Tule Lake Refuge is located in the fertile and intensely farmed Tule Lake Basin of northeastern California. It was established in 1928 by President Calvin Coolidge as a, “preserve and breeding ground for wild birds and animals.”  The endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers live in or use this refuge. The refuge is a significant staging area for migrating waterfowl during spring and fall migrations. It is used primarily by whitefronted, snow, ross, and cackling Canadian geese, all of which nest in the Arctic tundra. 

This 39,116-acre refuge is mostly open water and crop land. Approximately 17,000 acres are leased by potato, onion, horseradish, alfalfa, and cereal grain farmers within the Public Lease Lands program administered by the U.S Bureau of Reclamation. 

Tule Lake hunting opportunities consist of two large marsh units accessible by boats, a spaced-blind hunt in dry fields, and open free-roam areas offering field hunts over harvested grain and smaller marsh units. A 10-mile auto tour route allows for wildlife observation throughout the year.