National Wildlife Refuge · Virginia · FWS Region 5

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge lies in Virginia Beach city, Virginia, with about 8,799 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 9 mapped hunt units: 8 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 2,229 huntable acres.

8 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
9hunt units
2.2Khuntable acres
8.8KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Back Bay 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 Back Bay NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Since 1985, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge has hosted a white-tailed deer hunt to keep the population of this native species in balance. The hunt is concurrent with one at False Cape State Park, south of the refuge.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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

Hunt units (9)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 2,229 (25%)Closed: 6,573 (75%)2.2Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations2,229 ac 25%
  • Closed6,573 ac 75%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
6,573 ac
Zone 1
842 ac
Zone 8
339 ac
Zone 4
313 ac
Zone 6
222 ac
Zone 7
189 ac
Zone 3
148 ac
Zone 2
105 ac
Zone 5
70 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Zone 1
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 842 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Special Use Permit		 Night surf fishing requires a permit ($35 fee for October only) .
Zone 2
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 105 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Special Use Permit		 Night surf fishing requires a permit ($35 fee for October only) .
Zone 3
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 148 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Special Use Permit		 Night surf fishing requires a permit ($35 fee for October only) .
Zone 4
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 313 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Special Use Permit		 Night surf fishing requires a permit ($35 fee for October only) .
Zone 5
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 70 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Special Use Permit		 Night surf fishing requires a permit ($35 fee for October only) .
Zone 6
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 222 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Special Use Permit		 Night surf fishing requires a permit ($35 fee for October only) .
Zone 7
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 189 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Special Use Permit		 Night surf fishing requires a permit ($35 fee for October only) .
Zone 8
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 339 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Special Use Permit		 Night surf fishing requires a permit ($35 fee for October only) .
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 6,573 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Special Use Permit		 Night surf fishing requires a permit ($35 fee for October only) .

Back Bay NWR by the numbers

With about 2,229 huntable acres, Back Bay NWR ranks #5 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Virginia and #320 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 25% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Zone 1 (842 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Zone 5, covers 70 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 6,573 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 8,799 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 5.9 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Back Bay NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Virginia sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Night surf fishing requires a permit ($35 fee for October only) .

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit, Special Use Permit

How to get it:

  • 📋 Other (see refuge)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Virginia hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Back Bay NWR

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

Fishing season is in accordance with state regulations. Freshwater fishing is offered in Back Bay and D-Pool, where largemouth bass, perch, catfish and bluegill are common.

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

How to get to Back Bay NWR

Navigate

Destination: Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.65185, -75.90930
DMS
36°39′06.7″N 75°54′33.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Virginia Beach, VA14 mi S of town
  • Norfolk, VA25 mi SE of town
  • Elizabeth City, NC31 mi NE of town
  • Suffolk, VA38 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • ORF Norfolk Intl23 mi
  • RIC Richmond Intl98 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 Back Bay NWR

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, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM7:33 PM12h 60m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM7:13 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM6:48 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:28 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM5:08 PM10h 42m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM4:56 PM10h 15m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM4:48 PM9h 52m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM4:49 PM9h 41m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM4:57 PM9h 42m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:09 PM9h 55m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:27 PM10h 21m

Computed for 36.652, -75.909 (EDT / 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.

Guides for hunting Back Bay NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Feral Hog Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

Why many refuges allow — and encourage — feral hog hunting, how refuge rules handle hogs, safe shot placement, disease…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

Back Bay NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Back Bay NWR?

Yes. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 8 units (2,229 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Back Bay NWR?

Yes — Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit and Special Use Permit. Permits can be obtained other or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Back Bay 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 Back Bay NWR located?

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is in Virginia Beach city, Virginia, about 14 miles S of Virginia Beach, VA (straight-line). GPS: 36.65185, -75.90930.

What are legal shooting hours at Back Bay 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

Mackay Island NWR

Currituck County, NC · 8.8 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

8.7K huntable acres

Currituck NWR

Currituck County, NC · 14 mi S

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐗

3.8K huntable acres

Fisherman Island NWR

VA · 31 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

752 huntable acres

Great Dismal Swamp NWR

Chesapeake city, VA · 31 mi W

11 special3 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

102K huntable acres

Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR

Northampton County, VA · 33 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.1K huntable acres

Plum Tree Island NWR

Poquoson city, VA · 40 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦆

213 huntable acres

All refuges in Virginia →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.