National Wildlife Refuge · North Carolina · FWS Region 4

Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge lies in Carteret County, North Carolina, with about 14,327 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 under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 463 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
463huntable acres
14.3KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Cedar Island 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 Cedar Island NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

Permitted hunting categories are waterfowl, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Ducks are constantly moving back and forth from Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge (five miles from the Atlantic Ocean) to other waterfowl wintering areas on Pamlico Sound.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow North Carolina regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 463 (3%)Closed: 13,865 (97%)463huntable acres
  • Open463 ac 3%
  • Closed13,865 ac 97%
Units by size (acres)
B
13,865 ac
A
463 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
A Open 463 —
B Closed 13,865 —

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 North Carolina hunting license and any required tags or stamps — North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
  • 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 Cedar Island NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Cedar Island NWR.

How to get to Cedar Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
34.95238, -76.33148
DMS
34°57′08.6″N 76°19′53.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • New Bern, NC42 mi E of town
  • Plymouth, NC68 mi S of town
  • Greenville, NC74 mi SE of town
  • Manteo, NC76 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • ILM Wilmington Intl101 mi
  • ORF Norfolk Intl134 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 Cedar Island 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, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:34 PM12h 57m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:14 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:50 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:31 PM11h 22m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM5:12 PM10h 47m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM5:01 PM10h 22m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM4:54 PM9h 60m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM4:55 PM9h 50m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:03 PM9h 51m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:15 PM10h 03m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:32 PM10h 28m

Computed for 34.952, -76.331 (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.

Cedar Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cedar Island NWR?

Yes. Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (463 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Cedar Island NWR?

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

Where is Cedar Island NWR located?

Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Carteret County, North Carolina, about 42 miles E of New Bern, NC (straight-line). GPS: 34.95238, -76.33148.

What are legal shooting hours at Cedar Island 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

Swanquarter NWR

Hyde County, NC · 32 mi N

1 open2 closed
🦆

6.4K huntable acres

Mattamuskeet NWR

Hyde County, NC · 38 mi N

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🎣

48.8K huntable acres

Pocosin Lakes NWR

Tyrrell County, NC · 52 mi N

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

107K huntable acres

Alligator River NWR

Hyde County, NC · 53 mi NE

3 open4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

153K huntable acres

Pea Island NWR

Dare County, NC · 70 mi NE

1 closed
🎣

Edenton NFH

Chowan County, NC · 78 mi N

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in North Carolina →

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