Northwest Montana

Waterfowl Production Areas

 Lake County

Public Use Opportunities

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Welcome

Nestled in the Mission Valley of Lake 

County, Montana are nine waterfwol 

production areas (WPAs). These WPAs 

are part of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System — a network of lands managed 

to conserve fish, wildlife, and their 

habitats for the continuing benefit 

of the American people. 

WPAs are purchased and managed primarily 

to restore waterfowl habitat and provide 

for public hunting and recreation. Ninetyeight percent of the revenue generated 

from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps is put 

back into purchasing WPAs or to purchase 

conservation easements. By providing 

permanent secure habitat, these critical 

areas help to sustain North America’s 

waterfowl populations, while also benefiting 

many species of birds and other wildlife. 

These WPAs are administered by National 

Bison Range staff and are part of a larger 

network of wetland communities in the 

valley that are managed by our partners in 

conservation, the Confederated Salish and 

Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) and the Montana 

Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MTFWP).

Outstanding opportunities are available 

for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, 

photography, and environmental 

education. Hiking, cross-country skiing, 

and snowshoeing are also permitted on the 

WPAs. Please be mindful of regulations and 

comply with all posted signs. 

Accessibility Information

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 information 

or to address accessibility needs, please 

contact the Refuge staff at 406 / 644 2211, 

or the U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C 

Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240. 

General WPA Regulations

To help protect wildlife and wildlife 

habitat, and ensure your safety, we ask 

that you please follow the regulations 

listed in this leaflet.

■Motorized vehicle travel is prohibited.

■All personal property, except traps in use 

during trapping season, must not be left 

unattended and must be removed by 

1 hour after sunset. This includes 

vehicles, decoys, portable blinds, 

and fishing equipment.

■Pets must be on a leash and under 

control from April 1 to August 31. Pets 

must be under the owner’s immediate 

control at all other times of the year. 

■Leaving or dumping litter, including 

spent shotgun shells or any dead animal, 

is prohibited. 

■Persons possessing, transporting, or 

carrying firearms on National Wildlife 

Refuge System lands (including WPAs) 

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). 

■Target practice and clay-bird shooting is 

prohibited. 

■Collection or disturbance of natural 

objects, such as, plants, animals, feathers, 

antlers, or rocks and minerals is not 

permitted without a special use permit, 

with the exception of the gathering of 

dead plant materials for on-site blind 

construction (call the Refuge 

headquarters for more information).

■Camping and overnight use is prohibited.

■Fires are prohibited.

■Fireworks are prohibited.

■Possession or consumption of alcohol by 

persons under 21 years is prohibited.

■Possession of a controlled substance is 

prohibited (50 CFR 27.82).

■Drug paraphernalia, including any 

instrument that facilitates the 

consumption of a controlled substance, is 

prohibited.

Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Regulations

Hunting, fishing, and trapping is permitted 

in accordance with Joint State and 

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes 

(CSKT) Tribal Law. In addition to the 

general WPA regulations, the following 

regulations apply specifically to hunting, 

fishing, and trapping on the WPAs. 

■For daily bag and possession limits, 

licensing requirements, fees, and general 

regulations regarding hunting, fishing, 

and trapping, consult the Flathead 

Indian Reservation Hunting, Fishing 

and Recreation Regulations of the 

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes 

and the Montana Fish, Wildlife and 

Parks. Obtain a copy for more 

information by contacting the Tribal Fish 

and Game 406 / 883 2888 or Montana 

Fish, Wildlife & Parks 406 / 752 5501.

■All hunters, trappers, and anglers must 

have in their immediate possession a 

Joint Flathead Reservation Use and 

Conservation Permit with a Bird 

Hunting/Fishing Stamp or CSKT Tribal 

Identification Card. Permit vendors are 

listed in the regulations.

■Upon request of an authorized official, 

hunters, trappers, and anglers must 

show the required State and/or Tribal 

license authorizing hunting, fishing, or 

trapping.

■It is unlawful to hunt upland game birds 

and any waterfowl with a shotgun 

capable of holding more than three shells 

on any Lake County WPA.

■Only approved non-toxic shot may be 

possessed while hunting upland game 

birds and waterfowl on any Lake County 

WPA.

■The use or possession of alcoholic 

beverages while hunting is strictly 

prohibited (see 50 CFR 32.2(j)).

■Leaving decoys unattended is prohibited.

■The use of nails, bolts, wire, and screws 

to attach a stand or blind to a tree is 

prohibited.

This goose, designed by 

J.N. “Ding” Darling, is 

the symbol of the National 

Wildlife Refuge System.
National Bison Range Complex

58355 Bison Range Road

Moiese, MT 59824

406 / 644 2211

406 / 644 2661 fax

bisonrange@fws.gov

http://www.fws.gov/bisonrange/

Emergency – dial 911

After-hours Law Enforcement – 

Lake County Sheriff’s Office

406 / 883 7301

Montana Relay Service

TTY: 1 800 / 253 4091

Voice: 1 800 / 253 4093

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information

1 800 / 344 WILD

February 2015