National Wildlife Refuge · Virginia · FWS Region 5

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Fairfax County, Virginia, Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 1,472 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 1,827 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
1.8Khuntable acres
1.5KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck 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 Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR

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

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, in cooperation with the Mason Neck State Park, hosts an annual white-tailed deer hunt to manage the deer population on the site.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsSmall 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 (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,827 (81%)Closed: 442 (19%)1.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,827 ac 81%
  • Closed442 ac 19%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Area
1,735 ac
No Hunting Area
442 ac
Tree Stand Area
93 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,735 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 White-tailed deer hunting
Tree Stand Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 93 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 White-tailed deer hunting
No Hunting Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 442 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 White-tailed deer hunting

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR by the numbers

With about 1,827 huntable acres, Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR ranks #6 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Virginia and #332 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 Hunt Area (1,735 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Tree Stand Area, covers 93 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 442 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 1,472 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 0.8 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck 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, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

White-tailed deer hunting

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

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

Fishing at Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR

    The refuge offers fishing on 191 acres of tidal freshwater wetlands of Great Marsh via non-motorized boats only.

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

    How to get to Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR

    Navigate

    Destination: Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

    Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
    Decimal
    38.63044, -77.17741
    DMS
    38°37′49.6″N 77°10′38.7″W

    Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

    Nearest towns

    • Washington, DC21 mi S of town
    • Fredericksburg, VA27 mi NE of town
    • Annapolis, MD44 mi SW of town
    • Tappahannock, VA51 mi N of town

    Closest airports

    • IAD Washington Dulles27 mi
    • BWI Baltimore/Washington47 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 Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck 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, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:41 PM13h 04m
    Tue, Sep 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM7:19 PM12h 30m
    Thu, Oct 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM6:53 PM11h 50m
    Thu, Oct 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM6:32 PM11h 16m
    Sun, Nov 1, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM5:10 PM10h 36m
    Sun, Nov 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM4:56 PM10h 07m
    Tue, Dec 1, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:48 PM9h 41m
    Tue, Dec 15, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM4:48 PM9h 29m
    Fri, Jan 1, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM4:56 PM9h 31m
    Fri, Jan 15, 20276:55 AM7:25 AM5:09 PM9h 45m
    Mon, Feb 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:28 PM10h 14m

    Computed for 38.630, -77.177 (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 Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck 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…

    Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

    Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

    Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

    What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

    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.

    How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

    What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

    Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

    The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

    Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR FAQ

    Is hunting allowed at Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR?

    Yes. Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (1,827 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

    Do I need a permit to hunt Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR?

    Yes — Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck 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 Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR?

    Yes. Fishing is permitted. State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

    Where is Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR located?

    Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge is in Fairfax County, Virginia, about 21 miles S of Washington, DC (straight-line). GPS: 38.63044, -77.17741.

    What are legal shooting hours at Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck 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

    Occoquan Bay NWR

    Prince William County, VA · 3.3 mi W

    1 special1 closed
    🦌🦃🐇

    571 huntable acres

    Featherstone NWR

    Prince William County, VA · 4.4 mi W

    2 open1 closed
    🦆🎣

    4 huntable acres

    Southern Maryland Woodlands NWR

    Charles County, MD · 14 mi S

    1 special1 closed
    🦌🦃

    31 huntable acres

    Patuxent Research Refuge

    Prince George's County, MD · 35 mi NE

    1 open6 special1 closed
    🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🎣

    12.6K huntable acres

    Rappahannock River Valley NWR

    Richmond County, VA · 51 mi S

    18 special2 closed
    🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

    6.8K huntable acres

    Eastern Neck NWR

    MD · 58 mi NE

    1 special1 closed
    🦌🦃🐇🎣

    2K huntable acres

    All refuges in Virginia →

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