National Wildlife Refuge · Virginia · FWS Region 5

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is located in Chesapeake city, Virginia, with about 114,072 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into North Carolina. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 14 mapped hunt units: 11 open with special regulations and 3 closed, covering about 102,451 huntable acres.

11 with special regs3 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
14hunt units
102Khuntable acres
114KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

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

Hunting at Great Dismal Swamp NWR

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)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 102,451 (90%)Closed: 11,629 (10%)102Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations102,451 ac 90%
  • Closed11,629 ac 10%
Units by size (acres)
Jericho
24,323 ac
Portsmouth
22,853 ac
Railroad
12,223 ac
Weyerhaeuser
8,234 ac
The Blocks
8,200 ac
Washington Bow
7,617 ac
Corapeake
7,469 ac
Bull Blvd
6,688 ac
Insurance
5,185 ac
North
4,157 ac
Portsmouth Bow
3,568 ac
Closed Area (VA)
3,419 ac
Railroad Bow
134 ac
Closed Area (NC)
10 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Bull Blvd Special regs 6,688 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Corapeake Special regs 7,469 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Insurance Special regs 5,185 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Jericho Special regs 24,323 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
North Special regs 4,157 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Portsmouth Special regs 22,853 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Portsmouth Bow Special regs 3,568 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Railroad Special regs 12,223 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Railroad Bow Special regs 134 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Washington Bow Special regs 7,617 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Weyerhaeuser Special regs 8,234 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Closed Area (NC) Closed 10 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
Closed Area (VA) Closed 3,419 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting
The Blocks Closed 8,200 Required
Special Use Permit		 Deer and bear hunting

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)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.61283, -76.46934
DMS
36°36′46.2″N 76°28′09.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

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

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM7:36 PM12h 60m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:15 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM6:51 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM6:31 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM5:10 PM10h 42m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM4:58 PM10h 15m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM4:51 PM9h 52m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM4:51 PM9h 41m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:59 PM9h 42m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:11 PM9h 55m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM5:29 PM10h 22m

Computed for 36.613, -76.469 (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 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

Mackay Island NWR

Currituck County, NC · 30 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

8.7K huntable acres

Back Bay NWR

Virginia Beach city, VA · 31 mi E

8 special1 closed
🦌🐗🎣

2.2K huntable acres

Currituck NWR

Currituck County, NC · 35 mi E

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐗

3.8K huntable acres

Plum Tree Island NWR

Poquoson city, VA · 36 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦆

213 huntable acres

Edenton NFH

Chowan County, NC · 39 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Fisherman Island NWR

VA · 44 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

752 huntable acres

All refuges in Virginia →

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