National Wildlife Refuge · Alaska · FWS Region 7

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 4,554,843 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 4,481,063 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
4.5Mhuntable acres
4.6MFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Alaska Maritime NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Alaska Maritime NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing.

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge headquarters is at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. The refuge itself stretches 5,000 miles from the Gulf of Alaska, through the Aleutian Islands, and up the state's west coast.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Alaska regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 4,481,063 (98%)Closed: 73,814 (2%)4.5Mhuntable acres
  • Open4,481,063 ac 98%
  • Closed73,814 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge
4,481,063 ac
Amchitka
73,814 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge Open 4,481,063 —
Amchitka Closed 73,814 —

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Alaska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Alaska Maritime NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge headquarters is at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer. The refuge itself stretches 5,000 miles.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Alaska Maritime NWR

Navigate

Destination: Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
54.66981, -164.48546
DMS
54°40′11.3″N 164°29′07.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Cold Bay, AK79 mi SW of town
  • Unalaska, AK100 mi NE of town
  • Dillingham, AK378 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • CDB Cold Bay Airport79 mi
  • DLG Dillingham Airport377 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Alaska Maritime NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Anchorage local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20267:33 AM8:03 AM9:53 PM13h 50m
Tue, Sep 15, 20267:58 AM8:28 AM9:18 PM12h 49m
Thu, Oct 1, 20268:27 AM8:57 AM8:37 PM11h 39m
Thu, Oct 15, 20268:54 AM9:24 AM8:02 PM10h 38m
Sun, Nov 1, 20268:28 AM8:58 AM6:24 PM9h 25m
Sun, Nov 15, 20268:57 AM9:27 AM5:58 PM8h 31m
Tue, Dec 1, 20269:26 AM9:56 AM5:38 PM7h 42m
Tue, Dec 15, 20269:44 AM10:14 AM5:31 PM7h 18m
Fri, Jan 1, 20279:50 AM10:20 AM5:40 PM7h 20m
Fri, Jan 15, 20279:42 AM10:12 AM6:00 PM7h 48m
Mon, Feb 1, 20279:18 AM9:48 AM6:33 PM8h 44m

Computed for 54.670, -164.485 (AKDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Alaska Maritime NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Alaska Maritime NWR?

Yes. Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (4,481,063 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Alaska Maritime NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Alaska Maritime NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Alaska Maritime NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Alaska Maritime NWR located?

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, about 79 miles SW of Cold Bay, AK (straight-line). GPS: 54.66981, -164.48546.

What are legal shooting hours at Alaska Maritime NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Izembek NWR

Aleutians East Borough, AK · 94 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

315K huntable acres

Alaska Peninsula NWR

Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK · 230 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

3.5M huntable acres

Togiak NWR

Bethel Census Area, AK · 373 mi N

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.3M huntable acres

Becharof NWR

Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK · 392 mi NE

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.2M huntable acres

Kodiak NWR

Kodiak Island Borough, AK · 439 mi NE

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🐦🐇🎣

1.6M huntable acres

Yukon Delta NWR

Bethel Census Area, AK · 474 mi N

1 open
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

20.5M huntable acres

All refuges in Alaska →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.