National Wildlife Refuge · Pennsylvania · FWS Region 5

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with about 1,011 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 194 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
194huntable acres
1KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

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.

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 Heinz NWR at Tinicum

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

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.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammals

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)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 194 (19%)Closed: 817 (81%)194huntable acres
  • Special regulations194 ac 19%
  • Closed817 ac 81%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
817 ac
Zone 2
75 ac
Zone 1
60 ac
Zone 3
59 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Zone 1 Special regs 60 —
Zone 2 Special regs 75 —
Zone 3 Special regs 59 —
Closed Closed 817 —

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)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.88261, -75.26208
DMS
39°52′57.4″N 75°15′43.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

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

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM7:34 PM13h 07m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM7:11 PM12h 31m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM6:45 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:23 PM11h 13m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM5:00 PM10h 32m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM4:46 PM10h 01m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM4:37 PM9h 35m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM4:37 PM9h 22m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:52 AM7:22 AM4:45 PM9h 23m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:50 AM7:20 AM4:58 PM9h 38m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:18 PM10h 08m

Computed for 39.883, -75.262 (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 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

Supawna Meadows NWR

Salem County, NJ · 24 mi SW

1 open3 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

1.4K huntable acres

Bombay Hook NWR

Kent County, DE · 44 mi S

7 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

9.1K huntable acres

Susquehanna NWR

Harford County, MD · 51 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR

Atlantic County, NJ · 53 mi SE

1 open3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🎣

24.5K huntable acres

Cape May NWR

Cape May County, NJ · 54 mi SE

4 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12K huntable acres

Cherry Valley NWR

Monroe County, PA · 69 mi N

3 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5K huntable acres

All refuges in Pennsylvania →

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