Supawna Meadows NWR
Salem County, NJ · 24 mi SW
✓1 open✕3 closed
🦆🕊️🎣
1.4K huntable acres
John Heinz NWR at Tinicum 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.
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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
Hunting at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum
Hunting opportunities include big game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing and tidal / saltwater fishing.
A mentored archery deer hunt provides individuals age 12 and over with little to no hunting experience an opportunity to participate in a managed deer hunt under the guidance of trained mentors at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum.
Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Pennsylvania regulations plus refuge-specific rules.
Hunt units (4)
- Special regulations194 ac 19%
- Closed817 ac 81%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 60 | — | |
| Zone 2 Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 75 | — | |
| Zone 3 Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 59 | — | |
| Closed Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 817 | — |
John Heinz NWR at Tinicum by the numbers
With about 194 huntable acres, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum ranks #3 of 3 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Pennsylvania and #397 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 19% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is Zone 2 (75 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Zone 3, covers 59 acres.
1 unit totaling 817 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.
Besides 1,011 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 0.5 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.
When to hunt John Heinz NWR at Tinicum
Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Pennsylvania 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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
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 Pennsylvania hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Pennsylvania Game Commission
- Hunter education certification where your state requires it
- The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)
Fishing at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum
- 🐟 Freshwater fishing
- 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
Refuge waters include a 145-acre impoundment, 16-acre pond, five-acre pond and tidal Darby Creek, with approximately seven stream miles. Fishing season is year-round.
State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.
How to get to John Heinz NWR at Tinicum
Navigate
Destination: John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
39.88261, -75.26208- DMS
39°52′57.4″N 75°15′43.5″W
Nearest towns
- Philadelphia, PA6.7 mi SW of town
- Wilmington, DE18 mi NE of town
- Vineland, NJ30 mi NW of town
- Trenton, NJ35 mi SW of town
Closest airports
- PHL Philadelphia Intl1.5 mi
- ACY Atlantic City Intl47 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 Heinz NWR at Tinicum
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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 5:58 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:34 PM | 13h 07m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:10 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:11 PM | 12h 31m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:25 AM | 6:55 AM | 6:45 PM | 11h 50m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 6:23 PM | 11h 13m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:58 AM | 6:28 AM | 5:00 PM | 10h 32m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:15 AM | 6:45 AM | 4:46 PM | 10h 01m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 4:37 PM | 9h 35m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:45 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:37 PM | 9h 22m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:52 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:45 PM | 9h 23m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 4:58 PM | 9h 38m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 5:18 PM | 10h 08m |
Computed for 39.883, -75.262 (EDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day hunting weather
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Guides for hunting John Heinz NWR at Tinicum
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…
Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go
What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…
How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)
What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…
Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather
The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…
John Heinz NWR at Tinicum FAQ
Is hunting allowed at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum?
Yes. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum offers hunting in 3 units (194 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.
Do I need a permit to hunt John Heinz NWR at Tinicum?
FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for John Heinz NWR at Tinicum. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.
Can you fish at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum?
Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing and tidal / saltwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.
Where is John Heinz NWR at Tinicum located?
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, about 7 miles SW of Philadelphia, PA (straight-line). GPS: 39.88261, -75.26208.
What are legal shooting hours at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum?
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
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Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.