National Wildlife Refuge · North Carolina · FWS Region 4

Currituck National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Currituck National Wildlife Refuge lies in Currituck County, North Carolina, with about 3,810 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: 4 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 3,777 huntable acres.

4 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
3.8Khuntable acres
3.8KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Currituck 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 Currituck NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, and feral & exotic here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Currituck Sound holds a special place in Atlantic Flyway lore for avid waterfowlers. Rich waterfowling traditions and huge flights of ducks have characterized this area of the North Carolina coast for centuries.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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 (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 3,777 (99%)Closed: 33 (1%)3.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations3,777 ac 99%
  • Closed33 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
B
2,046 ac
D
886 ac
E
803 ac
C
41 ac
A
33 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
B
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,046 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting only
C
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 41 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting only
D
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 886 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting only
E
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 803 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting only
A
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 33 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting only

Currituck NWR by the numbers

With about 3,777 huntable acres, Currituck NWR ranks #8 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Carolina and #284 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 B (2,046 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, C, covers 41 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 33 acres is closed to hunting (A). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 3,810 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 3,931 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Currituck NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Carolina 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, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Hunting only

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

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 Currituck NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Currituck NWR.

How to get to Currituck NWR

Navigate

Destination: Currituck National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.45771, -75.87820
DMS
36°27′27.8″N 75°52′41.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Elizabeth City, NC24 mi NE of town
  • Virginia Beach, VA28 mi S of town
  • Norfolk, VA35 mi SE of town
  • Manteo, NC40 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • ORF Norfolk Intl35 mi
  • RIC Richmond Intl108 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 Currituck 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, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM7:33 PM12h 60m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM7:12 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM6:48 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:28 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM5:08 PM10h 43m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM4:56 PM10h 16m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM4:49 PM9h 53m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:49 PM9h 42m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM4:57 PM9h 43m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:09 PM9h 56m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:27 PM10h 22m

Computed for 36.458, -75.878 (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 Currituck 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…

Feral Hog Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

Why many refuges allow — and encourage — feral hog hunting, how refuge rules handle hogs, safe shot placement, disease…

Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

Currituck NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Currituck NWR?

Yes. Currituck National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (3,777 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Currituck NWR?

Yes — Currituck National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained mail or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Currituck NWR located?

Currituck National Wildlife Refuge is in Currituck County, North Carolina, about 24 miles NE of Elizabeth City, NC (straight-line). GPS: 36.45771, -75.87820.

What are legal shooting hours at Currituck 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

Mackay Island NWR

Currituck County, NC · 6.0 mi NW

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

8.7K huntable acres

Back Bay NWR

Virginia Beach city, VA · 14 mi N

8 special1 closed
🦌🐗🎣

2.2K huntable acres

Great Dismal Swamp NWR

Chesapeake city, VA · 35 mi W

11 special3 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

102K huntable acres

Fisherman Island NWR

VA · 44 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

752 huntable acres

Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR

Northampton County, VA · 47 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.1K huntable acres

Edenton NFH

Chowan County, NC · 51 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in North Carolina →

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