National Wildlife Refuges Offer Free Admission October 11

National wildlife refuges that normally charge an entrance fee will offer free admission Sunday, October 11, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced. The fee-free day falls during National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 10–17, and gives hunters, anglers and other visitors a timely reason to check out nearby public wildlife lands.

The service's October 8 announcement identifies the waiver as free admission, not a blanket opening of refuge lands to hunting or fishing. It says hunting is currently permitted within specified limits on more than 400 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, while fishing is permitted on more than 330. Those system-wide figures do not mean every activity is allowed at every refuge.

For a hunting or fishing trip, check the individual refuge's current rules, open areas and permit requirements before leaving home. An entrance-fee waiver should not be treated as a substitute for a required license or authorization to harvest wildlife. The announcement does not establish new bag limits or a nationwide hunting season.

Nearly 500 refuges and wetland management districts are already open to the public with free admission year-round, according to the service. Sunday's waiver matters specifically at refuges that normally collect an entrance fee; it does not mean visitors must pay at all other locations during the rest of the week.

Refuge Week also brings a range of local fall events. The service lists youth deer hunts, archery lessons, fishing derbies and kayaking among the recreation opportunities offered across the system, alongside birding festivals, guided hikes and habitat-restoration projects. Availability and timing vary by location, so use the agency's refuge finder and local event listings rather than assuming an activity is scheduled everywhere on October 11.

For families introducing someone to public-land recreation, the practical opportunity is straightforward: find a refuge with the activity you want, confirm its access rules and hours, and take advantage of the free entrance day where it applies. Lawful hunting and fishing remain part of the refuge system's recreation opportunities, alongside wildlife watching and hiking.

Illustrative file photograph: visitors watching wildlife on a ranger-led hike at San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. Photo credit: Rinus Baak / USFWS volunteer; public domain, as identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service media library. This historical photograph does not depict a 2026 Refuge Week event.