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 Stillwater County, MT
Stillwater County has 2 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 4,572 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Hansen WPA at 2,806 acres; the average tract is about 2,286 acres.
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 1,793 square miles and has roughly 8,963 residents. WPAs make up about 0.4% of its land area.
2named WPAs
4.6Kacres of WPA land
2,806largest WPA (ac)
3refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Stillwater 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 Stillwater County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hansen WPA 2,683 deeded ac |
2,806 | 25 mi W of Billings | 45.88090, -109.00618 |
Map · Directions |
| Hailstone WPA 1,828 deeded ac |
1,766 | 36 mi NW of Billings | 46.00413, -109.18029 |
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 Stillwater 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 Stillwater 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, MT36 mi — county center is W of town
- Cody, WY78 mi — county center is N of town
- Bozeman, MT88 mi — county center is E of town
- Lewistown, MT98 mi — county center is S of town
Shooting hours in Stillwater County
Today at Stillwater 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 | 6:06 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:57 PM | 13h 21m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:30 PM | 12h 37m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:59 PM | 11h 46m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:01 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:33 PM | 11h 02m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:25 AM | 6:55 AM | 5:05 PM | 10h 10m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:45 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:47 PM | 9h 32m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:06 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:35 PM | 8h 59m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:33 PM | 8h 43m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:27 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:42 PM | 8h 45m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:23 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:57 PM | 9h 03m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:09 AM | 7:39 AM | 5:20 PM | 9h 42m |
Computed for 45.647, -109.213 (MDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Stillwater 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 Stillwater County
Refuge hunt units in Stillwater County
| Unit | Refuge | Status | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPA Open | Charles M. Russell WMD | ✓Open | 6,344 |
| Open Unit | Grass Lake NWR | ✓Open | 1,712 |
| Closed Unit | Grass Lake NWR | ✕Closed | 1,682 |
| Hunt Unit | Hailstone NWR | ✓Open | 156 |
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Golden Valley County, MT 1 WPAs · 775 ac
- Yellowstone County, MT 1 WPAs · 487 ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.