Waterfowl hunting is possible on the wetlands within War Horse National Wildlife Refuge. Hunters should check carefully before planning a trip here. During drought the wetlands dry up in the fall, and the waterfowl hunting is nonexistent. These areas do offer public hunting for most huntable game species, such as mule deer and pronghorn during Montana hunting seasons, so there are opportunities to hunt even in dry years. The best bet is for sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse that reside in the grasslands and sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush . Hunters should plan on covering a lot of terrain to find these birds, which can be scattered over large areas.
Access
• Please park in either the designated parking areas or along the access road.
• Access into all units is by foot only.
• Accessing any wetland/reservoir/lake from within any unit requires that the boat be hand carried to the water. *A boat launching site to access Yellow Water Reservoir for small craft is available adjacent to the Yellow Water Unit.
Hours
• Hunting hours follow State regulations.
Authorized Public Uses
• All units of this Refuge are open to hunting, wildlife observation, and photography.
Hunting Regulations
• Hunting for waterfowl, upland game birds, pronghorn, deer, and elk in compliance with all applicable State hunting regulations is permitted on this Refuge.
• Steel or other non-toxic shot must be used to harvest waterfowl and upland game birds. Possession of lead shot in the field is prohibited.
• Decoys may not be placed or set earlier than three hours before legal shooting time on the day of the hunt and must be removed no later than three hours after legal shooting time.
• Portable blinds, tree stands, and other personal property, such as decoys, must be removed each day.
Prohibited Activities
• Shooting prairie dogs.
• Predator hunting.
• Trapping.
• The use of trail or game cameras.
• Offroad and shoreline mechanized travel.
• Drone use.
• Camping, to include vehicle or tent, and fires.
• Bird dog training using game birds - wild and/or captive-reared.
• Geocaching.
• Collecting or removal of any wildlife, parts thereof, nests, natural and cultural items.
• Fireworks and/or their possession.
• Target shooting - archery or firearm.
Firearms
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).
Firearms may only be fired in conjunction with a legal hunt for which the hunter is licensed.
We ask that you please help make a difference and help protect Refuge lands and your wildlife resources. Please report wildlife violations and suspicious activity any time you see them to an officer. Every set of eyes and tips are helpful to officers. To report a violation, please email NWR_TIPs@fws.gov 24 hours a day or call:
NWR Violation Reporting Hotline: 1-844-FWS-TIPS (397-8477)
State hunting and fishing violations: 1-800-TIP-MONT (847-6668)
In non-emergency events or for general law enforcement questions, contact the CMR Headquarters (406)-538-8706 and ask to be directed to the officer who works in the area where you have questions. Please be advised that our officers are usually in the field, so leaving messages in their direct voicemail is often the best way to get in touch with one.