National Wildlife 

Refuge

Ice Fishing

Information and 

Regulations

Audubon

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

This goose, 

designed by J.N. 

“Ding” Darling, 

has become the 

symbol of the 

National Wildlife 

Refuge System.

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge

3275 11th St. NW

Coleharbor, ND 58531

701 / 442 5474

701 / 442 5546 fax

audubon@fws.gov

http://audubon.fws.gov

For State transfer relay service

TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information 

1 800 / 344 WILD

October 2006

Welcome Audubon National Wildlife 

Refuge (NWR) is managed 

by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service. The Refuge is one 

of over 540 refuges in the 

National Wildlife Refuge 

System -- a network of lands 

set aside to conserve wildlife 

and habitat for people today 

and for generations to come. 

Refuge The Refuge office and visitor

Information center is open from 7:30 am to 

4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, 

except for Federal holidays.

The northern portion of Lake 

Audubon is managed by the 

North Dakota Game and Fish 

Department. The southern 

portion of the lake is managed by 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Audubon NWR, and has different 

regulations and restrictions than 

the northern portion.

Refuge Both North Dakota Game and 

Regulations Fish Department and Refuge 

fishing regulations must be 

observed at all times on the 

Refuge.

Ice fishing is permitted when ice 

covers the water. 

There are six designated ice 

access points where vehicles may 

access the ice. Ice access points 

are marked with brown signs. 

See the map on the reverse side 

of this brochure for the location of 

the ice access points.

Ice access points often drift 

closed with snow and will not be 

plowed open. Please use caution 

when using these access points.

All vehicles, including 

snowmobiles and all-terrain 

vehicles, are allowed on the ice, 

and all vehicles must stay on 

public roads and use designated 

ice access points only.

Fish houses must be removed 

from the Refuge by March 15. 

Portable fish houses can continue 

to be used if they are removed 

daily. The Refuge closes to ice 

fishing on March 31.

Fish houses may NOT be left 

unattended on Refuge uplands or 

in parking areas.

Ice Safety Traveling on Lake Audubon ice

Information is always hazardous and requires 

caution and common sense. 

Travel across the ice only on 

safe established routes.

Be very cautious at night. Be alert 

to changing weather conditions.

Accessibility Equal opportunity to participate in 

Information 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 7-1-1 for 

a free connection to the State 

transfer 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 701 / 442 

5474, or the U.S. Department 

of the Interior, Office of Equal 

Opportunity, 1849 C Street, 

NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.
83

B

Coleharbor

To Bismarck

To Minot

Lake Audubon

Lake Sakakawea

Totten Trail

Boat Ramp

Pumping

Station

McClusky

Canal

Audubon

National Wildlife Refuge

N 0 Kilometers 1.5

0 Miles 1.5

Lake Audubon

Refuge Office & Visitor Center 

Refuge Boundary

Auto Tour Route

Gravel Road

Farm Buildings

Dikes

Ice Access Points

Audubon

National Wildlife Refuge

Fish Species Some of the common fish 

species in Lake Audubon 

are walleye, northern pike, 

yellow perch, black crappie, 

white bass, freshwater drum, 

burbot, and fathead minnow.

Black Crappie

White Bass

Yellow Perch

Walleye

All illustrations by Duane Raver / USFWS