U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Bear River

Migratory Bird Refuge

Hunting and Fishing 

Regulations
Welcome The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge 

was established in 1928 to protect feeding 

and breeding grounds for migratory 

waterfowl. The Refuge is one of over 560 

refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge 

System – a network of lands set aside 

specifically for wildlife. Managed by the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 

Refuge System is a living heritage, 

preserving wildlife and habitat for people 

today and for generations to come.

The Refuge office is located in the Wildlife 

Education Center and is open Monday – 

Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, except 

for Federal holidays. The office and 

Wildlife Education Center are also open 

on Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

For your safety, please observe all of the 

regulations covered in this brochure. See 

the Refuge general brochure for 

additional information.

General Refuge 

Regulations

Vehicles and 

Parking

■ Legally licensed vehicles are allowed 

on Refuge roads open to the public. 

Unlicensed off-highway vehicles 

(OHVs), such as motorcycles or 

all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), may not 

be used on the Refuge.

■ Parking is permitted in designated 

parking areas only and is strictly 

enforced.

■ The Refuge auto tour road is open 

from sunrise to sunset.

Fires and 

Camping

Fires and camping are prohibited on the 

Refuge. Overnight RV parking is also 

prohibited.

Firearms ■ Persons possessing, transporting, 

or carrying firearms on National 

Wildlife Refuge System lands must 

comply with all provisions of State 

and local law. Persons may only use 

(discharge) firearms in accordance 

with refuge regulations (50 CFR 

27.42 and specific refuge regulations 

in 50 CFR Part 32).

■ You may only discharge firearms 

on the Refuge during legal hunting 

activities.

■ Target shooting on the Refuge is 

prohibited. 

This goose, 

designed by J.N. 

“Ding” Darling, 

is the symbol 

of the National 

Wildlife Refuge 

System.
Refuge Hunting 

Regulations

Ducks, geese, coots, tundra (whistling) 

swans, and pheasant may be hunted 

as described below. Hunting any other 

wildlife species is prohibited.

■ Tundra swan hunting requires a 

special Utah State Permit. Swan 

hunting is permitted in all areas of the 

Refuge open to public hunting. 

■ No personal property may be left on 

the Refuge overnight.

■ The use or possession of alcoholic 

beverages while hunting is prohibited.

■ All commercial guiding and outfitting 

activities are prohibited on the 

Refuge.

■ Current Federal and State regulations 

for seasons, hours, and bag and 

possession limits apply. Consult 

the Utah Waterfowl Proclamation 

(available at the Refuge office and at 

http://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/) 

for a complete list of State regulations.

■ Archery hunting is prohibited on the 

Refuge.

■ Entering hunt units prior to the 

opening day of hunting season is 

prohibited.

Hunting Areas ■ See the map for the locations of open 

hunting areas.

■ No hunting or shooting is allowed 

within 100 yards of primary Refuge 

roads, parking areas, or observation 

platforms. 

Littering Please pack out any trash generated 

during your hunt, including spent shot 

shells.

Hours You may enter the Refuge 2 hours 

before legal sunrise and must exit the 

Refuge by 2 hours after legal sunset 

during Refuge hunting seasons. 

Retrieving Hunters may not enter closed areas to 

retrieve birds. Be sure to allow enough 

room between the closed area boundary 

and where you are hunting to retrieve 

your birds.
Special Shot 

Restrictions

■ Non-toxic shot is required on the 

Refuge. 

■ You may possess only 10 shells while 

hunting within 50 feet of the center of 

the Unit 1A and 2C dikes (see map).

Boats ■ Small motor boats are permitted in all 

hunt units during waterfowl hunting 

season. Utah State laws requiring 

registration and safety equipment 

apply. 

■ Boats may be launched only at 

designated boat ramps. 

■ Air boats are permitted only in 

Unit 9 and Willard Spur. 

Blinds ■ The use of pit and permanent blinds 

is prohibited. Only temporary blinds 

made out of natural materials are 

permitted on the Refuge.

■ Blinds may not be built on the Refuge 

prior to the opening day of hunting 

season.

■ All temporary blinds are available on a 

first-come, first-served basis.

Refuge Fishing 

Regulations

■ Fishing is allowed on the Refuge at

the following three locations: Refuge 

lands along the main Bear River 

channel upstream from the River 

Delta Interpretive Area; Refuge lands 

accessible from West Forest Street 

along the Reeder Canal; and Refuge 

lands north of West Forest Street 

along the Whistler canal.

■ Fishing west of the auto tour road 

access gate is allowed from sunrise to 

sunset.

■ Fishing is allowed in accordance with 

Utah State regulations only (see Utah 

Fishing Proclamation available at 

the Refuge Office, all Utah sporting 

goods vendors, and at http://

wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/).

■ Fishing is allowed by foot access only.

■ Fishing from Refuge bridges and 

water control structures is prohibited.

■ Please pack out all trash generated 

during fishing, including fishing line 

and hooks.
Accessibility Information

An accessible hunting blind, located in Unit 10, is available to hunters with a reservation from the Refuge office 435 / 723 5887.

Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available to all individuals regardless 

of physical or mental ability. Dial 711 for a free connection to the State relay service for TTY and voice calls to and from the speech and hearing impaired. 

For more information or to address accessibility needs, please contact the Refuge staff at 435 / 723 5887. Further concerns may be directed to the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C Street NW, Washington DC 29240.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

2155 West Forest Street

Brigham City, UT 84302-4424

435 / 723 5887 or 

435 / 734 6422

435 / 723 8873 fax

bearriver@fws.gov

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear_river_migratory_bird_refuge

For Refuge hunting and fishing information

435 / 734 6427

For State relay service

TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information

1 800 / 344 WILD

June 2014