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Hunting at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Washington. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Ridgefield
National Wildlife Refuge
Hunting Regulations 2020–2021
Welcome
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge was
established in 1965 along the Columbia
River to “provide wintering habitat for
the dusky subspecies of Canada goose.”
The 5300-acre refuge contains wetlands,
grasslands, riparian corridors, and forests.
These habitats provide a home for native
species, including wintering waterfowl.
Waterfowl hunting is offered on
approximately 760 acres in a spaced blind
area on the River S Unit.
(Refuge Office Closed to Public)
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex
28908 N Main Ridgefield, WA 98642
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
360-887-4106
Ridgefieldhunt@fws.gov
http://www.fws.gov/Refuge/Ridgefield
September 2020
Safety
Any injuries or accidents occurring on the Refuge must be reported immediately to the check
station staff or to the Refuge Manager. Please, also promptly report any hazardous conditions
requiring attention.
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.)
Vehicles
Licensed motor vehicles are permitted only on public use roads and as shown on the map.
ATVs and UTVs are prohibited.
Accessibility Information
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and activities of the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service is available to all individuals regardless of physical or mental ability.
For more information please contact the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Equal
Opportunity, https://www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/public-civil-rights.
Hunting Regulations
Hunting regulations are designed to provide safe recreational opportunities through wise use
of renewable wildlife resources. Hunting is permitted in accordance with Federal regulations
governing public use on National Wildlife Refuges as set forth in Title 50 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. Hunting will be in accordance with applicable State of Washington
regulations subject to the conditions stated below.
Access/ Check-in
Hunters may only access the Refuge two hours before legal sunrise until two hours after
legal sunset or after the last hunter has left the hunt area, whichever is earliest. See
calendar for details for hunt days. Only hunting parties with a reservation holder will
be permitted to check-in for the morning draw at 1 hour and 45 minutes before legal
shooting time. All standby hunting opportunities will begin at 10 am. Upon checkin, the hunter check station attendant will check your hunting license and duck stamp, and
supply you with both a fee envelope and a Migratory Bird Harvest Report form. Once check-in
is complete, you may proceed to your assigned blind. The Migratory Bird Hunt Report form is
stamped as your receipt, and must be carried with you while hunting. Hunters must park in
designated parking areas, as identified on the map.
Dogs
The use of a trained retriever is encouraged but not required to minimize waste of harvested
waterfowl. Dogs must be kept on leash in parking lots and while hiking to/from blinds. Pet
waste must be removed, as it is unhealthy for wildlife and water quality.
This is a unit of the National Wildlife
Refuge System, a network of lands
and waters managed for the benefit of
wildlife and people.
Harvest Reporting/ Check out
All hunters must check out at the hunter check station, complete a Migratory Bird Harvest
Report and present all harvested birds for inspection. The check station operator will verify
the identification of all harvested birds, as well as compliance with bag limits and other
hunting regulations.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Ridgefield
National Wildlife Refuge
Hunt Check Station & Reservation Lottery
Reservation Lottery (optional)
Reservations give hunters first blind picks
during the morning check-in but are not
required to hunt. Successful reservation
applicants are randomly selected by a
computer drawing. Reservations are not
transferable and are valid until 1 3/4 hours
before legal shooting time on the day of
the reservation. Reservations lost due to
an emergency, weather or safety issue
imposed by the CDC/State related closure
will not be reissued or refunded.
Reservations for the entire season
will be generated in one pre-season
lottery and must be submitted
electronically (Paper applications not
accepted) by 3:30 pm on September
17, 2020 along with accompanying
payment (postmark not accepted).
Only one application per person is
allowed.
The application is online at: www.
fws.gov/refuge/Ridgefield/visit/
waterfowl_hunting.html
Changes for 2020-2021 Hunt Season:
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic programmatic changes have been
made that must be followed to maintain hunter, staff and community
safety. See below for further details.
General: Species open to hunting – duck, goose, and coot only (see calendar for details)
Hunters are responsible for knowing all applicable WA State & Refuge Regulations for
hunting and providing all necessary documents and daily recreation fees upon check-in.
Morning Blind Selection for Reservation holders only:
Only hunting parties with a reservation holder will be permitted to check-in for
the morning draw. All hunters must be present and signed in at the check station no later
than 1 hour 45 minutes before legal shooting time. Those arriving after this time forfeit their
chance to participate in the morning blind selection. After signing in, you must wait in
your car. You will be called by an AM radio for your blind selection. Only one party
at a time (< 3 individuals) will be allowed under the awning at a time.
10 am Blind Selection for Standby Hunters:
All standby hunting opportunities will begin at 10 am. Any standby hunters present
at 10 am must sign in. Each standby party will be issued a number coinciding to a ping
pong ball entered into a lottery. To keep the lottery odds fair, these self-identified parties
are binding through blind selection. Once each party has been assigned a ping pong ball
number, all parties must return to their vehicle. The check station operator will conduct the
ping pong ball lottery in the check station. You will be called by an AM radio for your
blind selection. Only one party at a time (< 3 individuals) will be allowed under the
awning at a time.
After filling out the form electronically,
make sure to note the number of picks
you will need to make payment for and
then press ‘submit’. Your application is not
complete until payment is received. At that
time, you will receive a confirmation email.
Note: Blinds will only be occupied once per day. This creates a vacancy between
hunting parties of >24 hours to accommodate the virus to denature in the environment If any
blinds remain unselected after the 10 am blind assignment, hunters arriving after 10 am will
be allowed to select from them on a first-come, first served basis until all blinds have been
assigned for the day. Hunters switching blinds will be subject to either the 10:00 am lottery
or any current waiting list for unselected blinds and must follow check out procedures before
entering a new blind.
Applications fees are $1.00 per date
selected (up to the maximum of 30 days)
payable via cash, check, or money order
(made payable to USFWS) with the
name(s) of the hunters your payment is to
be applied to.
Recreation Fees:
Hunter daily recreation fees and both Hunt Season passes and Duck Stamps are available
for purchase using an envelope provided by the attendant. Self-depositing in fee tube. Exact
change (cash) is required. No change will be provided. Checks and money orders
are also accepted and can be made payable to USFWS.
Mail:
Ridgefield NWR Hunt, PO Box 457
Ridgefield, WA 98642
Drop Off: (self-service only)
28908 NW Main Ave.
Ridgefield, WA, 98642
AM Radio System:
The Refuge will be using a short range AM radio system at the check station for the morning
orientation and announcements. After signing in (1 hour 45 minutes before legal shooting
time for reservation parties and 10 am for standby parties), remain in your car until your party
is called to the check station for blind selection. Only one party at a time (< 3 individuals)
will be allowed under the awning at a time. The frequency of the AM radio system
will be posted on the Refuge’s website and on signs entering the hunt area.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Ridgefield
National Wildlife Refuge
Hunt Season Calendar & Recreation Fees
Hunter Recreation Fees
Note: Exact change (cash) is required
for daily recreation fees, duck stamps
and season passes. No change
provided. Checks and money orders
are also accepted and can be made
payable to USFWS.
Daily Fee: A charge of $10.00 per blind
if hunting alone or $8.00 per person
(maximum blind capacity is 3), must be
deposited into the fee tube at the check
station.
Golden Age/Senior Pass/Access Pass:
Holders of these inter-agency federal
passes are entitled to a 50% discount off
the hunter recreation fee. This includes
both the daily fee as well as the season
pass. These passes are not available
for sale by the Refuge this year but
can be obtained online at USGS.
Season Rec Fee Payment: You may
pay for the season vs. a daily fee for
$100.00 ($50.00 with a Senior/Access
Pass discount). To pay this flat rate fee
for the season, send payment to refuge
office (closed to public) to PO BOX 457,
Ridgefield, WA, 98642) with name of
hunter to apply it to.
To purchase at the check station, please
let the attendant know you would like to
pay for the season when selecting your
blind. The attendant will dispense an
envelope to provide payment in, to be
deposited in the fee tube. Payment is not
transferable.
Youth Hunters - Hunters (under 16) are
exempt from paying the daily fee but must
be accompanied by a supervising adult at
all times, to which recreation fees apply.
On the Youth Hunt*, only reservations for
youth (under 16) will be issued. General
hunting will resume at noon with a lottery
to assign any blinds that remain available.
Ridgefield NWR is within Washington’s Goose Management Area 2 and is closed to dusky
Canada goose harvest. The refuge will enact an emergency goose season closure if the dusky
Canada goose harvest reaches a refuge adopted quota, with duck hunting resuming. The hunt
area may close due to emergency, weather or safety issues imposed by the CDC/State.
Month/ Week
Tuesday
Thursday
OCTOBER 2020
Week 1
October
Week 2
October
Week 3
NOVEMBER
Week 4
November
Week 5
November
Week 6
November
Week 7
DECEMBER
Week 8
December
Week 9
December
Week 10
December
Week 11
Saturday
17 Duck/Goose
20 Duck/Goose
22 Duck/Goose
24 Duck/Goose
27 Goose only
29 Duck/Goose
03 Duck
05 Duck
31 YOUTH HUNT*
Duck/Goose
07 Duck
10 Duck
12 Duck
14 Duck
17 Duck
19 Duck
21 Duck
24 Duck
01 Duck/Goose
26 NO HUNT
28 Duck/Goose
Holiday Closure
03 Duck/Goose 05 Duck/Goose
08 Duck/Goose
10 Duck/Goose
12 Duck/Goose
15 Duck/Goose
17 Duck/Goose
19 Duck/Goose
22 Duck/Goose
26 Duck/Goose
December/ Jan
Week 12
29 Duck/Goose
JANUARY 2021
05 Duck/Goose
24 CLOSES 2PM
Duck/Goose
31 CLOSES 2PM
Duck/Goose
07 Duck/Goose
12 Duck/Goose
14 Duck/Goose
16 Duck/Goose
19 Duck
21 Duck
23 Duck
26 Duck
28 Duck
30 Duck
Week 13
January
Week 14
January
Week 15
January
Week 16
FEBRUARY
(SPECIAL HUNT)
**Special Hunt Day for Veterans, Active
Military and Youth (under 16) only (Feb. 6)
02 Duck/Goose
09 Duck/Goose
06 SPECIAL HUNT **
Duck/ Goose
Spaced Blind Waterfowl Hunt Area
Lots E
4
-
Slo
ug
h
lor
he
Lot A
• Use of electronic or photographic trail
monitoring devices
Bull
Lake
• Marking or flagging any tree or other
Refuge feature with reflectors, paint, or
other substance
8
N. East
Lake
12
15
10
Middle
Lake
Deep
Lake
• Access to the Refuge from private
property
9
Boardwalk
S. East
Lake
11
South
Lake
16
ay
W
ne
a
g
n
i
t
un
Kiwa Lot
• Hunting is prohibited within 200 yards
of any public use facility.
Are
13A
14
Lot C
1a
One
Wa
y
Ba
c
West
Lake
Teal
Marsh
2000 FEET
600 METERS
N. Quigley
Lake
Riv
er
1
Lot B
O
200
3
ad
Ro
Tree
Lake
5
S.
Mantrap
Lake
ke
t
7*
7*
• Searching for or removal of any natural
items such as antlers, skulls, plants,
historic, and archaeological features,
are protected by Federal law
s
ur
llh
Hi
150
• Camping and Fires
t
r ee
0
H
no
N
Sora
Marsh
Note: Routes
to some of the
blinds may have
changed from
previous years.
Prohibited Activities
• By law, recreational activities on
national wildlife refuges are prohibited
unless expressly permitted.
• Possession of alcoholic beverages
La
Millet
Lake
2
N. Tree
Lake
13
1000
501
St
N.
Mantrap
Lake 6
* Blind 7 hunters
may select from
the box blind or
the pit blind.
Pintail
Marsh
500
Pioneer Street
S. 9 t h
Plantain
Pond
(Blinds 1A & 8; All Restrooms)
0
N
Main Ave.
Map Legend
Dike
Hunter Vehicle Access Road
Hunt Blind Access Hiking
14 Box Blind (Blind #14)
4 Pit Blind (Blind #4)
Hunter Parking Lot
Checkstation
Non-Hunting Area
Portable Restroom
Auto Tour Route
Accessible Facilities
Refuge Office:
28908 NW Main Ave.
Ridgefield, WA
17
Olympia
Lot D
82
WASHINGTON
5
18
Co
lum
Astoria
b ia
19
Yakima
12
South Big Lake
Longview
Woodland
e
Riv
Vancouver
Portland
97
84
r
OREGON