National Wildlife Refuge · North Carolina · FWS Region 4

Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge lies in Currituck County, North Carolina, with about 8,696 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Virginia. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 8,723 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
8.7Khuntable acres
8.7KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Mackay Island 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 Mackay Island NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Deer hunters may use shotguns, muzzleloading shotguns/rifles, pistols and archery equipment. Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge holds several deer hunts during the fall, each lasting three days.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsSmall 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 North Carolina regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 8,723 (100%)Closed: 0.7 (0%)8.7Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations8,723 ac 100%
  • Closed0.7 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
A - NC
6,705 ac
West Marsh
1,117 ac
A - VA
901 ac
Closed - NC
0.7 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
A - NC Special regs 6,705 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting only
A - VA Special regs 901 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting only
West Marsh Special regs 1,117 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting only
Closed - NC Closed 0.7 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting only

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Hunting only

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid North Carolina hunting license and any required tags or stamps — North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
  • 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 Mackay Island NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include sunfish, crappie, catfish, largemouth bass and seasonal striped bass and flounder. The refuge's facilities are small-boat access, a fishing pier and three large impoundments (pools) -- open March 15-October 15.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Mackay Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.52690, -75.94324
DMS
36°31′36.8″N 75°56′35.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Virginia Beach, VA22 mi S of town
  • Elizabeth City, NC24 mi NE of town
  • Norfolk, VA29 mi SE of town
  • Suffolk, VA38 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • ORF Norfolk Intl29 mi
  • RIC Richmond Intl102 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 Mackay Island 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, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM7:34 PM12h 60m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM7:13 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM6:48 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:29 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM5:08 PM10h 42m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM4:56 PM10h 16m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM4:49 PM9h 52m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM4:49 PM9h 41m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM4:57 PM9h 42m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:09 PM9h 55m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:27 PM10h 22m

Computed for 36.527, -75.943 (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.

Mackay Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Mackay Island NWR?

Yes. Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (8,723 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Mackay Island NWR?

Yes — Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained mail, online through fws, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Mackay Island NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Mackay Island NWR located?

Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Currituck County, North Carolina, about 22 miles S of Virginia Beach, VA (straight-line). GPS: 36.52690, -75.94324.

What are legal shooting hours at Mackay Island 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

Currituck NWR

Currituck County, NC · 6.0 mi SE

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐗

3.8K huntable acres

Back Bay NWR

Virginia Beach city, VA · 8.8 mi N

8 special1 closed
🦌🐗🎣

2.2K huntable acres

Great Dismal Swamp NWR

Chesapeake city, VA · 30 mi W

11 special3 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

102K huntable acres

Fisherman Island NWR

VA · 39 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

752 huntable acres

Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR

Northampton County, VA · 42 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.1K huntable acres

Plum Tree Island NWR

Poquoson city, VA · 46 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦆

213 huntable acres

All refuges in North Carolina →

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