Visit Us

Our visitor services goal is to provide visitors of all abilities with wildlife-dependent recreation, interpretation, and environmental education opportunities that foster an appreciation and understanding of the unique wildlife, plant communities, and cultural resources of the Montana Prairie Pothole Region.

Ducks loafing on the edge of a lake
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Activities

Visitors to Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge can enjoy a variety of wildlife-dependent, public use activities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation. Most visitors use the 15-mile auto tour route. Brochures containing area maps, public use regulations, bird species, and general information are available for other surrounding National Wildlife Refuges.

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge provides numerous recreation opportunities to visitors every year. People enjoy viewing the unique geology and diverse wildlife, whether driving, hiking, or hunting. Regulation of recreation activities allow for public enjoyment of the refuge while still protecting the wildlife and habitats.

Hunting
Accessible trails
Auto tour
Biking
Birding
Dog walking
Hiking
Photography
Running
Wildlife watching
Trapping

Trails

Sign displaying the display pond trail route
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Display Pond Trail

Display Pond Trail is a 0.4 mile paved accessible trail. The trail offers accessible parking, and accessible viewing blind, a picnic tables and benches.

Other Facilities in the Complex

flock of flying mallard ducks dropping in to land
Black Coulee National Wildlife Refuge
Black Coulee National Wildlife Refuge is a land of rolling mixed-grass prairie with major drainages running in a northeasterly direction, and with a 173 acre reservoir. Black Coulee Reservoir provides water for migratory birds as well as nesting and brood-rearing habitat. It also serves as an...
National Wildlife Refuge
Malta,MT
Early summer on the short-grass prairie at Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge with two pronghorn antelope fawns lying in the vegetation.
Bowdoin Wetland Management District
The Bowdoin Wetland Management District was established in 1973 after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began protecting small wetland areas and grasslands. The District includes nine Waterfowl Production Areas, four satellite refuges, and over 150 grassland and/or wetland easements spread over a...
National Wildlife Refuge
Malta,MT
Mallard duck in flight
Creedman Coulee National Wildlife Refuge
Creedman Coulee National Wildlife Refuge is primarily composed of Refuge easements. Visiting Creedman Coulee National Wildlife Refuge requires securing permission from surrounding landowners, as there is no public access to the portion of the refuge owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
National Wildlife Refuge
Malta,MT
White-faced Ibis Silhouette
Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge
The general topography of Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge is rolling, mixed-grass prairie with the major drainage running in an easterly direction. The lake, enhanced by an earthen dam, creates a shallow seasonal wetland. In most years the lake goes dry by late summer, but during the spring...
National Wildlife Refuge
Malta,MT
Canadian geese in flight
Lake Thibadeau National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Thibadeau National Wildlife Refuge is primarily composed of Refuge easements on private lands. Visiting the refuge requires securing permission from an adjacent landowner, as there is no publicly accessible route to access the portion of the refuge owned by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
National Wildlife Refuge
Malta,MT
Pelicans migrating at Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge
Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located on the heavily glaciated rolling plains of northeastern Montana, between the Missouri River and the Canadian border. The Refuge, established in 1935, provides important breeding and stopover habitat for a diverse array of migratory birds.
National Wildlife Refuge
Medicine Lake,MT

Rules and Policies

Visitor Regulations

The refuge is open for public use from sunrise to sunset, except during hunting seasons when hunters are allowed 2 hours before sunrise and after sunset.

Foot travel is prohibited in the shop and residence areas and the railroad right-of-way year round. Foot traffic is prohibited in the East Unit from September 1 to November 30, except on the Auto Tour Route. Foot traffic is allowed on all other portions of the Refuge unless otherwise posted.

Motor vehicles, registered ATVs and OHVs, and bicycles are allowed only on the Auto Tour Route.

Parking is permitted in designated areas, pull-offs, and along the Auto Tour Route. Vehicles must not block traffic or gates, or disturb the soil.

Railroad lands within the Refuge boundary are managed as part of the Refuge. For visitor safety, walking, hunting, or driving along the railroad tracks or berm is prohibited.

Snowmobiles may not be operated on the Refuge.

Horseback riding is not allowed.

Boating is not allowed, except during the State fall waterfowl season, in areas open to waterfowl hunting. Boat motors are limited to a maximum of 25 horsepower.

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).

To lessen disturbance to wildlife, keep your distance when viewing or photographing them.

To protect wildlife and their young, dogs must be kept on leash from April 15 to August 15 on the entire refuge, and from September 1 through November 30 in the East Unit where walking is only allowed on the Auto Tour Route. All other times of the year, dogs must be under owner's control when not on leash.

Removing, harassing, injuring, disturbing, or destroying any animal or plant, except legal take of game in season, is prohibited.

Artifacts and historic items are protected by Federal law, and it is unlawful to search for or remove these objects on the Refuge.

Please do not litter. You are responsible to carry out all trash and dispose of it properly.

Overnight camping (including self-contained camper units) is not allowed. Public camping areas are available in Malta and at Nelson Reservoir.

If you observe a violation of Refuge regulations, please report it to a Refuge law enforcement officer, a Refuge staff member, or a State game warden.

Hunting Regulations

Hunting for dove, sandhill crave, upland game birds, and waterfowl, is permitted on select portions of Bowdoin NWR, as indicated on the map.

Non-toxic shot is required for all bird hunting on the Refuge.

The East Unit is closed to all migratory bird hunting. A late-season hunt for upland game birds opens December 1 and goes to the end of the State season.

Big game hunting is not allowed on the Refuge. Further, the Refuge may not be used to access adjoining land for big game hunting. Possession of a big game animal on the Refuge, other than while in transport on a public road is a violation. Using the Refuge to access adjoining land to retrieve a wounded big game animal is not allowed unless approved and accompanied by a Refuge employee or State game warden.

Fishing is not allowed on the Refuge.

All Refuge wildlife are protected, except those species for which hunting is specifically authorized.

Firearms are prohibited in closed areas. If you must retrieve a dead or injured game bird from a closed area, do not carry your firearm with you.

Shooting from roads is prohibited. Boating is allowed during the fall waterfowl hunting season, and only in areas open to waterfowl hunting. Boat motors are limited to 25 horsepower.

Hunters may not use air thrust boats.

Blinds, boats, decoys, other personal property, and any materials brought onto the area for blind constructions must be removed daily.

Please dispose of all waste when cleaning birds.

Commercial outfitting is not allowed on Bowdoin NWR, Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), or satellite refuges.

Locations

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge
(406) 654-2863
194 Bowdoin Auto Tour RoadMalta,MT59538-9617