National Wildlife Refuge · Alabama · FWS Region 4

Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge is located in Lauderdale County, Alabama, with about 1,060 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open with special regulations, covering about 1,060 huntable acres.

1 with special regsPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
1.1Khuntable acres
1.1KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Key Cave 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 Key Cave NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Some of the most distinctive wildlife in the United States lives largely unseen in deep caves throughout the South.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Alabama regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 1,060 (100%)1.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,060 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Main Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,060 Required
Other		 All species open to hunting on the station

Key Cave NWR by the numbers

With about 1,060 huntable acres, Key Cave NWR ranks #6 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Alabama and #355 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Main Hunt Area (1,060 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

When to hunt Key Cave NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Alabama 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All species open to hunting on the station

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

  • A valid Alabama hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
  • 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 Key Cave NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Key Cave NWR.

How to get to Key Cave NWR

Navigate

Destination: Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
34.75489, -87.78662
DMS
34°45′17.6″N 87°47′11.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Decatur, AL47 mi W of town
  • Tupelo, MS62 mi NE of town
  • Huntsville, AL68 mi W of town
  • Jackson, TN83 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • BHM Birmingham–Shuttlesworth102 mi
  • BNA Nashville Intl113 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 Key Cave NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:53 AM6:23 AM7:19 PM12h 56m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM6:59 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM6:36 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM6:17 PM11h 22m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:40 AM6:10 AM4:58 PM10h 48m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM4:47 PM10h 23m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM4:40 PM10h 01m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM4:41 PM9h 51m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:28 AM6:58 AM4:49 PM9h 52m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:27 AM6:57 AM5:01 PM10h 04m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:20 AM6:50 AM5:18 PM10h 29m

Computed for 34.755, -87.787 (CDT / 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 Key Cave 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…

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…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Feral Hog Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

Why many refuges allow — and encourage — feral hog hunting, how refuge rules handle hogs, safe shot placement, disease…

Key Cave NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Key Cave NWR?

Yes. Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (1,060 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Key Cave NWR?

Yes — Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained kiosk, online (e.g. recreation.gov), or other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Key Cave NWR located?

Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge is in Lauderdale County, Alabama, about 47 miles W of Decatur, AL (straight-line). GPS: 34.75489, -87.78662.

What are legal shooting hours at Key Cave 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

Wheeler NWR

Limestone County, AL · 53 mi E

3 special2 closed
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

27.6K huntable acres

Private John Allen NFH

Lee County, MS · 63 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Fern Cave NWR

Jackson County, AL · 84 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Sauta Cave NWR

Jackson County, AL · 95 mi E

1 special
🐦🐇

266 huntable acres

Hatchie NWR

Haywood County, TN · 95 mi NW

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.2K huntable acres

Paint Rock River NWR

Franklin County, TN · 97 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Alabama →

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