National Wildlife Refuge · Virginia · FWS Region 5

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Accomack County, Virginia, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 12,151 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Maryland. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 7 mapped hunt units: 5 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 9,895 huntable acres.

5 with special regs2 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
7hunt units
9.9Khuntable acres
12.2KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Chincoteague 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 Chincoteague NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Each summer, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, on Assateague Island, to experience its famous ponies, sandy beaches and entertaining wildlife driving tours.

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 turkeyMigratory 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 Virginia regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (7)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 9,895 (81%)Closed: 2,257 (19%)9.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations9,895 ac 81%
  • Closed2,257 ac 19%
Units by size (acres)
Northern Hunt Zone
3,823 ac
Closed Area - VA
2,084 ac
Migratory Game Bird Only Zone
1,928 ac
Archery Only Zone 2
1,544 ac
Archery Only Zone 1
1,429 ac
Archery Only Zone 3
1,171 ac
Closed Area - MD
172 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Archery Only Zone 1
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,429 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl and Deer Hunting
Archery Only Zone 2
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,544 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl and Deer Hunting
Archery Only Zone 3
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,171 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl and Deer Hunting
Migratory Game Bird Only Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,928 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl and Deer Hunting
Northern Hunt Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,823 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl and Deer Hunting
Closed Area - MD
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 172 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl and Deer Hunting
Closed Area - VA
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,084 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl and Deer Hunting

Chincoteague NWR by the numbers

With about 9,895 huntable acres, Chincoteague NWR ranks #2 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Virginia and #194 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 81% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Northern Hunt Zone (3,823 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Archery Only Zone 3, covers 1,171 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

2 units totaling 2,257 acres are closed to hunting (Closed Area - MD and Closed Area - VA). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 12,151 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 608 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Chincoteague NWR

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

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Waterfowl and Deer Hunting

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Virginia hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Virginia Department of Wildlife 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 Chincoteague NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Refuge waters include Swan Cove Impoundment (409 acres, edge fishing only) and access to the bay/estuary, Assateague Channel and Toms Cove (1,500 acres).

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

How to get to Chincoteague NWR

Navigate

Destination: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
37.99490, -75.27756
DMS
37°59′41.6″N 75°16′39.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Chincoteague, VA7.2 mi NE of town
  • Salisbury, MD31 mi SE of town
  • Lewes, DE54 mi S of town
  • Cambridge, MD58 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • SBY Salisbury–Ocean City27 mi
  • ORF Norfolk Intl92 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 Chincoteague 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, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM7:32 PM13h 03m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM7:11 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM6:45 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM6:25 PM11h 17m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM5:03 PM10h 38m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM4:50 PM10h 09m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM4:42 PM9h 45m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:42 PM9h 33m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM4:51 PM9h 34m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:03 PM9h 48m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:22 PM10h 16m

Computed for 37.995, -75.278 (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 Chincoteague 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…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

Chincoteague NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Chincoteague NWR?

Yes. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (9,895 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Chincoteague NWR?

Yes — Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit. Permits can be obtained 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 Chincoteague NWR?

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

Where is Chincoteague NWR located?

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is in Accomack County, Virginia, about 7 miles NE of Chincoteague, VA (straight-line). GPS: 37.99490, -75.27756.

What are legal shooting hours at Chincoteague 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

Wallops Island NWR

Accomack County, VA · 11 mi SW

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇

365 huntable acres

Martin NWR

MD · 40 mi W

2 closed
No hunting listed

Blackwater NWR

Dorchester County, MD · 53 mi NW

37 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

20K huntable acres

Prime Hook NWR

Sussex County, DE · 59 mi N

8 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

7K huntable acres

Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR

Northampton County, VA · 70 mi SW

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.1K huntable acres

Fisherman Island NWR

VA · 73 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

752 huntable acres

All refuges in Virginia →

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