National Wildlife Refuge · Delaware · FWS Region 5

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge lies in Kent County, Delaware, with about 15,346 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 8 mapped hunt units: 7 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 9,076 huntable acres.

7 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
8hunt units
9.1Khuntable acres
15.3KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Bombay Hook 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 Bombay Hook NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

In winter, snow geese blanket the salt marshes and fields of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

Youth hunting

A waterfowl hunt limited to young hunters accompanied by a guardian is conducted on the South Waterfowl Area on the fourth Saturday in October. A special youth deer hunt is also offered.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland 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 Delaware regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (8)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 9,076 (59%)Closed: 6,270 (41%)9.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations9,076 ac 59%
  • Closed6,270 ac 41%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
6,270 ac
Snow Goose
2,997 ac
Headquarters Area
1,864 ac
Kelly Island / Mahon
1,726 ac
Steamboat Landing Tract
857 ac
Regular Area
814 ac
South Upland
576 ac
Fischer Tract
242 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Fischer Tract Special regs 242 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 lottery hunt on the HQ unit. No fee.
🧒 A waterfowl hunt limited to young hunters accompanied by a guardian is conducted on the South…
Headquarters Area Special regs 1,864 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 lottery hunt on the HQ unit. No fee.
🧒 A waterfowl hunt limited to young hunters accompanied by a guardian is conducted on the South…
Kelly Island / Mahon Special regs 1,726 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 lottery hunt on the HQ unit. No fee.
🧒 A waterfowl hunt limited to young hunters accompanied by a guardian is conducted on the South…
Regular Area Special regs 814 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 lottery hunt on the HQ unit. No fee.
🧒 A waterfowl hunt limited to young hunters accompanied by a guardian is conducted on the South…
Snow Goose Special regs 2,997 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 lottery hunt on the HQ unit. No fee.
🧒 A waterfowl hunt limited to young hunters accompanied by a guardian is conducted on the South…
South Upland Special regs 576 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 lottery hunt on the HQ unit. No fee.
🧒 A waterfowl hunt limited to young hunters accompanied by a guardian is conducted on the South…
Steamboat Landing Tract Special regs 857 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 lottery hunt on the HQ unit. No fee.
🧒 A waterfowl hunt limited to young hunters accompanied by a guardian is conducted on the South…
Closed Closed 6,270 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 lottery hunt on the HQ unit. No fee.
🧒 A waterfowl hunt limited to young hunters accompanied by a guardian is conducted on the South…

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

lottery hunt on the HQ unit. No fee.

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Delaware hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
  • 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 Bombay Hook NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

At Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, fishing is allowed in Parson Pond. Fishing is catch-and-release only. Fishing is allowed during regular refuge hours of operation.

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

How to get to Bombay Hook NWR

Navigate

Destination: Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.26039, -75.45774
DMS
39°15′37.4″N 75°27′27.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Dover, DE7.7 mi NE of town
  • Vineland, NJ28 mi SW of town
  • Wilmington, DE34 mi S of town
  • Cape May, NJ37 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • PHL Philadelphia Intl44 mi
  • ACY Atlantic City Intl49 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 Bombay Hook 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, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM7:34 PM13h 05m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM7:12 PM12h 31m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:46 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:24 PM11h 15m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM5:02 PM10h 34m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM4:48 PM10h 04m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM4:40 PM9h 38m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM4:39 PM9h 26m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM4:48 PM9h 27m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM5:01 PM9h 41m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:20 PM10h 11m

Computed for 39.260, -75.458 (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.

Bombay Hook NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bombay Hook NWR?

Yes. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 7 units (9,076 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Bombay Hook NWR?

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

Can you fish at Bombay Hook NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Bombay Hook NWR located?

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is in Kent County, Delaware, about 8 miles NE of Dover, DE (straight-line). GPS: 39.26039, -75.45774.

What are legal shooting hours at Bombay Hook 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

Supawna Meadows NWR

Salem County, NJ · 23 mi N

1 open3 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

1.4K huntable acres

Prime Hook NWR

Sussex County, DE · 31 mi S

8 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

7K huntable acres

Susquehanna NWR

Harford County, MD · 37 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Cape May NWR

Cape May County, NJ · 39 mi E

4 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12K huntable acres

John Heinz NWR at Tinicum

Delaware County, PA · 44 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🎣

194 huntable acres

Eastern Neck NWR

MD · 44 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

2K huntable acres

All refuges in Delaware →

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