National Wildlife Refuge · Georgia · FWS Region 4

Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in McIntosh County, Georgia, Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 5,591 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 with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 4,582 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
4.6Khuntable acres
5.6KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Blackbeard Island 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 Blackbeard Island NWR

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

Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge has been in continuous federal ownership since 1800, when the U.S. Navy bought it to harvest timber for shipbuilding. The refuge is named for Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard the Pirate.

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 Georgia regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 4,582 (82%)Closed: 1,009 (18%)4.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations4,582 ac 82%
  • Closed1,009 ac 18%
Units by size (acres)
Open Area
4,582 ac
Closed Area
1,009 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,582 Required
Other		 All hunters required to have annual refuge hunt permit.
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,009 Required
Other		 All hunters required to have annual refuge hunt permit.

Blackbeard Island NWR by the numbers

With about 4,582 huntable acres, Blackbeard Island NWR ranks #3 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Georgia and #267 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 82% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open Area (4,582 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 1,009 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Blackbeard Island NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Georgia 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

All hunters required to have annual refuge hunt permit.

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

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

Fishing at Blackbeard Island NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Saltwater fishing is permitted year-round in the estuarine waters adjacent to the refuge. Bank/beach fishing into estuarine waters is permitted only from sunrise to sunset.

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

How to get to Blackbeard Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
31.50311, -81.20449
DMS
31°30′11.2″N 81°12′16.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Brunswick, GA30 mi NE of town
  • Savannah, GA40 mi S of town
  • Folkston, GA67 mi NE of town
  • Waycross, GA71 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • SAV Savannah/Hilton Head43 mi
  • JAX Jacksonville Intl76 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 Blackbeard Island 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, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM7:50 PM12h 50m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM7:32 PM12h 24m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM7:11 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:56 AM7:26 AM6:54 PM11h 27m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM5:36 PM10h 57m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM5:27 PM10h 35m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM5:21 PM10h 16m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM5:23 PM10h 07m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM5:31 PM10h 08m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:54 AM7:24 AM5:42 PM10h 18m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:58 PM10h 40m

Computed for 31.503, -81.204 (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 Blackbeard Island 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…

Blackbeard Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Blackbeard Island NWR?

Yes. Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (4,582 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 Blackbeard Island NWR?

Yes — Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov). You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Blackbeard Island NWR?

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

Where is Blackbeard Island NWR located?

Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge is in McIntosh County, Georgia, about 30 miles NE of Brunswick, GA (straight-line). GPS: 31.50311, -81.20449.

What are legal shooting hours at Blackbeard Island 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

Harris Neck NWR

McIntosh County, GA · 9.8 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🐗🎣

2.5K huntable acres

Wolf Island NWR

McIntosh County, GA · 13 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Wassaw NWR

Chatham County, GA · 30 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🐗🎣

2.1K huntable acres

Tybee NWR

SC · 41 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Savannah NWR

Jasper County, SC · 47 mi N

9 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

29.8K huntable acres

Pinckney Island NWR

Beaufort County, SC · 58 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🎣

2.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Georgia →

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