Massasoit NWR
Plymouth County, MA · 23 mi N
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Mashpee 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.
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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 Mashpee NWR
- Big Game
- Waterfowl
- Wild Turkey
- Upland Birds
- Migratory Birds
- Small Game
-
Feral & Exotic -
Fishing
Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.
Hunting is permitted at Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge for all of the Massachusetts game species with the exception of rabbit.
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals
Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Massachusetts regulations plus refuge-specific rules.
Hunt units (2)
- Special regulations301 ac 95%
- Closed17 ac 5%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mashpee Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 301 | — | |
| Closed Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 17 | — |
Mashpee NWR by the numbers
With about 301 huntable acres, Mashpee NWR ranks #7 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Massachusetts and #390 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 95% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is Mashpee (301 acres, special regulations).
1 unit totaling 17 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.
Besides 319 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 54 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.
When to hunt Mashpee NWR
Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Massachusetts 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
🦆 Waterfowl
🦃 Wild Turkey
🐦 Upland Birds
🕊️ Migratory Birds
🐇 Small 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 Massachusetts hunting license and any required tags or stamps — MassWildlife
- 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 Mashpee NWR
USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Mashpee NWR.
How to get to Mashpee NWR
Navigate
Destination: Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
41.57916, -70.48876- DMS
41°34′45.0″N 70°29′19.5″W
Nearest towns
- Hyannis, MA12 mi SW of town
- New Bedford, MA23 mi E of town
- Newport, RI43 mi E of town
- Providence, RI50 mi E of town
Closest airports
- PVD Providence T.F. Green50 mi
- BOS Boston Logan60 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 Mashpee 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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 5:37 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:17 PM | 13h 11m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 5:50 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:53 PM | 12h 33m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:07 AM | 6:37 AM | 6:25 PM | 11h 49m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:22 AM | 6:52 AM | 6:02 PM | 11h 10m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:42 AM | 6:12 AM | 4:38 PM | 10h 26m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:00 AM | 6:30 AM | 4:23 PM | 9h 53m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:18 AM | 6:48 AM | 4:13 PM | 9h 25m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:31 AM | 7:01 AM | 4:12 PM | 9h 11m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 4:21 PM | 9h 13m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 4:34 PM | 9h 28m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:24 AM | 6:54 AM | 4:55 PM | 10h 01m |
Computed for 41.579, -70.489 (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 Mashpee 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…
Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work
How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…
Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes
Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…
Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters
Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…
Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety
How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…
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…
Mashpee NWR FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Mashpee NWR?
Yes. Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (301 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.
Do I need a permit to hunt Mashpee NWR?
FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Mashpee NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.
Where is Mashpee NWR located?
Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge is in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, about 12 miles SW of Hyannis, MA (straight-line). GPS: 41.57916, -70.48876.
What are legal shooting hours at Mashpee 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
Monomoy NWR
MA · 25 mi E
✓1 open✕1 closed
🦆🎣
3.2K huntable acres
Nantucket NWR
Nantucket County, MA · 26 mi SE
✕1 closed
🎣
Nomans Land Island NWR
MA · 28 mi SW
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Sachuest Point NWR
Newport County, RI · 40 mi W
!1 special✕1 closed
🦌🐇🎣
141 huntable acres
North Attleboro NFH
Bristol County, MA · 50 mi NW
✕1 closed
🎣
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.