National Wildlife Refuge · West Virginia · FWS Region 5

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge is located in Tucker County, West Virginia, with about 18,957 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules, 3 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 18,757 huntable acres.

1 open unit3 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
18.8Khuntable acres
19KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Canaan Valley 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 Canaan Valley NWR

Hunting opportunities include 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.

For generations, hunters have returned to Canaan Valley to pursue the abundant and varied game in an area known for its beautiful scenery. Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge is committed to continuing that long and varied hunting tradition.

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 West Virginia regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Open: 728 (4%)Special regulations: 18,029 (95%)Closed: 202 (1%)18.8Khuntable acres
  • Open728 ac 4%
  • Special regulations18,029 ac 95%
  • Closed202 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
Unit 1
16,602 ac
Unit 2
1,353 ac
Research Natural Area
728 ac
Closed to Hunting
202 ac
Unit 3
73 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Research Natural Area
Show on map · Directions		 Open 728 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signed brochure required for Migratory game bird, upland game and big game.
Unit 1
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 16,602 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signed brochure required for Migratory game bird, upland game and big game.
Unit 2
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,353 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signed brochure required for Migratory game bird, upland game and big game.
Unit 3
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 73 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signed brochure required for Migratory game bird, upland game and big game.
Closed to Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 202 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signed brochure required for Migratory game bird, upland game and big game.

Canaan Valley NWR by the numbers

With about 18,757 huntable acres, Canaan Valley NWR ranks #1 of 1 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in West Virginia and #121 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 Unit 1 (16,602 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Unit 3, covers 73 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 202 acres is closed to hunting (Closed to Hunting). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 18,957 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 24 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Canaan Valley NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. West 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, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Signed brochure required for Migratory game bird, upland game and big game.

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

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

You'll also need

  • A valid West Virginia hunting license and any required tags or stamps — West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
  • 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 Canaan Valley NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include 14 miles of the Blackwater River and four of its tributaries as well as two beaver ponds.

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

How to get to Canaan Valley NWR

Navigate

Destination: Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.11152, -79.38382
DMS
39°06′41.5″N 79°23′01.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Elkins, WV28 mi NE of town
  • Morgantown, WV47 mi SE of town
  • Charlottesville, VA89 mi NW of town
  • Hagerstown, MD96 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • IAD Washington Dulles104 mi
  • PIT Pittsburgh Intl105 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 Canaan Valley 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, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM7:50 PM13h 05m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM7:28 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM7:02 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM6:40 PM11h 15m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM5:18 PM10h 34m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM5:04 PM10h 05m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM4:56 PM9h 39m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:59 AM7:29 AM4:55 PM9h 27m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:06 AM7:36 AM5:04 PM9h 28m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:05 AM7:35 AM5:17 PM9h 42m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:54 AM7:24 AM5:36 PM10h 12m

Computed for 39.112, -79.384 (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 Canaan Valley 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…

Canaan Valley NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Canaan Valley NWR?

Yes. Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (18,757 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 Canaan Valley NWR?

Yes — Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, 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 Canaan Valley NWR?

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

Where is Canaan Valley NWR located?

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge is in Tucker County, West Virginia, about 28 miles NE of Elkins, WV (straight-line). GPS: 39.11152, -79.38382.

What are legal shooting hours at Canaan Valley 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

White Sulphur Springs NFH

Greenbrier County, WV · 103 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Featherstone NWR

Prince William County, VA · 120 mi E

2 open1 closed
🦆🎣

4 huntable acres

Occoquan Bay NWR

Prince William County, VA · 120 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇

571 huntable acres

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR

Fairfax County, VA · 123 mi E

2 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Southern Maryland Woodlands NWR

Charles County, MD · 125 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃

31 huntable acres

Patuxent Research Refuge

Prince George's County, MD · 138 mi E

1 open6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🎣

12.6K huntable acres

All refuges in West Virginia →

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