National Wildlife Refuge · Georgia · FWS Region 4

Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Bibb County, Georgia, Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 7,669 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 8,570 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
8.6Khuntable acres
7.7KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Bond Swamp 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 Bond Swamp NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, small game, and feral & exotic, 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.

Established in 1989 to conserve forested wetland habitat, Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is within the floodplain of the Ocmulgee River. Opportunities to hunt deer, turkey and feral hogs attract hunters from across the state.

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 partridgeSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small 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: 8,570 (98%)Closed: 176 (2%)8.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations8,570 ac 98%
  • Closed176 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
Bond Swamp Refuge
8,570 ac
Closed Area
176 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Bond Swamp Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 8,570 Required
Other, Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers are required to have signed brochure; quota hunts need additional permit.
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 176 Required
Other, Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers are required to have signed brochure; quota hunts need additional permit.

Bond Swamp NWR by the numbers

With about 8,570 huntable acres, Bond Swamp NWR ranks #2 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Georgia and #215 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 98% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Bond Swamp Refuge (8,570 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 176 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Bond Swamp 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, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters and anglers are required to have signed brochure; quota hunts need additional permit.

Type: Other, Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Georgia hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Georgia Wildlife Resources Division
  • 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 Bond Swamp NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset March 1-October 31. Freshwater species are largemouth bass, sunfish and catfish. Currently there are no facilities on site. Vehicle access is limited.

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

How to get to Bond Swamp NWR

Navigate

Destination: Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
32.74366, -83.58080
DMS
32°44′37.2″N 83°34′50.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Macon, GA7.2 mi SE of town
  • Atlanta, GA84 mi SE of town
  • Columbus, GA84 mi E of town
  • Albany, GA87 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • ATL Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta79 mi
  • SAV Savannah/Hilton Head145 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 Bond Swamp 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, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM8:00 PM12h 53m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM7:42 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM7:20 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM7:02 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM5:44 PM10h 53m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM5:34 PM10h 30m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:48 AM7:18 AM5:28 PM10h 10m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM5:29 PM10h 01m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:06 AM7:36 AM5:38 PM10h 02m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:06 AM7:36 AM5:49 PM10h 13m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:59 AM7:29 AM6:05 PM10h 36m

Computed for 32.744, -83.581 (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 Bond Swamp 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…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Bond Swamp NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bond Swamp NWR?

Yes. Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (8,570 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Bond Swamp NWR?

Yes — Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other, Other OMB-Approved Permit, and Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, mail, online through fws, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Bond Swamp NWR?

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

Where is Bond Swamp NWR located?

Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is in Bibb County, Georgia, about 7 miles SE of Macon, GA (straight-line). GPS: 32.74366, -83.58080.

What are legal shooting hours at Bond Swamp 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

Piedmont NWR

Jasper County, GA · 29 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

38.2K huntable acres

Warm Springs NFH

Meriwether County, GA · 64 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Eufaula NWR

Barbour County, AL · 104 mi SW

9 special3 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

10.6K huntable acres

Banks Lake NWR

Lanier County, GA · 122 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Chattahoochee Forest NFH

Fannin County, GA · 139 mi N

1 closed
🎣

Mountain Longleaf NWR

Calhoun County, AL · 142 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

3.3K huntable acres

All refuges in Georgia →

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