National Wildlife Refuge · Ohio · FWS Region 5

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge lies in Adams County, Ohio, with about 3,354 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 30 mapped hunt units: 22 open with special regulations and 8 closed, covering about 2,925 huntable acres.

22 with special regs8 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
30hunt units
2.9Khuntable acres
3.4KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Ohio River Islands 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 Ohio River Islands NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Many islands on the Ohio River were once small farms and long since have been abandoned. Today, the former agricultural fields sprout tree saplings and brush, providing perfect habitat for white-tailed deer.

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 mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Ohio regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (30)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 2,925 (87%)Closed: 426 (13%)2.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations2,925 ac 87%
  • Closed426 ac 13%
Units by size (acres)
Muskingum Island
293 ac
Manchester #2 Island
257 ac
Buffington Island
251 ac
Buckley Island
240 ac
Williamson Island
216 ac
Middle Island
184 ac
Fish Creek Island
147 ac
Middle Island Closed
131 ac
Paden Island
128 ac
Broadback Island
127 ac
Wells Island
125 ac
Manchester #1 Island
124 ac
Captina Mainland Tract
123 ac
Grape/Bat Island
114 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Broadback Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 127 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Buckley Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 240 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Buckley Mainland
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 14 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Buffington Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 251 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Captina Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 82 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Captina Mainland Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 123 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Fish Creek Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 147 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Georgetown Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 50 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Grandview Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 94 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Grape/Bat Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 114 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Letart Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 94 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Manchester #1 Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 124 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Manchester #2 Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 257 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Middle Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 184 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Mill Creek Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 77 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Muskingum Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 293 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Neal Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 104 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Paden Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 128 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Phillis Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 39 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Wells Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 125 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Williamson Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 216 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Witten Towhead
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 45 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Buckley Mainland Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 94 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Buffalo Creek Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 19 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Crab Island
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 5.6 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Gallipolis Island
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 75 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Middle Island Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 131 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Muskingum Mainland
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 18 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Upper Twin I
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 71 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Wheeling Island
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 13 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting

Ohio River Islands NWR by the numbers

With about 2,925 huntable acres, Ohio River Islands NWR ranks #2 of 3 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Ohio and #305 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 87% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Muskingum Island (293 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Buckley Mainland, covers 14 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

8 units totaling 426 acres are closed to hunting (Buckley Mainland Closed, Buffalo Creek Tract, Crab Island, Gallipolis Island, and Middle Island Closed, …). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 3,354 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 2.8 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Ohio River Islands NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Ohio 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, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Hunting

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Ohio hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Ohio Division of Wildlife
  • 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 Ohio River Islands NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge islands are dispersed along 362 miles of the Ohio River. Boat-launching facilities are located within several miles of each island. Available species include smallmouth and largemouth bass, sauger, walleye, channel and flathead catfish.

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

How to get to Ohio River Islands NWR

Navigate

Destination: Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
38.68733, -83.58048
DMS
38°41′14.4″N 83°34′49.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Cincinnati, OH58 mi SE of town
  • Huntington, WV64 mi W of town
  • Lexington, KY67 mi NE of town
  • Frankfort, KY77 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • CVG Cincinnati/N. Kentucky63 mi
  • LEX Lexington Blue Grass71 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 Ohio River Islands 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, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM8:06 PM13h 04m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM7:44 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM7:18 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM6:57 PM11h 16m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM5:35 PM10h 36m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM5:22 PM10h 06m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM5:14 PM9h 41m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:14 AM7:44 AM5:13 PM9h 29m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:22 AM7:52 AM5:22 PM9h 30m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:20 AM7:50 AM5:35 PM9h 44m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:10 AM7:40 AM5:54 PM10h 13m

Computed for 38.687, -83.580 (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 Ohio River Islands 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…

Ohio River Islands NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Ohio River Islands NWR?

Yes. Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 22 units (2,925 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Ohio River Islands NWR?

Yes — Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, mail, online through fws, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Ohio River Islands NWR?

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

Where is Ohio River Islands NWR located?

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge is in Adams County, Ohio, about 58 miles SE of Cincinnati, OH (straight-line). GPS: 38.68733, -83.58048.

What are legal shooting hours at Ohio River Islands 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

Big Oaks NWR

Ripley County, IN · 101 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

27.3K huntable acres

Muscatatuck NWR

Jennings County, IN · 121 mi W

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5.2K huntable acres

Wolf Creek NFH

Russell County, KY · 152 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Dale Hollow NFH

Clay County, TN · 180 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Erwin NFH

Unicoi County, TN · 186 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

White Sulphur Springs NFH

Greenbrier County, WV · 188 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Ohio →

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