National Wildlife Refuge · Massachusetts · FWS Region 5

Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge is located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, with about 319 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 301 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closed
2hunt units
301huntable acres
319FWS-owned acres
6game categories

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.

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 Mashpee NWR

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.

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)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 301 (95%)Closed: 17 (5%)301huntable acres
  • Special regulations301 ac 95%
  • Closed17 ac 5%
Units by size (acres)
301 ac
Closed
17 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Mashpee Special regs 301 —
Closed Closed 17 —

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

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

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

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:37 AM6:07 AM7:17 PM13h 11m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM6:53 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM6:25 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM6:02 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:42 AM6:12 AM4:38 PM10h 26m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM4:23 PM9h 53m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM4:13 PM9h 25m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM4:12 PM9h 11m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM4:21 PM9h 13m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM4:34 PM9h 28m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:24 AM6:54 AM4:55 PM10h 01m

Computed for 41.579, -70.489 (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.

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

Massasoit NWR

Plymouth County, MA · 23 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Monomoy NWR

MA · 25 mi E

1 open1 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 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

141 huntable acres

North Attleboro NFH

Bristol County, MA · 50 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in Massachusetts →

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