National Wildlife Refuge · Maryland · FWS Region 5

Patuxent Research Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Patuxent Research Refuge lies in Prince George's County, Maryland, with about 12,942 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 8 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules, 6 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 12,611 huntable acres.

1 open unit6 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
8hunt units
12.6Khuntable acres
12.9KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Patuxent Research Refuge 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 Patuxent Research Refuge

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, migratory birds, and small game, 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

A mix of forests, meadows and wetlands, Patuxent Research Refuge offers a range of hunting possibilities, particularly for white-tailed deer, which threaten the refuge’s habitats through over-browsing if populations are not controlled.

Youth hunting

Junior Deer Firearms, Junior Waterfowl and Junior Spring Turkey Hunts are offered.

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 turkeyMigratory 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 Maryland regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (8)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,445 (11%)Special regulations: 11,165 (86%)Closed: 331 (3%)12.6Khuntable acres
  • Open1,445 ac 11%
  • Special regulations11,165 ac 86%
  • Closed331 ac 3%
Units by size (acres)
North Tract
7,854 ac
South Tract
2,379 ac
Central Tract Lottery Hunt Area
1,445 ac
Schafer Farm
470 ac
Millrace
382 ac
Closed
331 ac
Area Z
60 ac
Lake Allen
20 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Central Tract Lottery Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,445 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game bird, small game, turkey and deer hunting, and fishing.
🧒 Junior Deer Firearms, Junior Waterfowl and Junior Spring Turkey Hunts are offered.
Area Z
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 60 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game bird, small game, turkey and deer hunting, and fishing.
🧒 Junior Deer Firearms, Junior Waterfowl and Junior Spring Turkey Hunts are offered.
Lake Allen
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 20 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game bird, small game, turkey and deer hunting, and fishing.
🧒 Junior Deer Firearms, Junior Waterfowl and Junior Spring Turkey Hunts are offered.
Millrace
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 382 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game bird, small game, turkey and deer hunting, and fishing.
🧒 Junior Deer Firearms, Junior Waterfowl and Junior Spring Turkey Hunts are offered.
North Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 7,854 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game bird, small game, turkey and deer hunting, and fishing.
🧒 Junior Deer Firearms, Junior Waterfowl and Junior Spring Turkey Hunts are offered.
Schafer Farm
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 470 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game bird, small game, turkey and deer hunting, and fishing.
🧒 Junior Deer Firearms, Junior Waterfowl and Junior Spring Turkey Hunts are offered.
South Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,379 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game bird, small game, turkey and deer hunting, and fishing.
🧒 Junior Deer Firearms, Junior Waterfowl and Junior Spring Turkey Hunts are offered.
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 331 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory game bird, small game, turkey and deer hunting, and fishing.
🧒 Junior Deer Firearms, Junior Waterfowl and Junior Spring Turkey Hunts are offered.

Patuxent Research Refuge by the numbers

With about 12,611 huntable acres, Patuxent Research Refuge ranks #2 of 4 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Maryland and #157 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 North Tract (7,854 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Lake Allen, covers 20 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 331 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 12,942 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 3.9 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Patuxent Research Refuge

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Maryland 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, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Migratory game bird, small game, turkey and deer hunting, and fishing.

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

  • A valid Maryland hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Maryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service
  • 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 Patuxent Research Refuge

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing opportunities include freshwater, non-tidal pond and river fishing. Available species include bluegill, black crappie, bass, pickerel and catfish. Fishing is seasonal at Cash Lake (mid-June to mid-October); hours are sunrise to sunset.

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

How to get to Patuxent Research Refuge

Navigate

Destination: Patuxent Research Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
39.05298, -76.80436
DMS
39°03′10.7″N 76°48′15.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Washington, DC16 mi NE of town
  • Annapolis, MD18 mi W of town
  • Baltimore, MD19 mi SW of town
  • Cambridge, MD52 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • BWI Baltimore/Washington11 mi
  • IAD Washington Dulles36 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 Patuxent Research Refuge

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, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM7:40 PM13h 05m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:17 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:51 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM6:30 PM11h 15m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM5:08 PM10h 34m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM4:54 PM10h 05m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM4:46 PM9h 39m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:48 AM7:18 AM4:45 PM9h 27m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:55 AM7:25 AM4:54 PM9h 28m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:54 AM7:24 AM5:07 PM9h 42m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:26 PM10h 12m

Computed for 39.053, -76.804 (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 Patuxent Research Refuge

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…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

Patuxent Research Refuge FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Patuxent Research Refuge?

Yes. Patuxent Research Refuge offers hunting in 7 units (12,611 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Patuxent Research Refuge?

Yes — Patuxent Research Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit. Permits can be obtained other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Patuxent Research Refuge?

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

Where is Patuxent Research Refuge located?

Patuxent Research Refuge is in Prince George's County, Maryland, about 16 miles NE of Washington, DC (straight-line). GPS: 39.05298, -76.80436.

What are legal shooting hours at Patuxent Research Refuge?

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

Eastern Neck NWR

MD · 31 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

2K huntable acres

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR

Fairfax County, VA · 35 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Occoquan Bay NWR

Prince William County, VA · 37 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇

571 huntable acres

Featherstone NWR

Prince William County, VA · 39 mi SW

2 open1 closed
🦆🎣

4 huntable acres

Southern Maryland Woodlands NWR

Charles County, MD · 48 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃

31 huntable acres

Susquehanna NWR

Harford County, MD · 49 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Maryland →

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