National Wildlife Refuge · North Carolina · FWS Region 4

Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge lies in Hyde County, North Carolina, with about 49,875 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules, 2 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 48,845 huntable acres.

1 open unit2 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
48.8Khuntable acres
49.9KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Mattamuskeet 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 Mattamuskeet NWR

Hunters can pursue big game and waterfowl here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Most of North America’s wintering tundra swans can be found at and near Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in eastern North Carolina. Hunters lucky enough to draw a tag have an excellent chance at getting one of these trophy birds at the refuge.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

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
Open: 39,005 (78%)Special regulations: 9,839 (20%)Closed: 1,039 (2%)48.8Khuntable acres
  • Open39,005 ac 78%
  • Special regulations9,839 ac 20%
  • Closed1,039 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
Lake Unit
39,005 ac
Shoreline Unit
7,938 ac
Late-Season Waterfowl Hunt Area
1,902 ac
No Hunting Zone
1,039 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Lake Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Open 39,005 Required
Other		 Hunting only, not fishing
Late-Season Waterfowl Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,902 Required
Other		 Hunting only, not fishing
Shoreline Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 7,938 Required
Other		 Hunting only, not fishing
No Hunting Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,039 Required
Other		 Hunting only, not fishing

Mattamuskeet NWR by the numbers

With about 48,845 huntable acres, Mattamuskeet NWR ranks #3 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Carolina and #54 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 98% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Lake Unit (39,005 acres), while the smallest, Late-Season Waterfowl Hunt Area, covers 1,902 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 1,039 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting Zone). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 49,875 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 386 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Mattamuskeet NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Carolina 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, Waterfowl
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Hunting only, not fishing

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 🏛️ 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 Mattamuskeet NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Refuge waters include Lake Mattamuskeet (40,000 acres) with an average depth of two feet. Shallow-draft boats with small motors, canoes or waders are recommended. Five culverts can be fished from NC Hwy. 94.

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

How to get to Mattamuskeet NWR

Navigate

Destination: Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.49341, -76.18973
DMS
35°29′36.3″N 76°11′23.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Plymouth, NC41 mi SE of town
  • Manteo, NC41 mi SW of town
  • New Bern, NC55 mi NE of town
  • Elizabeth City, NC55 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • ORF Norfolk Intl96 mi
  • ILM Wilmington Intl129 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 Mattamuskeet 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, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM7:33 PM12h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM7:13 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:50 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:30 PM11h 21m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM5:11 PM10h 45m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM4:59 PM10h 20m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM4:52 PM9h 57m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM4:53 PM9h 47m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM5:01 PM9h 48m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM5:13 PM10h 00m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:30 PM10h 26m

Computed for 35.493, -76.190 (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.

Guides for hunting Mattamuskeet 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…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

Mattamuskeet NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Mattamuskeet NWR?

Yes. Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (48,845 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game and waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Mattamuskeet NWR?

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

Can you fish at Mattamuskeet NWR?

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

Where is Mattamuskeet NWR located?

Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge is in Hyde County, North Carolina, about 41 miles SE of Plymouth, NC (straight-line). GPS: 35.49341, -76.18973.

What are legal shooting hours at Mattamuskeet 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

Swanquarter NWR

Hyde County, NC · 12 mi SW

1 open2 closed
🦆

6.4K huntable acres

Alligator River NWR

Hyde County, NC · 17 mi NE

3 open4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

153K huntable acres

Pocosin Lakes NWR

Tyrrell County, NC · 18 mi NW

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

107K huntable acres

Cedar Island NWR

Carteret County, NC · 38 mi S

1 open1 closed
🦆

463 huntable acres

Pea Island NWR

Dare County, NC · 42 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Edenton NFH

Chowan County, NC · 46 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in North Carolina →

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