In many places, Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge’s waterfowl hunting would make it a major sporting destination. But in a remote location in Idaho, it is a select hunting area. Often a group of hunters will have the whole place to themselves. Nearly 40 percent of the refuge’s 19,000 acres are open to hunting, and various opportunities are offered. Two boat launches are available. Motorized boats are allowed. There are also ample walk-in opportunities, ranging from areas where vehicles can almost pull up to the hunting spot to areas that require a long hike. Every duck species that migrates through Idaho can be found at the refuge during hunting season, including the occasional cinnamon teal. Boat hunters do better on diving duck species such as bufflehead, goldeneye, lesser scaup and redhead. Walk-in hunters find large numbers of mallard, northern pintail and green-winged teal. As fantastic as the hunting can be, it is a short season. The marshes are typically frozen by Thanksgiving and as early as November 1 some years.