National Wildlife Refuge · New Jersey · FWS Region 5

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

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is located in Morris County, New Jersey, with about 7,853 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 6,763 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
6.8Khuntable acres
7.9KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Great 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 Swamp NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Just 26 miles as the crow flies from New York City, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge attracts an estimated 185,000 visitors a year to its 7,855 acres.

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 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 New Jersey regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 6,763 (86%)Closed: 1,090 (14%)6.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations6,763 ac 86%
  • Closed1,090 ac 14%
Units by size (acres)
Wilderness Area
3,397 ac
Management Area
3,366 ac
Closed
1,090 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Management Area Special regs 3,366 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Deer hunting.
Wilderness Area Special regs 3,397 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Deer hunting.
Closed Closed 1,090 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Deer hunting.

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Deer hunting.

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

  • A valid New Jersey hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Jersey Division of Fish & 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 Great Swamp NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Great Swamp NWR.

How to get to Great Swamp NWR

Navigate

Destination: Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
40.71192, -74.47658
DMS
40°42′42.9″N 74°28′35.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Newark, NJ16 mi W of town
  • New York City, NY24 mi W of town
  • Trenton, NJ37 mi NE of town
  • Stroudsburg, PA42 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • EWR Newark Liberty16 mi
  • JFK New York JFK37 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 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, 20265:53 AM6:23 AM7:32 PM13h 09m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:09 PM12h 32m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM6:41 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:19 PM11h 12m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM4:55 PM10h 29m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM4:41 PM9h 57m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM4:32 PM9h 30m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM4:31 PM9h 17m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM4:39 PM9h 18m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM4:53 PM9h 33m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM5:13 PM10h 05m

Computed for 40.712, -74.477 (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 Swamp NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Great Swamp NWR?

Yes. Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (6,763 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Swamp NWR?

Yes — Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved 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.

Where is Great Swamp NWR located?

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is in Morris County, New Jersey, about 16 miles W of Newark, NJ (straight-line). GPS: 40.71192, -74.47658.

What are legal shooting hours at Great 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

Wallkill River NWR

Sussex County, NJ · 35 mi N

3 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.9K huntable acres

Cherry Valley NWR

Monroe County, PA · 45 mi W

3 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5K huntable acres

Lido Beach Wildlife Management Area

NY · 46 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Oyster Bay NWR

Nassau County, NY · 53 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Target Rock NWR

Suffolk County, NY · 56 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

Ulster County, NY · 65 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃

165 huntable acres

All refuges in New Jersey →

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