National Wildlife Refuge · Alabama · FWS Region 4

Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge is located in Bibb County, Alabama, with about 4,773 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 4,738 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
4.7Khuntable acres
4.8KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Cahaba River 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 Cahaba River NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

The rolling uplands surrounding the Cahaba River are forested with longleaf and loblolly pines. Mixed upland hardwood species line ravines and the river's edge.

Youth hunting

Yes, in accordance with state seasons.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild 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 Alabama regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 4,738 (99%)Closed: 40 (1%)4.7Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations4,738 ac 99%
  • Closed40 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
Main Hunt Area
4,738 ac
Closed to Hunting
40 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Main Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,738 Required
Other		 All species open to hunting on the station
🧒 Yes, in accordance with state seasons.
Closed to Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 40 Required
Other		 All species open to hunting on the station
🧒 Yes, in accordance with state seasons.

Cahaba River NWR by the numbers

With about 4,738 huntable acres, Cahaba River NWR ranks #3 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Alabama and #265 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 99% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Main Hunt Area (4,738 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 40 acres is closed to hunting (Closed to Hunting). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Cahaba River NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Alabama 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, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 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 species open to hunting on the station

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

Fishing at Cahaba River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include largemouth bass, sunfish and catfish. The unique system of pools and shoals within the refuge provide many opportunities to wade and fish or bank fish.

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

How to get to Cahaba River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.07023, -87.06282
DMS
33°04′12.8″N 87°03′46.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Tuscaloosa, AL31 mi E of town
  • Birmingham, AL34 mi SW of town
  • Montgomery, AL65 mi NW of town
  • Columbus, MS84 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • BHM Birmingham–Shuttlesworth38 mi
  • ATL Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta157 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 Cahaba River NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM7:15 PM12h 53m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM6:56 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM6:34 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM6:16 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:35 AM6:05 AM4:58 PM10h 52m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM4:47 PM10h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM4:41 PM10h 09m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM4:42 PM9h 59m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:21 AM6:51 AM4:51 PM10h 00m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:21 AM6:51 AM5:02 PM10h 11m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:14 AM6:44 AM5:18 PM10h 35m

Computed for 33.070, -87.063 (CDT / 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 Cahaba River 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…

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…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

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…

Cahaba River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cahaba River NWR?

Yes. Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (4,738 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, 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 Cahaba River NWR?

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

Can you fish at Cahaba River NWR?

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

Where is Cahaba River NWR located?

Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge is in Bibb County, Alabama, about 31 miles E of Tuscaloosa, AL (straight-line). GPS: 33.07023, -87.06282.

What are legal shooting hours at Cahaba River 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

Watercress Darter NWR

Jefferson County, AL · 22 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Mountain Longleaf NWR

Calhoun County, AL · 88 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

3.3K huntable acres

Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR

Winston County, MS · 103 mi W

2 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

44.7K huntable acres

Wheeler NWR

Limestone County, AL · 106 mi N

3 special2 closed
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

27.6K huntable acres

Choctaw NWR

Choctaw County, AL · 109 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Fern Cave NWR

Jackson County, AL · 119 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Alabama →

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