Visitors will find spectacular examples of native prairie, forested coulees, river bottoms, and "breaks" badlands. Elk, mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, sage and sharp-tailed grouse, and bald eagles make the Refuge home. The Refuge's namesake famously portrayed the rich diversity of native wildlife and habitats of the area in many of his paintings.

UL Bend NWR, a "refuge-within-a-refuge," lies within Charles M. Russell NWR and contains 20,000 acres of designated wilderness. The Refuge complex also contains Hailstone, Halfbreed, Lake Mason, and War Horse NWRs. These small satellite refuges are scattered throughout central Montana and were established primarily to protect wetlands for migratory birds and waterfowl. Several waterfowl production areas are also managed as part of the Refuge complex.

Hunting and fishing opportunities abound on Charles M. Russell NWR, its satellite refuges, and the waterfowl production areas. Boating is popular on the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir. Several state parks and recreational areas have been developed within the Refuge. Each fall, hundreds of elk congregate in the Slippery Ann Wildlife Viewing Area, creating a spectacle not to be missed. Camping is permitted anywhere on the Refuge. The entire Refuge is open to hiking and horseback riding although no formal trails exist. Excellent wildlife viewing and photography opportunities are found throughout the Refuge.

Three staffed field stations are located around the Refuge. Sand Creek Wildlife Station is located 2 miles south of the Missouri River on the east side of U.S. Highway 191. Jordan Wildlife Station is located south of Montana Highway 200 in the town of Jordan. Fort Peck Wildlife Station is located east of Montana Highway 24 in the town of Fort Peck.

UL Bend NWR, which lies within Charles M. Russell NWR, is a reintroduction site for the endangered black-footed ferret. Now in its eighth year, the goal of this reintroduction program is to reestablish a self-sustaining ferret population on UL Bend NWR. Since black-footed ferrets depend heavily upon black-tailed prairie dogs, Refuge staff has also begun related efforts to increase the abundance and distribution of prairie dog towns.

Twenty thousand acres of UL Bend NWR are managed as federally designated wilderness with another 160,000 acres within Charles M. Russell NWR pending designation. The Refuge has an active grazing program that is managed to promote grassland health. Big game populations are managed by hunting, which is closely coordinated with State partners. Invasive species are a growing problem for the Complex. Biological, chemical, and mechanical control measures are targeted at eliminating weed infestations.

A reintroduction program for the endangered pallid sturgeon is ongoing in the section of the Missouri River that passes through the Refuge. Wildfires commonly occur during the summer, and the Refuge has an active fire management program.