National Wildlife Refuge · New Jersey · FWS Region 5

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Cape May County, New Jersey, Cape May National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 13,305 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 12,039 huntable acres.

4 with special regs2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
12Khuntable acres
13.3KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Cape May 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 Cape May NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing.

Cape May, internationally famous as a birding destination, also is a popular place for area hunters.

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 New Jersey regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 12,039 (90%)Closed: 1,266 (10%)12Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations12,039 ac 90%
  • Closed1,266 ac 10%
Units by size (acres)
North of Hwy 550
4,569 ac
East of Hwy 47
3,848 ac
South of Hwy 550
2,158 ac
West of Hwy 47
1,463 ac
Two Mile Beach
1,065 ac
Closed Area
201 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
East of Hwy 47
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,848 —
North of Hwy 550
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,569 —
South of Hwy 550
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,158 —
West of Hwy 47
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,463 —
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 201 —
Two Mile Beach
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,065 —

Cape May NWR by the numbers

With about 12,039 huntable acres, Cape May NWR ranks #2 of 5 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in New Jersey and #165 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 90% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is North of Hwy 550 (4,569 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, West of Hwy 47, covers 1,463 acres.

2 units totaling 1,266 acres are closed to hunting (Closed Area and Two Mile Beach). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 13,305 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 4.6 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Cape May NWR

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

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid New Jersey hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Jersey Division of Fish & 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 Cape May NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

The Cape May National Wildlife Refuge provides opportunities for fishing within the Two Mile Beach Unit. Surf fishing is permitted in the Atlantic Ocean portion from October 1 to March 31 and along the Cape May Inlet year-round.

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

How to get to Cape May NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cape May National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.21135, -74.73996
DMS
39°12′40.9″N 74°44′23.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Atlantic City, NJ20 mi SW of town
  • Cape May, NJ21 mi NE of town
  • Vineland, NJ25 mi SE of town
  • Lewes, DE37 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • ACY Atlantic City Intl19 mi
  • PHL Philadelphia Intl53 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 Cape May 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, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM7:31 PM13h 05m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM7:09 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM6:43 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:21 PM11h 15m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM4:59 PM10h 34m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM4:45 PM10h 04m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM4:37 PM9h 38m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM4:37 PM9h 26m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:48 AM7:18 AM4:45 PM9h 27m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM4:58 PM9h 42m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:17 PM10h 11m

Computed for 39.211, -74.740 (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 Cape May 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…

Cape May NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cape May NWR?

Yes. Cape May National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (12,039 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 Cape May NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Cape May NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Cape May NWR?

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

Where is Cape May NWR located?

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge is in Cape May County, New Jersey, about 20 miles SW of Atlantic City, NJ (straight-line). GPS: 39.21135, -74.73996.

What are legal shooting hours at Cape May 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

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR

Atlantic County, NJ · 25 mi NE

1 open3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🎣

24.5K huntable acres

Prime Hook NWR

Sussex County, DE · 38 mi SW

8 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

7K huntable acres

Bombay Hook NWR

Kent County, DE · 39 mi W

7 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

9.1K huntable acres

Supawna Meadows NWR

Salem County, NJ · 49 mi NW

1 open3 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

1.4K huntable acres

John Heinz NWR at Tinicum

Delaware County, PA · 54 mi NW

3 special1 closed
🦌🎣

194 huntable acres

Susquehanna NWR

Harford County, MD · 74 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in New Jersey →

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