National Wildlife Refuge · Alabama · FWS Region 4

Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge lies in Jackson County, Alabama, with about 203 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
203FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Fern Cave 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 Fern Cave 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: 203 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed203 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 203 —

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

Fishing at Fern Cave NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Fern Cave NWR.

How to get to Fern Cave NWR

Navigate

Destination: Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
34.67730, -86.30902
DMS
34°40′38.3″N 86°18′32.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Huntsville, AL16 mi E of town
  • Decatur, AL38 mi E of town
  • Chattanooga, TN62 mi SW of town
  • Birmingham, AL85 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • CHA Chattanooga Metro68 mi
  • BHM Birmingham–Shuttlesworth81 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 Fern Cave NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:47 AM6:17 AM7:13 PM12h 56m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM6:53 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM6:30 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM6:12 PM11h 22m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:34 AM6:04 AM4:52 PM10h 48m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM4:41 PM10h 23m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM4:35 PM10h 01m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM4:35 PM9h 51m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:22 AM6:52 AM4:44 PM9h 52m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:21 AM6:51 AM4:55 PM10h 04m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:13 AM6:43 AM5:12 PM10h 29m

Computed for 34.677, -86.309 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Fern Cave NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Fern Cave NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Fern Cave NWR?

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

Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge is in Jackson County, Alabama, about 16 miles E of Huntsville, AL (straight-line). GPS: 34.67730, -86.30902.

What are legal shooting hours at Fern Cave 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

Sauta Cave NWR

Jackson County, AL · 11 mi SE

1 special
🐦🐇

266 huntable acres

Paint Rock River NWR

Franklin County, TN · 28 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Wheeler NWR

Limestone County, AL · 33 mi W

3 special2 closed
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

27.6K huntable acres

Mountain Longleaf NWR

Calhoun County, AL · 75 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

3.3K huntable acres

Key Cave NWR

Lauderdale County, AL · 84 mi W

1 special
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🐗

1.1K huntable acres

Watercress Darter NWR

Jefferson County, AL · 97 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Alabama →

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