National Wildlife Refuge · Puerto Rico · FWS Region 4

Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge is located in Puerto Rico, with about 324 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
324FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Desecheo 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 Desecheo 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: 324 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed324 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 324 —

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 Puerto Rico hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Puerto Rico DRNA
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Desecheo NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Desecheo NWR.

How to get to Desecheo NWR

Navigate

Destination: Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
18.38330, -67.48014
DMS
18°22′59.9″N 67°28′48.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Mayagüez, PR26 mi NW of town
  • Cabo Rojo, PR30 mi NW of town
  • Ponce, PR63 mi NW of town
  • San Juan, PR90 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • SJU San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín97 mi
  • STT St. Thomas Cyril E. King165 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 Desecheo NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Puerto Rico local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:45 AM6:15 AM6:45 PM12h 30m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:47 AM6:17 AM6:33 PM12h 16m
Thu, Oct 1, 20265:49 AM6:19 AM6:19 PM11h 59m
Thu, Oct 15, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM6:08 PM11h 45m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM5:57 PM11h 29m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM5:53 PM11h 17m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM5:52 PM11h 07m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM5:56 PM11h 02m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:31 AM7:01 AM6:04 PM11h 03m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM6:12 PM11h 08m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:33 AM7:03 AM6:22 PM11h 20m

Computed for 18.383, -67.480 (AST / 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.

Desecheo NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Desecheo NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Desecheo NWR?

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

Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge is in Puerto Rico, about 26 miles NW of Mayagüez, PR (straight-line). GPS: 18.38330, -67.48014.

What are legal shooting hours at Desecheo 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

Cabo Rojo NWR

PR · 35 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Laguna Cartagena NWR

PR · 36 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Vieques NWR

PR · 138 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Culebra NWR

PR · 144 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Buck Island NWR

VI · 170 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Sandy Point NWR

VI · 177 mi E

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in Puerto Rico →

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