Updated April, 2025
Waterfowl hunting at the refuge began in the 2020-21 season, and provides waterfowl hunters with an opportunity that is easily accessible from the Portland metropolitan area. Waterfowl hunters will be assigned blinds at the perimeter of the 275-acre hunt area via a lottery system.
Hunting on the refuge 2025-2026 season:
Wapato Lake NWR free waterfowl hunt application will open October 1, 2025 and close October 31, 2025. Please check back here for the link to the application. The first hunt will be scheduled for December 2, 2025.
Update Regarding Waterfowl Hunting at Wapato Lake NWR:
2024 marked the first time in over 100 years that water was left on Wapato Lake through the year. That will be the same this year as well. Up to now, it has been drained over the summers for agricultural purposes and, most recently, for habitat restoration and infrastructure improvements. 2024 was the pilot year of holding water and iwas designed to help Refuge managers and partners refine habitat management practices and future restoration plans that benefit wildlife, plants, and people.
Again this season, instead of starting from a dry lake bed, the area will already be primed with standing water. As rain begins to fall the water levels will rise faster than in previous years. As the water level rises, the hunt will become increasingly more susceptible to flooding of the blinds, reduced ability for birds to forage, and may create difficult access to the blinds. Refuge staff are currently assessing how to mitigate some of these hurdles.
The pilot year provided a great deal of information for the future of the hunt program. The feedback received was helpful as we navigate this new stage in managing this public land. This work is a balancing act of how to best provide the hunt opportunity between the natural elements and the needs of the Refuge's restoration, infrastructure work, and other public uses. As staff continue to provide this free hunt opportunity, the aim will be to communicate what is happening with water levels and how it may affect current and future hunting at the Refuge.
General Hunt Information:
Blinds and Lottery Process
- Total of six blinds, including one ADA blind, with a maximum occupancy of 4 hunters per blind, will be available for each hunt day.
- No fees are required this year for entering the lottery, or to hunt, however, the refuge plans to implement a fee hunt program in subsequent years.
- All drawn hunters, from the lottery, will receive notification via email within two and a half weeks of the application process closing.
- Applicants that do not receive a draw in the lottery will also be notified by email. Each reservation holder will be allowed a maximum of three guests. Standby hunts are not available with this opportunity.
Refuge Hunting Regulations
- Hunt days are held on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, from early December to the end of the Zone 1 duck and coot season.
- The hunt area will be open for access 2 hours before and 2 hours after legal shooting hours.
- A maximum of four hunters will be allowed per hunting blind.
- The lottery winner must be present the day of the hunt, possess their special Refuge Hunting Permit, along with required state and federal regulations documents and must hunt the entire time the blind is in use. If the lottery holder leaves, so too must the guests.
- All hunters must hunt from the designated blind they were selected for, except to retrieve downed birds. Hunting from levees is prohibited.
- Disabled hunters must possess a valid Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit issued by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to qualify for preference in using the ADA blind or Federal Access pass.
- Harvest of waterfowl must be reported to the refuge. The process for submitting your harvest will be shared with those who have received a hunt date.
- Goose hunting is prohibited.
- Only non-motorized watercraft are allowed and only to facilitate access to the designated hunting blind, for retrieval of downed waterfowl and for decoy use (placement and retrieval of decoys). Only one non-motorized watercraft per blind is allowed.
- Decoys and other personal property must be removed immediately following your hunt.
- Littering (including empty shotgun hulls), abandoning, discarding, or otherwise leaving personal property unattended is prohibited.
- Only federally-approved non-toxic shot will be permitted.
- Dogs are allowed for retrieving waterfowl, they must be engaged in hunting activity and under the immediate control of a licensed hunter (see 50 CFR 26.21(b)).
- Vehicles are restricted to designated parking areas, no overnight camping or parking.
- The use or possession of alcoholic beverages while hunting is prohibited.
- Baiting of any wildlife, trapping, falconry, or netting is prohibited.
For questions, please contact refuge headquarters at [email protected] or 503.625.5944
Changes, including cancellation of hunts, may be necessary depending on water levels. Any new information will be posted to this site as soon as it becomes available.
