National Wildlife Refuge · Maine · FWS Region 5

Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge is located in Maine, with about 18 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open under general rules, covering about 18 huntable acres.

1 open unit
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
18huntable acres
18FWS-owned acres
2game categories

Franklin Island 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 Franklin Island NWR

Permitted hunting categories are waterfowl and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

In spring, 72 islands that form part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuges provide habitat for unusual birds such as puffins and terns.

— U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill crane

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Maine regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Open: 18 (100%)18huntable acres
  • Open18 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
FINWR
Show on map · Directions		 Open 18 —

Franklin Island NWR by the numbers

With about 18 huntable acres, Franklin Island NWR ranks #8 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Maine and #418 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is FINWR (18 acres).

When to hunt Franklin Island NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Maine 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 — Waterfowl, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split

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 Maine hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and 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 Franklin Island NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Franklin Island NWR.

How to get to Franklin Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.89156, -69.37424
DMS
43°53′29.6″N 69°22′27.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Rockland, ME19 mi SW of town
  • Augusta, ME35 mi SE of town
  • Portland, ME47 mi E of town
  • Ellsworth, ME65 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • PWM Portland Intl Jetport50 mi
  • BGR Bangor Intl69 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 Franklin Island 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, 20265:29 AM5:59 AM7:15 PM13h 16m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:45 AM6:15 AM6:50 PM12h 35m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM6:20 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM5:55 PM11h 06m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:42 AM6:12 AM4:29 PM10h 17m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM4:13 PM9h 42m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM4:02 PM9h 11m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM4:00 PM8h 56m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:41 AM7:11 AM4:09 PM8h 58m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM4:23 PM9h 15m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:25 AM6:55 AM4:45 PM9h 50m

Computed for 43.892, -69.374 (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 Franklin Island NWR

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

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…

Franklin Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Franklin Island NWR?

Yes. Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (18 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Franklin Island NWR?

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

Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Maine, about 19 miles SW of Rockland, ME (straight-line). GPS: 43.89156, -69.37424.

What are legal shooting hours at Franklin Island 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

Pond Island NWR

ME · 22 mi SW

1 open
🦆

17 huntable acres

Seal Island NWR

ME · 32 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Carlton Pond WPA

Waldo County, ME · 57 mi N

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1K huntable acres

Craig Brook NFH

Hancock County, ME · 59 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

87 huntable acres

Green Lake NFH

Hancock County, ME · 69 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

55 huntable acres

Petit Manan NWR

Washington County, ME · 82 mi NE

35 open16 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

5.1K huntable acres

All refuges in Maine →

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