NWR located?

Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge is in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, about 47 miles SW of Fort Yukon, AK (straight-line). GPS: 65.95867, -146.01174.

What are legal shooting hours at Yukon Flats 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

Kanuti NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 156 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.3M huntable acres

Arctic NWR

North Slope Borough, AK · 180 mi N

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

19.6M huntable acres

Nowitna NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 243 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.9M huntable acres

Tetlin NWR

Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK · 258 mi SE

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

728K huntable acres

Koyukuk NWR

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · 297 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4M huntable acres

Selawik NWR

Northwest Arctic Borough, AK · 368 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.7M huntable acres

All refuges in Alaska →

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