National Wildlife Refuge · New Jersey · FWS Region 5

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge lies in Atlantic County, New Jersey, with about 44,262 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 7 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules, 3 open with special regulations, and 3 closed, covering about 24,526 huntable acres.

1 open unit3 with special regs3 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
7hunt units
24.5Khuntable acres
44.3KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Edwin B. Forsythe 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 Edwin B. Forsythe 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 — freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Migratory bird hunters pursue rails, ducks, geese, coots and gallinules. Waterfowl hunt units are accessed mostly by boat. About 40 percent of the refuge's 48,000 acres open to deer and waterfowl hunting.

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 New Jersey regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (7)

Acreage by status
Open: 15,417 (35%)Special regulations: 9,110 (21%)Closed: 19,745 (45%)24.5Khuntable acres
  • Open15,417 ac 35%
  • Special regulations9,110 ac 21%
  • Closed19,745 ac 45%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
16,534 ac
Migratory Bird Hunt Area
15,417 ac
Deer & Upland Game - All Methods
7,532 ac
Goose Area
3,197 ac
Deer & Upland Game - Archery Only
1,136 ac
Managed Deer Hunt
442 ac
Youth & Disability Hunt Area
15 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Migratory Bird Hunt Area Open 15,417 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game birds, squirrel and deer. A spring turkey hunting permit will be required in 2020.
Deer & Upland Game - All Methods Special regs 7,532 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game birds, squirrel and deer. A spring turkey hunting permit will be required in 2020.
Deer & Upland Game - Archery Only Special regs 1,136 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game birds, squirrel and deer. A spring turkey hunting permit will be required in 2020.
Managed Deer Hunt Special regs 442 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game birds, squirrel and deer. A spring turkey hunting permit will be required in 2020.
Closed Closed 16,534 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game birds, squirrel and deer. A spring turkey hunting permit will be required in 2020.
Goose Area Closed 3,197 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game birds, squirrel and deer. A spring turkey hunting permit will be required in 2020.
Youth & Disability Hunt Area Closed 15 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game birds, squirrel and deer. A spring turkey hunting permit will be required in 2020.

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Migratory game birds, squirrel and deer. A spring turkey hunting permit will be required in 2020.

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

  • A valid New Jersey hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife
  • 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 Edwin B. Forsythe NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Freshwater fishing access is available at Lily Lake (Atlantic County, Galloway Township) and Middle Branch (Ocean County, Lacey Township), which includes bank fishing and boat fishing. No internal combustion engines allowed.

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

How to get to Edwin B. Forsythe NWR

Navigate

Destination: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.47106, -74.41823
DMS
39°28′15.8″N 74°25′05.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Atlantic City, NJ7.7 mi N of town
  • Vineland, NJ33 mi E of town
  • Toms River, NJ35 mi S of town
  • Cape May, NJ45 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • ACY Atlantic City Intl8.7 mi
  • PHL Philadelphia Intl52 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 Edwin B. Forsythe 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, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM7:30 PM13h 06m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:08 PM12h 31m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM6:42 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM6:20 PM11h 14m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM4:57 PM10h 33m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM4:44 PM10h 03m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM4:35 PM9h 37m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM4:34 PM9h 24m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:43 PM9h 26m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM4:56 PM9h 40m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:15 PM10h 10m

Computed for 39.471, -74.418 (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.

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR?

Yes. Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (24,526 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 Edwin B. Forsythe NWR?

Yes — Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov). You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR?

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

Where is Edwin B. Forsythe NWR located?

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is in Atlantic County, New Jersey, about 8 miles N of Atlantic City, NJ (straight-line). GPS: 39.47106, -74.41823.

What are legal shooting hours at Edwin B. Forsythe 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

Cape May NWR

Cape May County, NJ · 25 mi SW

4 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12K huntable acres

John Heinz NWR at Tinicum

Delaware County, PA · 53 mi NW

3 special1 closed
🦌🎣

194 huntable acres

Bombay Hook NWR

Kent County, DE · 57 mi W

7 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

9.1K huntable acres

Supawna Meadows NWR

Salem County, NJ · 59 mi W

1 open3 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

1.4K huntable acres

Prime Hook NWR

Sussex County, DE · 63 mi SW

8 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

7K huntable acres

Great Swamp NWR

Morris County, NJ · 86 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇

6.8K huntable acres

All refuges in New Jersey →

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