National Wildlife Refuge · Virginia · FWS Region 5

Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Prince William County, Virginia, Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 268 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 under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 4.1 huntable acres.

2 open units1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
4huntable acres
268FWS-owned acres
1game categories

Featherstone 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 Featherstone NWR

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

Hunting opportunities include waterfowl, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Freshwater tidal marshes and creeks throughout Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge offer hunting opportunities. Neabsco Creek (19 acres) and Farm Creek (17 acres) are open to waterfowl hunting with some restrictions.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

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
Open: 4.1 (2%)Closed: 264 (98%)4huntable acres
  • Open4.1 ac 2%
  • Closed264 ac 98%
Units by size (acres)
No Hunting Area
264 ac
Farm Creek
3.6 ac
Neabsco Creek
0.5 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Farm Creek Open 3.6 —
Neabsco Creek Open 0.5 —
No Hunting Area Closed 264 —

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 Virginia hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
  • 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 Featherstone NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The refuge offers fishing on 36 acres of stream habitat. Farm Creek unit (17 acres) is open to non-motorized boating only, and Neabsco Creek unit (19 acres) is open to both motorized and non-motorized boat use.

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

How to get to Featherstone NWR

Navigate

Destination: Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
38.60695, -77.25343
DMS
38°36′25.0″N 77°15′12.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Washington, DC24 mi SW of town
  • Fredericksburg, VA24 mi NE of town
  • Annapolis, MD49 mi SW of town
  • Tappahannock, VA51 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • IAD Washington Dulles26 mi
  • BWI Baltimore/Washington51 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 Featherstone 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 AM4:57 PM10h 07m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:49 PM9h 41m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM4:48 PM9h 30m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM4:57 PM9h 31m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:55 AM7:25 AM5:09 PM9h 45m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:29 PM10h 14m

Computed for 38.607, -77.253 (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.

Featherstone NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Featherstone NWR?

Yes. Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (4.1 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Featherstone NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Featherstone NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Featherstone NWR?

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

Where is Featherstone NWR located?

Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge is in Prince William County, Virginia, about 24 miles SW of Washington, DC (straight-line). GPS: 38.60695, -77.25343.

What are legal shooting hours at Featherstone 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 · 2.8 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇

571 huntable acres

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR

Fairfax County, VA · 4.4 mi E

2 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Southern Maryland Woodlands NWR

Charles County, MD · 12 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃

31 huntable acres

Patuxent Research Refuge

Prince George's County, MD · 39 mi NE

1 open6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🎣

12.6K huntable acres

Rappahannock River Valley NWR

Richmond County, VA · 52 mi SE

18 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

6.8K huntable acres

Eastern Neck NWR

MD · 62 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 September 29, 2026.