National Wildlife Refuge · Virginia · FWS Region 5

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located in Prince William County, Virginia, with about 634 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 571 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
571huntable acres
634FWS-owned acres
3game categories

Occoquan Bay 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 Occoquan Bay NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, wild turkey, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

The distinctiveness of 644-acre Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge makes it a popular outdoor experience in Northern Virginia. Hunting opportunities include fox, coyote, turkey and white-tailed deer.

Youth hunting

The youth deer hunting program includes hunter education and an afternoon deer hunt.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeySmall 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 Virginia regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 571 (90%)Closed: 63 (10%)571huntable acres
  • Special regulations571 ac 90%
  • Closed63 ac 10%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Area
571 ac
No Hunting Area
63 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Area Special regs 571 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 White-tailed deer hunting
🧒 The youth deer hunting program includes hunter education and an afternoon deer hunt.
No Hunting Area Closed 63 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 White-tailed deer hunting
🧒 The youth deer hunting program includes hunter education and an afternoon deer hunt.

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

White-tailed deer hunting

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

  • A valid Virginia hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Occoquan Bay NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Occoquan Bay NWR.

How to get to Occoquan Bay NWR

Navigate

Destination: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
38.64435, -77.23574
DMS
38°38′39.7″N 77°14′08.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Washington, DC21 mi SW of town
  • Fredericksburg, VA27 mi NE of town
  • Annapolis, MD46 mi SW of town
  • Tappahannock, VA53 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • IAD Washington Dulles24 mi
  • BWI Baltimore/Washington48 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 Occoquan Bay 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, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:41 PM13h 04m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM7:19 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM6:53 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM6:32 PM11h 16m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM5:10 PM10h 36m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM4:57 PM10h 07m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:48 PM9h 41m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM4:48 PM9h 29m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM4:57 PM9h 31m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:55 AM7:25 AM5:09 PM9h 45m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:28 PM10h 14m

Computed for 38.644, -77.236 (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.

Occoquan Bay NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Occoquan Bay NWR?

Yes. Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (571 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Occoquan Bay NWR?

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

Where is Occoquan Bay NWR located?

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge is in Prince William County, Virginia, about 21 miles SW of Washington, DC (straight-line). GPS: 38.64435, -77.23574.

What are legal shooting hours at Occoquan Bay 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

Featherstone NWR

Prince William County, VA · 2.8 mi S

2 open1 closed
🦆🎣

4 huntable acres

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR

Fairfax County, VA · 3.3 mi E

2 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Southern Maryland Woodlands NWR

Charles County, MD · 14 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃

31 huntable acres

Patuxent Research Refuge

Prince George's County, MD · 37 mi NE

1 open6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🎣

12.6K huntable acres

Rappahannock River Valley NWR

Richmond County, VA · 54 mi SE

18 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

6.8K huntable acres

Eastern Neck NWR

MD · 60 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

2K huntable acres

All refuges in Virginia →

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