Thacher Island NWR
Essex County, MA · 13 mi SE
✕1 closed
No hunting listed
Parker 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
Hunting at Parker River NWR
- Big Game
- Waterfowl
- Wild Turkey
- Upland Birds
- Migratory Birds
- Small Game
-
Feral & Exotic - Fishing
Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.
It is well known that duck hunters are picky about their methods. Whether they prefer hunting by boat or walking into a hunting area, using decoys or jump shooting, staking out large salt marshes or hunting small creeks, waterfowlers can suit their…
Youth hunting
Each year, the refuge sponsors a special youth waterfowling course and hunt with a local sportsmen's group.
All refuges with youth hunts →
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 mammals
Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Massachusetts regulations plus refuge-specific rules.
Hunt units (6)
- Special regulations4,450 ac 97%
- Closed125 ac 3%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting Area A Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 871 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Deer hunting, night fishing and shellfishing permit required. 🧒 Each year, the refuge sponsors a special youth waterfowling course and hunt with a local… |
| Hunting Area B Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 384 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Deer hunting, night fishing and shellfishing permit required. 🧒 Each year, the refuge sponsors a special youth waterfowling course and hunt with a local… |
| Hunting Area C Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 463 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Deer hunting, night fishing and shellfishing permit required. 🧒 Each year, the refuge sponsors a special youth waterfowling course and hunt with a local… |
| Hunting Area D Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 65 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Deer hunting, night fishing and shellfishing permit required. 🧒 Each year, the refuge sponsors a special youth waterfowling course and hunt with a local… |
| Plum Island Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 2,667 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Deer hunting, night fishing and shellfishing permit required. 🧒 Each year, the refuge sponsors a special youth waterfowling course and hunt with a local… |
| Closed Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 125 | Required Other OMB-Approved Permit |
Deer hunting, night fishing and shellfishing permit required. 🧒 Each year, the refuge sponsors a special youth waterfowling course and hunt with a local… |
Parker River NWR by the numbers
With about 4,450 huntable acres, Parker River NWR ranks #2 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Massachusetts and #269 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 97% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is Plum Island (2,667 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Hunting Area D, covers 65 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.
1 unit totaling 125 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.
When to hunt Parker River NWR
Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Massachusetts 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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
🦆 Waterfowl
🦃 Wild Turkey
🐦 Upland Birds
🕊️ Migratory Birds
🐇 Small Game
Permits & licenses
Refuge permit
Required
Deer hunting, night fishing and shellfishing permit required.
Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit
How to get it:
- ✉️ By mail
- 💻 Online (FWS)
- 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office
You'll also need
- A valid Massachusetts hunting license and any required tags or stamps — MassWildlife
- 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 Parker River NWR
- 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
- 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing
Refuge waters include 6.5 miles of beachfront and a large estuary. Available species include bluefish, flounder, striped bass, mackerel, tautog and cod, as well as various shellfish.
State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.
How to get to Parker River NWR
Navigate
Destination: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
42.74196, -70.79538- DMS
42°44′31.1″N 70°47′43.4″W
Nearest towns
- Newburyport, MA6.4 mi SE of town
- Portsmouth, NH23 mi S of town
- Boston, MA30 mi NE of town
- Manchester, NH38 mi SE of town
Closest airports
- BOS Boston Logan29 mi
- MHT Manchester–Boston35 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 Parker River 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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 5:36 AM | 6:06 AM | 7:20 PM | 13h 13m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 5:51 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:55 PM | 12h 34m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:08 AM | 6:38 AM | 6:26 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:24 AM | 6:54 AM | 6:02 PM | 11h 08m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:46 AM | 6:16 AM | 4:37 PM | 10h 22m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:04 AM | 6:34 AM | 4:21 PM | 9h 48m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 4:11 PM | 9h 18m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 4:10 PM | 9h 04m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 4:18 PM | 9h 05m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:40 AM | 7:10 AM | 4:32 PM | 9h 22m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:28 AM | 6:58 AM | 4:54 PM | 9h 56m |
Computed for 42.742, -70.795 (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 Parker River 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…
Parker River NWR FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Parker River NWR?
Yes. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (4,450 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.
Do I need a permit to hunt Parker River NWR?
Yes — Parker River National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit. Permits can be obtained 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 Parker River NWR?
Yes. Fishing is permitted (tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.
Where is Parker River NWR located?
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is in Essex County, Massachusetts, about 6 miles SE of Newburyport, MA (straight-line). GPS: 42.74196, -70.79538.
What are legal shooting hours at Parker 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
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Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.