National Wildlife Refuge · New York · FWS Region 5

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge lies in Genesee County, New York, with about 10,803 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 10,140 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
10.1Khuntable acres
10.8KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Iroquois 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 Iroquois NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, 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.

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge affords hunters the opportunity to pursue nearly every game species available in New York.

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 turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall 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 York regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 10,140 (94%)Closed: 693 (6%)10.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations10,140 ac 94%
  • Closed693 ac 6%
Units by size (acres)
West of Sour Springs Road
4,668 ac
East of Sour Springs Road
3,254 ac
Waterfowl Hunt Zone
2,217 ac
No Hunt Zone
693 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
East of Sour Springs Road
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,254 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl ($10 on Saturdays, $5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and half-price for seniors), spring turkey ($5 pre-season…
Waterfowl Hunt Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,217 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl ($10 on Saturdays, $5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and half-price for seniors), spring turkey ($5 pre-season…
West of Sour Springs Road
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,668 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl ($10 on Saturdays, $5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and half-price for seniors), spring turkey ($5 pre-season…
No Hunt Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 693 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Waterfowl ($10 on Saturdays, $5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and half-price for seniors), spring turkey ($5 pre-season…

Iroquois NWR by the numbers

With about 10,140 huntable acres, Iroquois NWR ranks #1 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in New York and #191 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 94% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is West of Sour Springs Road (4,668 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Waterfowl Hunt Zone, covers 2,217 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 693 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunt Zone). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Iroquois NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. New York 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Waterfowl ($10 on Saturdays, $5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and half-price for seniors), spring turkey ($5 pre-season drawing application fee). Waterfowl and turkey both have a $5 application fee assessed by vendor and money does not go to FWS. recaccess.

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

  • A valid New York hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New York State DEC
  • 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 Iroquois NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include northern pike, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, white perch, brown bullhead and carp. Ice fishing is permitted.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Iroquois NWR

Navigate

Destination: Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.13065, -78.35801
DMS
43°07′50.3″N 78°21′28.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Batavia, NY12 mi NW of town
  • Buffalo, NY31 mi NE of town
  • Rochester, NY38 mi W of town
  • Seneca Falls, NY80 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • BUF Buffalo Niagara23 mi
  • SYR Syracuse Hancock113 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 Iroquois 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 AM7:50 PM13h 14m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM7:25 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:56 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM6:32 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM5:07 PM10h 20m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM4:51 PM9h 46m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM4:40 PM9h 16m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM4:39 PM9h 01m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:14 AM7:44 AM4:47 PM9h 03m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:12 AM7:42 AM5:01 PM9h 19m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:59 AM7:29 AM5:23 PM9h 54m

Computed for 43.131, -78.358 (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 Iroquois 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…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Iroquois NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Iroquois NWR?

Yes. Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (10,140 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Iroquois NWR?

Yes — Iroquois 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.

Can you fish at Iroquois NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Iroquois NWR located?

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is in Genesee County, New York, about 12 miles NW of Batavia, NY (straight-line). GPS: 43.13065, -78.35801.

What are legal shooting hours at Iroquois 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

Montezuma NWR

Seneca County, NY · 82 mi E

10 open18 special5 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

9.8K huntable acres

Erie NWR

Crawford County, PA · 135 mi SW

2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9K huntable acres

Lamar NFH and Northeast Fishery Center

Clinton County, PA · 153 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Cherry Valley NWR

Monroe County, PA · 221 mi SE

3 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5K huntable acres

Wallkill River NWR

Sussex County, NJ · 235 mi SE

3 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.9K huntable acres

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

Ulster County, NY · 236 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃

165 huntable acres

All refuges in New York →

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