Fishing Regulations

National Elk 

Refuge

Contact Information

National Elk Refuge Administrative Office 

PO Box 510 

675 E. Broadway Avenue 

Jackson, WY 83001 

307 / 733 9212 

307 / 733 9729 fax 

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

national_elk_refuge/ 

Wyoming Game & Fish Department 

PO Box 67 

420 North Cache Street 

Jackson, WY 83001 

307 / 733 2321 

In an emergency, dial 911.

For State relay service 

TTY / Voice: 711 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

http://www.fws.gov 

For Refuge Information 

1 800 / 344 WILD 

June 2016

Welcome to National Elk Refuge 

The National Elk 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.

Required Licenses 

Fishing is allowed on the National Elk Refuge in accordance 

with State law, with some Refuge-specific regulations, as 

described below. A State of Wyoming fishing license is 

required when fishing Refuge waters. A conservation stamp 

is also required for resident and non-resident annual license 

holders; holders of daily fishing licenses do not need 

a conservation stamp.

Refuge Regulations 

Fishing licenses can be purchased at the Jackson Hole & 

Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center located at 532 North 

Cache Street in Jackson or at local sport shops.

Refer to Wyoming Fishing Regulations for size and limit 

restrictions.

Refuge access is limited to daylight hours only.

Access to Refuge waters is only permitted for the 

purpose of fishing. Access to Refuge waters for any other 

public use, such as photography, picnicking, and hiking, is 

not allowed.

Vehicles must be parked in established lots or turnouts. 

Off-road vehicle use is prohibited.

The use or possession of fish, fish eggs (real or artificial), 

or fish parts for bait is prohibited.

Worms and bait other than bait fish are permitted on 

the Gros Ventre River, Upper Flat Creek, and Sleeping 

Indian Pond.

Pets, boats, or other floating devices, overnight camping, 

and fires are prohibited.

Refuge special use permits are required for all 

commercial activities, included commercially guided 

fishing. 

This blue goose, designed by J.N. 

“Ding” Darling, is the symbol of the 

National Wildlife Refuge System.

National Elk Refuge 

Fishing Regulations

Fishing is permitted on the National Elk 

Refuge in compliance with laws and regulations 

of the State of Wyoming and is subject to the 

regulations of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 

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Refuge

Boundary

Federal

Highway

Public Road

Visitor

Center

Administrative

Office

Accessible

Fishing Site

Parking

Area

Jackson National

Fish Hatchery

National Elk Refuge

Fishing Regulations

26

89

Gros

Ventre

River

Nowlin

Creek

Jackson East Broadway Avenue

Miles 0 1 2

0 1 2 Kilometers

Flat Creek Road

Miller Butte

To

Jackson

daoR eguf eR

Curtis Canyon Road

Gros Ventre Road

Bri d g e r- Te t o n

N a t i o n al Fo r e s t

Gr a n d Te t o n

Na t i o n a l P a r k

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89

Kelly

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89

N

McBride Bridge

Lower Flat

Creek South

Boundary

Highway Fishing Access

Hatchery Access

Upper Flat

Creek

National

Elk

Refuge

Wyomi n g

Sheridan

Gillette

Casper

Rawlins

Evanston Laramie

Rock Springs Green River

Jackson

Cody

90

14

85

Lander

Cheyenne

287

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National

Elk Refuge

Lower Flat Creek

Nowlin Creek

Boundary

Open Waters 

Gros Ventre River is open year round. Access is through 

Grand Teton National Park along the Gros Ventre Road.

Upper Flat Creek is open upstream from the McBride 

Bridge to the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary 

from May 1 through November 30.

Lower Flat Creek and Nowlin Creek are open to fishing from 

August 1 through October 31 between posted boundaries. 

These boundaries are at the Old Crawford Bridge site 

upstream to the McBride Bridge on the Flat Creek Road 

and up Nowlin Creek from its confluence with Flat Creek to 

the Closed Area boundary sign. Area restricted to artificial 

flies only.

Sleeping Indian Pond is located at the Jackson National 

Fish Hatchery. Fishing hours at the pond are from 8:00 am 

to 4:00 pm. The creel limit is restricted to one fish per day 

per licensed angler. This location is also designated as an 

area for anglers with disabilities.

All other Refuge waters are closed to fishing.

Snake River Cutthroat Trout 

Refuge waters provide critical habitat for the only native 

fish to the region, the Snake River cutthroat trout. 

Invasive Species 

Waters on the National Elk Refuge can also hold brook, 

brown, and rainbow trout. The Wyoming Game and Fish 

Department strongly encourages harvesting these nonnative species in order to reduce their impact on the native 

cutthroat trout population. 

The Wyoming Game & Fish Department and the National 

Elk Refuge promote best practices to prevent the spread 

of unwanted Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Anglers are 

asked to DRAIN, CLEAN, and DRY all fishing gear before 

re-use in a new body of water.

Accessibility 

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 307 / 733 9212, or the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Office of Equal Opportunity, 

1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.

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