The map shows Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge's border . Map illustrates where aerial herbicide spray in the fire scars of Poker Fire, Warner Peak Fire, Black Canyon Fire.
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Fall 2025 Closure Areas for Aerial Herbicide Application

September 8 - November 15, 2025

From September 8th - November 15th, the Refuge will temporarily be closing areas for aerial herbicide application by a fixed-winged aircraft. Before entering spray areas, please confirm that no active herbicide application will be taking place for your safety and for the safety of the pilots. For updated information on active spray areas, please stop by our visitor center, check our website, or contact Refuge staff.

Look for new updates and warnings weekly during the days on website for locations the pilots are expecting to fly over so you can avoid that region.  Signs will be posted at the entrance of the refuge, the visitor center, and in the campgrounds.

The targeted lands that are being rehabilitated for habitat improvement are in the fire scars from the Poker Fire (2019, 3,789 acres), Warner Peak Fire (2024, 45,612 acres), and Black Canyon (2025, 1,656 acres).  Herbicides are indaziflam (Rejuvra) and/or Inazapic (Plateau), depending on the .  These aerial herbicide applications are applied to decrease the spread of invasive annual grasses, reduce wildfire threat, and facilitate fire recovery across about 51,000 acres of lands managed by the USFWS.

ATTENTION HUNTERS:

From September 13th - September 19th, closed areas will be restricted to the Poker Fire Spray Areas (shown as green on map) to minimize disruption to hunting opportunities

Refuge Contacts

LP Mancini, Invasive Species Biologist,  541-576-9780

Josh Loew, Refuge Manager,  541-576-9547

Jamie Bertram, Visitor Services, 541576-9551

*Note: Click on the image details from the map image above and you can download for your convenience.

ATTENTION!

DUE TO EXTREME FIRE DANGER THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS & REQUIREMENTS ARE IN EFFECT FOR SHELDON AND HART MOUNTAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

FIRES, STOVES, SMOKING, other BURNING and EQUIPMENT:

  • PERMITTED: Building, maintaining, attending, or using campfires or charcoal fires is only allowed in Virgin Valley Campground on Sheldon NWR.
  • PROHIBITED: Wood stoves, smoker fires, and portable braziers are prohibited on Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge and Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge.
  • PERMITTED: Liquefied and bottled gas stoves and heaters, and generators with an approved spark arrestor within an area at least 10 feet in diameter and barren of all flammable material.
  • PROHIBITED: Smoking outside, except in areas barren of all flammable materials at least 6 feet in diameter, or in a vehicle.
  • PROHIBITED: Power saw operations.
  • PROHIBITED: Welding equipment, including acetylene or open flame torches.
  • Spark arresting devices must be properly installed and maintained on all internal combustion engines.

 MOTORIZED VEHICLES:

  • Due to extreme fire danger, select roads on Sheldon and Hart Mountain Refuges may be closed due to hazardous conditions.  Vehicles are permitted only on roads where flammable vegetation and debris does not come in contact with the vehicle undercarriage.
  • Vehicles are prohibited on roads marked as closed and on roads in which flammable vegetation or debris may contact the vehicle undercarriage. Be aware of Road Closed signs and Avoid Hazardous Road Conditions such as those shown below:
Road Closed Sign
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  • Vehicles may only drive on roads in which vegetation does not contact the vehicle undercarriage:
Dirt road free of tall vegetation or debris
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  • Vehicles must be parked in an area barren of flammable material, including  vegetation (this includes all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, cars, pickups, etc.)
  • All motorized vehicles must carry the  following equipment:
    • A shovel not less than 26 inches in  overall length, with a blade not less than eight inches wide;
    • one water container of at least one gallon in size filled to capacity or a 2.5  pound fully charged fire extinguisher;
    • Axe or  Pulaski Pulaski
      The Pulaski is a special hand tool used in wildland firefighting. The tool combines an axe and an adze in one head, similar to that of the cutter mattock, with a rigid handle of wood, plastic, or fiberglass. The Pulaski is a versatile tool for constructing firebreaks, as it can be used to both dig soil and chop wood.

      Learn more about Pulaski       with a handle at least 26 inches in length and a head weight  of not less than two pounds.
  • It is prohibited to operate any type of motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle not equipped with an approved and fully-functioning spark arrestor. 

Refuge Access

Open Access

  • Primary Roads such as Hart Mountain Road, Frenchglen Road, Hot Springs Road and Blue Sky Road
  • Secondary Roads open between June 15 - December 1 annually, including Shirk Road, Poker Jim Road, and Skyline.
  • All campgrounds are open.  New sites were created at Hot Springs Campground. Camp within the buck and rail fences to help with riparian riparian
    Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

    Learn more about riparian     recovery.  First come, first serve.
  • Hot Springs in the Hot Springs Campground

  • Warner Pond; Access is a rough and steep road.  4 x 4 and high clearance is highly recommended.

Limited Access 

  • Barnhardy Road and Post Meadow Roads are seasonally open beginning August 1 - December 1.  For driving Barnhardy Road, 4 x 4 and high clearance is highly recommended.
  • Visitor Center is intermittently open between 8am-4pm when staffing is available.
  • Follow road closures for secondary roads.

*Don't assume that because a road is marked open you will be able to drive through. Refuge roads can become hazardous and impassable due to storm events, drifting snow, or wet and muddy conditions. Most areas on the Refuge don't have cell service and help could be hours away. Please carry a shovel, fire extinguisher, tire chains, warm layers such as blankets or a sleeping bag, first aid kit, emergency food, and at least one extra gallon per person of water in your vehicle.

*To help sage brush rehabilitation, please clean bottom of vehicles before traveling into the Refuge to prevent spread of invasive weeds.