National Wildlife Refuge · U.S. Minor Outlying Islands · FWS Region 1

Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 422,678 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
423KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Howland Island 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 Howland Island NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 422,678 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed422,678 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 422,678 —

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid U.S. Minor Outlying Islands hunting license and any required tags or stamps
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Howland Island NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Howland Island NWR.

How to get to Howland Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
0.80731, -176.61772
DMS
0°48′26.3″N 176°37′03.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

Remote location — no reference towns within 400 miles.

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.

Howland Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Howland Island NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Howland Island NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Howland Island NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

What are legal shooting hours at Howland Island 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

Baker Island NWR

UM · 43 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Palmyra Atoll NWR

UM · 1,060 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Kingman Reef NWR

UM · 1,060 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Jarvis Island NWR

UM · 1,151 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Johnston Atoll NWR

UM · 1,207 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Rose Atoll NWR

UM · 1,208 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in U.S. Minor Outlying Islands →

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