Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge

Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935 and is one of over 565 refuges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge contains large tracts of northern mixed grass prairie that provide important habitat for nesting waterfowl and other grassland dependent birds.
Elk Hunting Opportunities - 2025/2026 Season

Beginning in the 2025/2026 season, the Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge will be open for elk hunting. Current permit holders should be aware that these opportunities listed in the final federal rule must align with state regulatory processes and therefore will not be available in the current 2024/2025 elk hunt season. 

Additionally, the Des Lacs, Upper Souris and J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuges will be open for elk hunting during the 2025/2026 season. North Dakota Game and Fish (NDGF) expects Lostwood, Des Lacs and Upper Souris refuges will most likely be part of Unit E5, with J. Clark Salyer expected to be under a separate management unit. To discuss these changes and answer questions, NDGF plans to host a landowner meeting in early December 2024.

Please monitor the NDGF website for more details on the upcoming public meeting, regulation changes, and other public hunting opportunities.

For other hunting regulations not pertaining to this federal rule, please follow the link here to our hunting brochure.

Visit Us

Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge is a prairie gem, containing one of the largest publicly owned tracts of northern mixed grass prairie in the United States. Wildlife dependent recreation opportunities such as hunting, bird watching, wildlife observation, hiking, and photography abound! Go explore the "visit us" tab for more specific information and feel free to contact the Refuge staff for information regarding specific plant or animal species.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge has the largest public-owned tracts of northern mixed-grass prairie that are left in existence. This glacial-formed landscape, located in the heart of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, is a vital breeding, nesting, and resting ground for migratory birds. Many resident wildlife species also make their home here year-round.

      What We Do

      Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It drives everything on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and waters managed within the Refuge System, from the purposes for which a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
      A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

      Learn more about national wildlife refuge       is established to the recreational activities offered to the resource management tools used. Using conservation best practices, the Refuge System manages Service lands and waters to help ensure the survival of native wildlife species.