National Wildlife Refuge · New Hampshire · FWS Region 5

Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 1,103 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 with special regulations, covering about 1,103 huntable acres.

1 with special regsPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
1.1Khuntable acres
1.1KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

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
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Great Bay NWR

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)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,103 (100%)1.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,103 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,103 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Deer, turkey

Great Bay NWR by the numbers

With about 1,103 huntable acres, Great Bay NWR ranks #2 of 2 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in New Hampshire and #352 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 Station (1,103 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

Besides 1,103 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 50 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Great Bay NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. New Hampshire 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, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)

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)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.08378, -70.84703
DMS
43°05′01.6″N 70°50′49.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

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

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:36 AM6:06 AM7:20 PM13h 14m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM6:55 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM6:26 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM6:02 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM4:37 PM10h 20m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM4:21 PM9h 46m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM4:10 PM9h 16m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:09 PM9h 02m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM4:17 PM9h 03m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM4:31 PM9h 20m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:29 AM6:59 AM4:53 PM9h 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.

Guides for hunting Great Bay 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…

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…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

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.

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

Rachel Carson NWR

York County, ME · 9.2 mi E

17 special11 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.1K huntable acres

Parker River NWR

Essex County, MA · 24 mi S

5 special1 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

All refuges in New Hampshire →

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