National Fish Hatchery · New Hampshire · FWS Region 5

Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site lies in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, with about 8.2 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions
1hunt units
0huntable acres
8FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site 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 Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 8.2 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed8.2 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 8.2 —

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 New Hampshire hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site.

How to get to Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site

Navigate

Destination: Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
42.81652, -71.47251
DMS
42°48′59.5″N 71°28′21.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Manchester, NH12 mi S of town
  • Concord, NH27 mi S of town
  • Newburyport, MA30 mi W of town
  • Boston, MA38 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • MHT Manchester–Boston8.0 mi
  • BOS Boston Logan39 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 Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site

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, 20265:39 AM6:09 AM7:23 PM13h 14m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM6:58 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM6:29 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM6:05 PM11h 08m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM4:40 PM10h 21m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM4:24 PM9h 47m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM4:13 PM9h 17m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:12 PM9h 03m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM4:21 PM9h 05m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM4:35 PM9h 21m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:31 AM7:01 AM4:56 PM9h 55m

Computed for 42.817, -71.473 (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.

Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site located?

Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site is in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, about 12 miles S of Manchester, NH (straight-line). GPS: 42.81652, -71.47251.

What are legal shooting hours at Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site?

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

Nashua NFH

Hillsborough County, NH · 3.6 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Wapack NWR

Hillsborough County, NH · 21 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Oxbow NWR

Worcester County, MA · 22 mi S

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.7K huntable acres

Assabet River NWR

Middlesex County, MA · 28 mi S

4 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.3K huntable acres

Great Meadows NWR

Middlesex County, MA · 30 mi S

12 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

3.4K huntable acres

Parker River NWR

Essex County, MA · 35 mi E

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.5K huntable acres

All refuges in New Hampshire →

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