National Wildlife 

Refuge

Fishing and Hunting

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Browns Park
This goose, 

designed by J.N. 

“Ding” Darling, 

is the symbol of 

the National 

Wildlife Refuge 

System.

Welcome Browns Park National Wildlife 

Refuge (NWR) was established in 

1963 by Public Land Order to provide 

sanctuary for migratory birds, 

conserve endangered and threatened 

species, and offer wildlife-dependent 

recreational opportunities such as 

hunting and fishing. Wildlife, solitude, 

scenic beauty, and cultural history 

combine to make this Refuge a national 

treasure.

This 12,150-acre Refuge is 

administered by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service). It 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. 

This Refuge provides prime habitat for 

a variety of wildlife. More information 

about the Refuge’s wildlife, habitats, 

management, and recreational 

opportunities can be found in the 

general information leaflet available at 

kiosks and the headquarters.

General Refuge 

Regulations 

Hunting and fishing is permitted in 

accordance with Federal and State 

regulations and the following special 

regulations. Please familiarize yourself 

with the regulations, and respect the 

privileges of other Refuge users. 

This brochure is not meant to be an 

all-inclusive list, but it addresses some 

of the more common regulatory issues. 

Contact a Refuge Officer if you have 

any questions about the regulations.

Hours The Refuge is open daily from sunrise 

to sunset. After sunset, public activity 

is limited to the campgrounds. The 

Refuge office and headquarters is 

open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday 

through Friday, except on Federal 

holidays.
Access To protect wildlife from disturbance 

and minimize habitat damage, all 

motorized vehicles, off-road vehicles 

(ORVs), and bicycles must stay on 

developed roads. The speed limit on all 

Refuge roads is 25 mph unless posted 

otherwise. Driving off-road by any 

type of vehicle is prohibited. Watch 

for seasonal road closure signs March 

1 - July 31.

Parking Vehicles must park in pull-outs or 

within 10 feet of the road. Overnight 

parking is not permitted except 

for campers in the designated 

campgrounds. Overnight parking for 

river floaters is allowed with prior 

approval from the Refuge staff.

Government 

Property 

Individuals altering or destroying 

government property, including 

boundary fences, will be prosecuted. 

Check with the Refuge staff for 

availability of horse or stock gates.

Camping Camping is permitted in designated 

sites only at the campgrounds and is 

limited to 14 days in a 28-day period. 

To protect the solitude within the 

Refuge, the use of generators is 

allowed from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm only. 

Pack out all your trash. Campfires 

are allowed only in the metal fire 

rings provided at the campgrounds. 

Campfires should never be left 

unattended and must be completely 

extinguished. Developed Bureau of 

Land Management campgrounds 

are available nearby at Irish Canyon 

and the Taylor Flats Bridge.

Horses Horseback riding is permitted. 

Use of certified weed-free hay is 

recommended to minimize further 

introduction of invasive plants. Horses 

are not permitted in the campgrounds 

overnight. If the corrals by the 

Swinging Bridge campground are 

not in use by local ranchers, horses 

may be kept in these corrals.
Accessible 

Facilities 

An accessible waterfowl 

hunting blind and fishing pier 

are located near Hog Lake.

Animal and 

Plant Life 

Collecting, possessing, or 

destroying any plant, or animal 

or part thereof (alive or dead) is 

prohibited (except legally taken 

game). This includes shed antlers.

Fishing 

Regulations 

Fishing Areas

Fishing is permitted on the Green 

River and Beaver Creek in accordance 

with State fishing regulations. To 

protect breeding and migrating birds, 

fishing is prohibited on Straddle 

Bottom and Hog Lake. Colorado 

pikeminnow, an endangered species, 

must be released immediately. Use 

of spears, crossbows, and bows and 

arrows for taking or attempting to take 

fish is prohibited. 

Hunting 

Regulations 

Species 

Some areas are closed to hunting 

– be familiar with regulations and 

boundaries. Hunting is permitted 

in designated areas for mule deer, 

elk, ducks, coots, geese, mergansers, 

mourning doves, and cottontails. All 

other species are protected from 

hunting or trapping. All hunting 

is permitted during seasons set by 

Federal and State regulations.

Upland Hunting The Refuge spans Colorado Hunting 

Units 1 and 201, which are limited 

quota areas and may not be hunted 

with a general deer or elk license.

Waterfowl 

Hunting 

Waterfowl hunting is permitted 

on Straddle Bottom and Hog Lake 

wetlands. A section of the Straddle 

Bottom wetland crosses the Utah 

State line and requires a Utah State 

hunting license. The Green River is 

also open to waterfowl hunting except 

in the closed areas. Hunters must be 

within 20 yards of the river bank. 
Firearms, 

Explosives, and 

Other Weapons 

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).

Carrying, possessing, or discharging 

explosives, including fireworks, is 

strictly prohibited. Target shooting 

is prohibited.

Alcohol Use or possession of alcohol while 

hunting on the Refuge is prohibited.

Blinds and 

Stands 

Portable blinds or temporary blinds 

constructed from dead vegetation may 

be used. No tree stands, cutting of live 

vegetation, or digging pit blinds 

is permitted. 

Personal 

Equipment 

All personal equipment, including 

decoys and portable blinds, are to be 

removed from the field after daily 

hunting activities are completed.

Dogs The use of dogs for hunting and 

retrieving small game is encouraged. 

Dogs must be under the owner’s 

control at all times.

Gas Stations Gas stations are located 60 miles away 

in Maybell, Colorado, and 37 miles 

away in Dutch John, Utah.

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 more information or to address 

accessibility needs, please contact the 

Refuge staff at 970 / 365 3613, or the 

U.S. Department of the Interior, Office 

of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C Street, 

NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.

Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge

1318 Highway 318

Maybell, CO 81640

970 / 365 3613

970 / 365 3614 fax

brownspark@fws.gov

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

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For State relay service

TTY / Voice: 711

Colorado Division of Wildlife

Poaching Hotline

877 / 265 6648

For Refuge Information

1 800 / 344 WILD

September 2014