Hunt unit · Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Gum Swamp Unit Hunt Unit Map & Access

OpenPermit required

The Gum Swamp Unit is one of 8 mapped hunt units on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County, NC. It covers approximately 39,586 acres and is listed as “open to hunting” for 2026–2027. Hunting generally follows state seasons and bag limits, along with general refuge rules. A refuge permit is required.

Navigate to unit Refuge overview Official hunt info ↗
39,586acres
Openstatus 2026–27
Yesrefuge permit
Hyde Countycounty

Gum Swamp Unit map

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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
Downloads (whole refuge):KMLGPX

Rules & permits for this unit

Status: Open to hunting

Hunting follows North Carolina seasons, bag limits and licensing, plus general National Wildlife Refuge rules.

Refuge permit required. Type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Obtain via: Kiosk, Online FWS, Visitor Center.

Just hunting, not fishing.

Game at Alligator River NWR

Species listed for the refuge as a whole — a special-regulation unit may be limited to certain species. Confirm in the hunt brochure.

Getting to the Gum Swamp Unit

Navigate

Destination: center of the Gum Swamp Unit

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Decimal
35.63733, -76.05557
DMS
35°38′14.4″N 76°03′20.1″W

Nearest towns

  • Manteo, NC29 mi SW of town
  • Plymouth, NC42 mi E of town
  • Elizabeth City, NC46 mi S of town

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

The navigation point is a point inside the unit polygon, not necessarily a parking area or legal access point. Use satellite view to find roads, gates and designated parking, and respect closed areas and private inholdings.

Shooting hours at this unit

Today at Gum Swamp Unit

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM7:33 PM12h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM7:13 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM6:49 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:30 PM11h 21m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM5:10 PM10h 45m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM4:58 PM10h 19m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM4:51 PM9h 57m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM4:52 PM9h 46m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM5:00 PM9h 47m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM5:12 PM9h 59m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:30 PM10h 25m

Computed for 35.637, -76.056 (EDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

Weather forecast

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

Other units at Alligator River NWR

UnitStatusAcresPermit
BOpen33,485Required
COpen74,248Required
Laurel Bay UnitSpecial regs1,732Required
Lower Creef UnitSpecial regs590Required
Twiford UnitSpecial regs1,836Required
Upper Creef UnitSpecial regs1,701Required
No Hunt UnitClosed398Required

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