National Wildlife Refuge · Tennessee · FWS Region 4

Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge lies in Franklin County, Tennessee, with about 87 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 Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
87FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Paint Rock River 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 Paint Rock River NWR

  • 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: 87 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed87 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
No Hunting Closed 87 —

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

Fishing at Paint Rock River NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Paint Rock River NWR.

How to get to Paint Rock River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
35.05156, -86.11087
DMS
35°03′05.6″N 86°06′39.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Huntsville, AL35 mi NE of town
  • Chattanooga, TN45 mi W of town
  • Decatur, AL58 mi NE of town
  • Nashville, TN85 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • CHA Chattanooga Metro52 mi
  • BNA Nashville Intl80 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 Paint Rock River NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM7:13 PM12h 57m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM6:53 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM6:30 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM6:10 PM11h 22m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:34 AM6:04 AM4:51 PM10h 47m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM4:40 PM10h 21m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM4:33 PM9h 59m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM4:34 PM9h 49m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:22 AM6:52 AM4:42 PM9h 50m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:21 AM6:51 AM4:54 PM10h 02m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:13 AM6:43 AM5:11 PM10h 28m

Computed for 35.052, -86.111 (CDT / 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.

Paint Rock River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Paint Rock River NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Paint Rock River NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Paint Rock River 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 Paint Rock River NWR located?

Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge is in Franklin County, Tennessee, about 35 miles NE of Huntsville, AL (straight-line). GPS: 35.05156, -86.11087.

What are legal shooting hours at Paint Rock River 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

Fern Cave NWR

Jackson County, AL · 28 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Sauta Cave NWR

Jackson County, AL · 30 mi S

1 special
🐦🐇

266 huntable acres

Wheeler NWR

Limestone County, AL · 54 mi SW

3 special2 closed
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

27.6K huntable acres

Mountain Longleaf NWR

Calhoun County, AL · 96 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

3.3K huntable acres

Key Cave NWR

Lauderdale County, AL · 97 mi W

1 special
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🐗

1.1K huntable acres

Dale Hollow NFH

Clay County, TN · 109 mi N

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in Tennessee →

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