Rachel Carson NWR
York County, ME · 9.2 mi E
!17 special✕11 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
4.1K huntable acres
Great Bay 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
Hunting at Great Bay NWR
- Big Game
- Waterfowl
- Wild Turkey
-
Upland Birds -
Migratory Birds -
Small Game -
Feral & Exotic -
Fishing
Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, and wild turkey, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.
The New Hampshire coast is a mix of suburbia, fields and woodlands –- and that seems to suit white-tailed deer. The coastal area has a much higher deer density than the big forests that cover much of the state.
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 turkey
Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow New Hampshire regulations plus refuge-specific rules.
Hunt units (1)
- Special regulations1,103 ac 100%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station | !Special regs | 1,103 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Deer, turkey |
Permits & licenses
Refuge permit
Required
Deer, turkey
Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit
How to get it:
- ✉️ By mail
- 💻 Online (FWS)
- 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office
You'll also need
- A valid New Hampshire hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
- 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 Great Bay NWR
USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Great Bay NWR.
How to get to Great Bay NWR
Navigate
Destination: Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
43.08378, -70.84703- DMS
43°05′01.6″N 70°50′49.3″W
Nearest towns
- Portsmouth, NH4.5 mi W of town
- Newburyport, MA19 mi N of town
- Manchester, NH32 mi E of town
- Concord, NH36 mi E of town
Closest airports
- MHT Manchester–Boston32 mi
- PWM Portland Intl Jetport48 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 Great Bay 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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 5:36 AM | 6:06 AM | 7:20 PM | 13h 14m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 5:51 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:55 PM | 12h 34m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:09 AM | 6:39 AM | 6:26 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:25 AM | 6:55 AM | 6:02 PM | 11h 07m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:46 AM | 6:16 AM | 4:37 PM | 10h 20m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 4:21 PM | 9h 46m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:24 AM | 6:54 AM | 4:10 PM | 9h 16m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:37 AM | 7:07 AM | 4:09 PM | 9h 02m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:44 AM | 7:14 AM | 4:17 PM | 9h 03m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:42 AM | 7:12 AM | 4:31 PM | 9h 20m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 4:53 PM | 9h 54m |
Computed for 43.084, -70.847 (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.
Great Bay NWR FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Great Bay NWR?
Yes. Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (1,103 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, and wild turkey. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.
Do I need a permit to hunt Great Bay NWR?
Yes — Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit. Permits can be obtained mail, online through fws, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.
Where is Great Bay NWR located?
Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge is in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, about 4 miles W of Portsmouth, NH (straight-line). GPS: 43.08378, -70.84703.
What are legal shooting hours at Great Bay 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
Parker River NWR
Essex County, MA · 24 mi S
!5 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
4.5K huntable acres
Thacher Island NWR
Essex County, MA · 34 mi SE
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site
Hillsborough County, NH · 37 mi SW
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Nashua NFH
Hillsborough County, NH · 40 mi SW
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Wapack NWR
Hillsborough County, NH · 53 mi W
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.