Ridgefield NWR’s waterfowl hunt program offers a quality duck and goose hunting experience with a maximum of 21 spaced blinds on 760 acres. Hunters can enter a pre-season lottery system to obtain reservations for priority check-in or attend as a stand-by hunter to occupy remaining blinds. Various blind options are offered, including pit and box blinds and two accessible blinds for hunters with disabilities.    Northern shovelers account for a large percentage of bagged birds, but hunters also take good numbers of green-winged teal, mallard, American wigeon, gadwall, and northern pintail.

Ridgefield NWR Waterfowl Hunt Season Oct-Jan 

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is run in accordance with all Washington State Regulations. To understand how to hunt at Ridgefield you will need to know and understand the Washington state rules and regulations for waterfowl hunting.

Washington State Waterfowl Hunting Regulation

See Resource below for Ridgefield NWR specific regulations and processes. 

2026-2027 Season Dates to Remember

• Saturday October 31st Youth Hunt 

UPDATE: Standby youth parties will be included in morning check-in. No 10 am check in. General public hunting resumes at noon. 

• Wednesday November 11th Veteran's Hunt (By reservation ONLY, hunting until 1pm, no 10 am check -in)
• Thursday November 26th NO HUNTING, Thanksgiving
• Saturday January 30th Last Regular Hunt Day
• Saturday February 6th State Veteran's, Active Duty and Youth Hunt (must qualify per state regulations to hunt)

Please refer to state regulations for season regulations and dates specific to species.

39 total hunters* harvested 69 ducks and11 geese. 

*Individual hunters that occupy multiple blinds in one day are counted once for each blind.

Current Water Levels 

As a curtesy to hunters during the early season when water levels tend to be lower due to limited rain, staff will post wetland updates here. These will not continue to be posted when rain resumes and water levels even out for the season. 

Huntable blinds: 1, 1a, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7a, 9, 10, 11, 13, 13a, 14, 16, 17, 18

Low water but huntable: 8,19

Field blinds (always dry): 7b, 15

Closed for the season: 12, due to invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species treatment

(Updated Tuesday October 27th)

Optional Reservation Lottery

Reservations give hunters first blind pick during the morning check-in but are NOT required to hunt. See season documents below for details about the check in process and other site-specific information. 

Lottery applications have been awarded.