National Wildlife Refuge · New Hampshire · FWS Region 5

John Hay National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, John Hay National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 80 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
80FWS-owned acres
0game categories

John Hay 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 John Hay 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: 80 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed80 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 80 —

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 New Hampshire hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at John Hay NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for John Hay NWR.

How to get to John Hay NWR

Navigate

Destination: John Hay National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
43.34878, -72.04345
DMS
43°20′55.6″N 72°02′36.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Concord, NH27 mi W of town
  • Keene, NH31 mi N of town
  • Manchester, NH38 mi NW of town
  • Brattleboro, VT43 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • MHT Manchester–Boston42 mi
  • BOS Boston Logan86 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 John Hay 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, 20265:41 AM6:11 AM7:25 PM13h 15m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM7:00 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM6:31 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM6:07 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM4:41 PM10h 19m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM4:25 PM9h 45m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM4:14 PM9h 14m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM4:13 PM8h 60m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:50 AM7:20 AM4:21 PM9h 01m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:35 PM9h 18m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM4:57 PM9h 53m

Computed for 43.349, -72.043 (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.

John Hay NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at John Hay NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt John Hay NWR?

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

Where is John Hay NWR located?

John Hay National Wildlife Refuge is in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, about 27 miles W of Concord, NH (straight-line). GPS: 43.34878, -72.04345.

What are legal shooting hours at John Hay 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

Wapack NWR

Hillsborough County, NH · 33 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

White River NFH

Windsor County, VT · 44 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site

Hillsborough County, NH · 47 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Nashua NFH

Hillsborough County, NH · 49 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Dwight D. Eisenhower NFH

Rutland County, VT · 54 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

Oxbow NWR

Worcester County, MA · 62 mi S

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.7K huntable acres

All refuges in New Hampshire →

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