Welcome 

Ouray National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) 

was established in 1960 on land purchased 

by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with 

revenue from the sale of Migratory Bird 

Hunting and Conservation Stamps 

(Federal Duck Stamps). 

General Information

■ The Refuge headquarters is open Monday 

through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, 

except on Federal holidays.

■ Overnight camping or parking and open 

fires are not allowed on Refuge lands. 

■Disturbing, injuring, or removing plants, 

animals, natural objects (including shed 

antlers), or artifacts is prohibited. These 

items should be left for the enjoyment of 

all.

■ Please pack out any trash including shell 

casings, ammunition boxes, and fishing 

line.

■ Persons possessing, transporting, or 

carrying firearms on National Wildlife 

Refuges 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).

■All vehicles, including ATV’s, must stay on 

established roads.

■ Pets must be confined or leashed (except 

hunting dogs when participating in a 

legal hunt).

Refuge Hunting Regulations 

Hunting is permitted for ducks, geese, 

coots, pheasants, deer, elk, and turkeys 

ONLY in designated areas in accordance 

with State and Federal regulations. Duck, 

goose, coot, pheasant, and deer hunting is 

open for all State seasons. 

There are seasons and weapons restrictions 

on Refuge elk and turkey hunts as follows:

■ The Refuge is open to youth elk hunts, 

the general, and Uintah Basin extended 

archery elk hunts and limited late-season 

antlerless elk hunts (starting December 

1st). The Refuge is also open to Statemanaged depredation and disabled/

other elk hunts. The Refuge is closed for 

the general any-legal weapon (rifle) and 

muzzle loader bull elk hunts. 

■ The Refuge is open to turkey hunting 

for youth hunters only during the youth 

general turkey season. The Refuge is 

closed for all limited-entry turkey hunts 

(including the limited-entry youth hunt). 

■ HUNTING ANY OTHER WILDLIFE 

SPECIES IS PROHIBITED. There are 

areas within the Refuge that are closed to 

hunting (see map). 

Hours

During hunting season, the Refuge is open 

from 11⁄2 hours before sunrise to 11⁄2 hours 

after sunset. Public entry and use on the 

Refuge is prohibited during closed hours.

Hunting Areas

■ Portions of the Refuge are leased Tribal 

land (see map). However, a special hunting 

permit issued by the Ute Tribe is required.

■ The river, sandbars, and islands within the 

Refuge boundary are closed to hunting.

■ The northern one-third of Wyasket 

Bottom is open to pheasant, deer, elk and 

turkey hunting.

■ Leota Bottom is the only area on the 

Refuge that is open to duck, goose and 

coot hunting, but waterfowl hunting 

within 100 yards of the Green River in 

Leota Bottom is prohibited.

■ Leota Bottom is also open for pheasant, 

deer, elk, and turkey hunting. Access 

into this area is limited to foot, bicycle, 

horseback, canoes and small boats with 

electric motors only.

■ Sheppard Bottom is closed to all hunting. 

Johnson Bottom is open to pheasant, deer, 

elk, and turkey hunting.

■ Portions of Brennan Bottom that are on 

the Refuge are open to pheasant, deer, elk 

and turkey hunting.

Special Shot Restrictions

Only approved non-toxic shot may be 

possessed in the field while hunting 

waterfowl, pheasant, and turkey. 

Possession of lead shot while in the field on 

the Refuge is prohibited.

The hunting of waterfowl with a shotgun 

capable of holding more than three shells is 

prohibited.

Blinds and Other Uses

■ Hunters may use portable blinds or blinds 

constructed of natural dead vegetation, 

temporary tree stands, or climbing 

devices that do not require drilling or 

nailing into a tree. Hunters must remove 

all blinds/stands no later than the last day 

for which you have a permit.

■ The accessible hunting blind in Leota 

Bottom is not in service (until further 

notice) due to flood damage.

■ The Refuge prohibits use of bait or 

hunting over bait.

■ The Refuge prohibits the use of trail or 

game cameras.

Refuge Fishing Regulations 

Fishing is allowed on Refuge lands that 

border the Green River, but fishing within 

the Refuge impoundments is not allowed. 

All State of Utah and Tribal fishing 

regulations apply.

■ Fishing with the aid of trout lines, bows 

and arrows, spears, spear guns, cross 

bows, and firearms is prohibited.

■A fishing platform provides an accessible 

river fishing opportunity along the auto 

tour route in Sheppard Bottom (see map).

■ Please be aware that the razorback 

sucker, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback 

chub, and bonytail are endangered fish 

species found in the river and must 

be returned to the river unharmed if 

accidentally caught.

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 or 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 / 545 2522, 

or the U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C Street, 

Washington, D.C. 20240.

Hunting and Fishing Regulations

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Ouray

National Wildlife Refuge

This goose, designed by 

J.N. “Ding” Darling, 

has become the symbol 

of the National Wildlife 

Refuge System.
Ouray National Wildlife Refuge

HC 69, Box 232

Randlett, UT 84063

435 / 545 2522

435 / 545 2369 fax

ouray@fws.gov

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

For State Relay Serice

TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge Information

1 800 / 344 WILD

February 2016