Charles M. Russell WMD
Fergus County, MT
✓1 open!1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
6.6K huntable acres
County guide · Montana · MT WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Musselshell County, MT
Musselshell County has 1 named Waterfowl Production Area covering 557 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land.
WPAs here are managed by the Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 1,892 square miles and has roughly 4,730 residents. WPAs make up about 0.0% of its land area.
1named WPAs
557acres of WPA land
557largest WPA (ac)
2refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Musselshell County
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — federally owned public land. Land outside them is almost always private. Switch to satellite to check water conditions and cover, and click any tract for coordinates.
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Waterfowl Production Area (public)County lineRefuge / station
Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
All Waterfowl Production Areas in Musselshell County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tew WPA 532 deeded ac |
557 | 28 mi N of Billings | 46.16992, -108.63187 |
Map · Directions |
Acreage from USFWS realty GIS polygons. Coordinates are a point inside each tract — not necessarily a parking area. Look for designated parking and boundary signs on the ground.
Hunting WPAs in Musselshell County: rules & tips
Typically allowed
- Hunting waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Montana regulations
- Walk-in access from roads and designated parking areas
- Fishing and trapping where state and district rules allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and dog training outside restricted periods
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most tracts
- Motor vehicles only on designated roads and parking areas
- Blinds and portable stands usually removed at the end of each day
- Nontoxic shot required for waterfowl; many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas, refuge-style rules or seasonal restrictions
Getting to Musselshell County
Distances below are straight-line from the center of the county. Most WPAs are reached by county and township gravel roads — download the GPX file and load it into your phone or GPS before you lose cell coverage.
- Billings, MT45 mi — county center is N of town
- Lewistown, MT69 mi — county center is SE of town
- Jordan, MT91 mi — county center is SW of town
- Miles City, MT118 mi — county center is W of town
Shooting hours in Musselshell County
Today at Musselshell County
Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–
*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Denver local time.
Full season calculator →2026–2027 season sun table
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:02 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:55 PM | 13h 23m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:19 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:27 PM | 12h 38m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:40 AM | 7:10 AM | 6:55 PM | 11h 46m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:28 PM | 11h 00m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 5:00 PM | 10h 07m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:44 AM | 7:14 AM | 4:42 PM | 9h 28m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:05 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:29 PM | 8h 54m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:27 PM | 8h 37m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:26 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:35 PM | 8h 39m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:22 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:50 PM | 8h 58m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:15 PM | 9h 37m |
Computed for 46.422, -108.318 (MDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Musselshell County
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Refuges & districts with land in Musselshell County
Refuge hunt units in Musselshell County
| Unit | Refuge | Status | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Unit | Lake Mason NWR | ✓Open | 5,293 |
| South Half Lake | Lake Mason NWR | ✓Open | 1,392 |
| Willow Creek Unit | Lake Mason NWR | ✓Open | 2,139 |
| North Half Lake | Lake Mason NWR | ✕Closed | 2,421 |
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Golden Valley County, MT 1 WPAs · 775 ac
- Petroleum County, MT 1 WPAs · 41 ac
- Yellowstone County, MT 1 WPAs · 487 ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.