Mackay Island NWR
Currituck County, NC · 30 mi E
!3 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣
8.7K huntable acres
Great Dismal Swamp 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 Dismal Swamp NWR
- Big Game
-
Waterfowl - Wild Turkey
-
Upland Birds -
Migratory Birds - Small Game
-
Feral & Exotic - Fishing
Permitted hunting categories are big game, wild turkey, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting of white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, coyote and gray squirrel through designated areas in accordance with state and federal regulations.
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeySmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals
Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Virginia regulations plus refuge-specific rules.
Hunt units (14)
- Special regulations102,451 ac 90%
- Closed11,629 ac 10%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bull Blvd Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 6,688 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Corapeake Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 7,469 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Insurance Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 5,185 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Jericho Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 24,323 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| North Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 4,157 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Portsmouth Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 22,853 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Portsmouth Bow Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 3,568 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Railroad Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 12,223 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Railroad Bow Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 134 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Washington Bow Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 7,617 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Weyerhaeuser Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 8,234 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Closed Area (NC) Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 10 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| Closed Area (VA) Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 3,419 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
| The Blocks Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 8,200 | Required Special Use Permit |
Deer and bear hunting |
Great Dismal Swamp NWR by the numbers
With about 102,451 huntable acres, Great Dismal Swamp NWR ranks #1 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Virginia and #30 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 90% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is Jericho (24,323 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Railroad Bow, covers 134 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.
3 units totaling 11,629 acres are closed to hunting (Closed Area (NC), Closed Area (VA), and The Blocks). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.
Besides 114,072 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 36 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.
When to hunt Great Dismal Swamp NWR
Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Virginia 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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
🦃 Wild Turkey
🐇 Small Game
Permits & licenses
Refuge permit
Required
Deer and bear hunting
Type: Special Use Permit
How to get it:
- 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
You'll also need
- A valid Virginia hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
- Hunter education certification where your state requires it
- The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)
Fishing at Great Dismal Swamp NWR
- 🐟 Freshwater fishing
Fishing is allowed in accordance with state regulations, during daylight hours year-round in the refuge waters of Lake Drummond (approximately 3,100 acres, average depth of four to six feet) and Feeder Ditch.
State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.
How to get to Great Dismal Swamp NWR
Navigate
Destination: Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
36.61283, -76.46934- DMS
36°36′46.2″N 76°28′09.6″W
Nearest towns
- Suffolk, VA10 mi SE of town
- Norfolk, VA19 mi SW of town
- Elizabeth City, NC25 mi NW of town
- Virginia Beach, VA32 mi SW of town
Closest airports
- ORF Norfolk Intl24 mi
- RIC Richmond Intl78 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 Dismal Swamp 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 | 6:06 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:36 PM | 12h 60m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:17 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:15 PM | 12h 28m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 6:51 PM | 11h 51m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:41 AM | 7:11 AM | 6:31 PM | 11h 19m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:58 AM | 6:28 AM | 5:10 PM | 10h 42m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 4:58 PM | 10h 15m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 4:51 PM | 9h 52m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:40 AM | 7:10 AM | 4:51 PM | 9h 41m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:47 AM | 7:17 AM | 4:59 PM | 9h 42m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:47 AM | 7:17 AM | 5:11 PM | 9h 55m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 5:29 PM | 10h 22m |
Computed for 36.613, -76.469 (EDT / 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.
Guides for hunting Great Dismal Swamp 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…
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…
Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters
Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…
Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go
What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…
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.
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…
Great Dismal Swamp NWR FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Great Dismal Swamp NWR?
Yes. Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 11 units (102,451 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.
Do I need a permit to hunt Great Dismal Swamp NWR?
Yes — Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Special Use Permit. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov). You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.
Can you fish at Great Dismal Swamp NWR?
Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.
Where is Great Dismal Swamp NWR located?
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is in Chesapeake city, Virginia, about 10 miles SE of Suffolk, VA (straight-line). GPS: 36.61283, -76.46934.
What are legal shooting hours at Great Dismal Swamp 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
Back Bay NWR
Virginia Beach city, VA · 31 mi E
!8 special✕1 closed
🦌🐗🎣
2.2K huntable acres
Currituck NWR
Currituck County, NC · 35 mi E
!4 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🐗
3.8K huntable acres
Plum Tree Island NWR
Poquoson city, VA · 36 mi N
!1 special✕1 closed
🦆
213 huntable acres
Edenton NFH
Chowan County, NC · 39 mi S
✕1 closed
🎣
Fisherman Island NWR
VA · 44 mi NE
!1 special✕1 closed
🦆🕊️
752 huntable acres
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.