Wheeler NWR
Limestone County, AL · 53 mi E
!3 special✕2 closed
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣
27.6K huntable acres
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
Hunting at Key Cave NWR
- Big Game
-
Waterfowl -
Wild Turkey - Upland Birds
- Migratory Birds
- Small Game
- Feral & Exotic
-
Fishing
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)
- Special regulations1,060 ac 100%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Hunt Area | !Special regs | 1,060 | Required Other |
All species open to hunting on the station |
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)
- Decimal
34.75489, -87.78662- DMS
34°45′17.6″N 87°47′11.8″W
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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 5:53 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:19 PM | 12h 56m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:03 AM | 6:33 AM | 6:59 PM | 12h 27m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:14 AM | 6:44 AM | 6:36 PM | 11h 52m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:25 AM | 6:55 AM | 6:17 PM | 11h 22m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:40 AM | 6:10 AM | 4:58 PM | 10h 48m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 5:54 AM | 6:24 AM | 4:47 PM | 10h 23m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:09 AM | 6:39 AM | 4:40 PM | 10h 01m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 4:41 PM | 9h 51m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:28 AM | 6:58 AM | 4:49 PM | 9h 52m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:27 AM | 6:57 AM | 5:01 PM | 10h 04m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 5:18 PM | 10h 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.
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
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 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
11.2K huntable acres
Paint Rock River NWR
Franklin County, TN · 97 mi E
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.