National Wildlife Refuge · Maine · FWS Region 5

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

Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge lies in Maine, with about 1,726 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
1.7KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Cross 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 Cross Island NWR

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

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 1,726 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed1,726 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
CINWR Closed 1,726 —

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 Maine hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Cross Island NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Cross Island NWR.

How to get to Cross Island NWR

Navigate

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

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Decimal
44.60948, -67.29964
DMS
44°36′34.1″N 67°17′58.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Calais, ME39 mi S of town
  • Ellsworth, ME55 mi E of town
  • Bangor, ME73 mi E of town
  • Rockland, ME96 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • BGR Bangor Intl76 mi
  • PWM Portland Intl Jetport163 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 Cross 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, 20265:20 AM5:50 AM7:08 PM13h 18m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:36 AM6:06 AM6:42 PM12h 36m
Thu, Oct 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM6:12 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM5:46 PM11h 04m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:35 AM6:05 AM4:20 PM10h 14m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM4:03 PM9h 38m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM3:51 PM9h 06m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM3:49 PM8h 51m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM3:58 PM8h 53m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:32 AM7:02 AM4:12 PM9h 10m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:18 AM6:48 AM4:35 PM9h 47m

Computed for 44.609, -67.300 (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.

Cross Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cross Island NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Cross Island NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Cross 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 Cross Island NWR located?

Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Maine, about 39 miles S of Calais, ME (straight-line). GPS: 44.60948, -67.29964.

What are legal shooting hours at Cross 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

Petit Manan NWR

Washington County, ME · 32 mi SW

35 open16 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

5.1K huntable acres

Moosehorn NWR

Washington County, ME · 33 mi N

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

27.6K huntable acres

Green Lake NFH

Hancock County, ME · 56 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

55 huntable acres

Sunkhaze Meadows NWR

Penobscot County, ME · 67 mi NW

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.6K huntable acres

Craig Brook NFH

Hancock County, ME · 68 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

87 huntable acres

Seal Island NWR

ME · 87 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Maine →

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