National Wildlife Refuge · North Carolina · FWS Region 4

Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Anson County, North Carolina, Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 8,661 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 7,888 huntable acres.

4 with special regs2 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
7.9Khuntable acres
8.7KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Pee Dee 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 Pee Dee NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, upland birds, 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.

Hunting quail with pointing dogs once was one of the most popular sporting opportunities in the South. Today, quail populations have declined substantially, and public opportunities are limited.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsUpland 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 North Carolina regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 7,888 (91%)Closed: 773 (9%)7.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations7,888 ac 91%
  • Closed773 ac 9%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Area
6,243 ac
Richmond County Lowgrounds
831 ac
Griffin Lowgrounds
608 ac
Wildlife Drive
603 ac
Arrowhead Lake
207 ac
No Hunt Zone
171 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Arrowhead Lake Special regs 207 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have a general refuge hunting permit and anglers are required to have a fishing permit.…
Griffin Lowgrounds Special regs 608 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have a general refuge hunting permit and anglers are required to have a fishing permit.…
Hunt Area Special regs 6,243 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have a general refuge hunting permit and anglers are required to have a fishing permit.…
Richmond County Lowgrounds Special regs 831 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have a general refuge hunting permit and anglers are required to have a fishing permit.…
No Hunt Zone Closed 171 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have a general refuge hunting permit and anglers are required to have a fishing permit.…
Wildlife Drive Closed 603 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have a general refuge hunting permit and anglers are required to have a fishing permit.…

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters are required to have a general refuge hunting permit and anglers are required to have a fishing permit. Deer hunters are required to have a quota hunt permit.

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit, 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 North Carolina hunting license and any required tags or stamps — North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
  • 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 Pee Dee NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge ponds are Sullivan (3 acres), Ross (5 acres), Andrews (10 acres), Beaver (15 acres) and Little (1 acre). Arrowhead Lake is 25 acres. About 200 acres of the Pee Dee River are open to fishing. Brown Creek is about 15 acres.

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

How to get to Pee Dee NWR

Navigate

Destination: Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.07622, -80.05762
DMS
35°04′34.4″N 80°03′27.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Charlotte, NC45 mi E of town
  • Hartsville, SC49 mi N of town
  • Florence, SC63 mi N of town
  • Fayetteville, NC67 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • CLT Charlotte Douglas51 mi
  • RDU Raleigh–Durham90 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 Pee Dee 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, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM7:49 PM12h 57m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM7:29 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM7:05 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM6:46 PM11h 22m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM5:27 PM10h 47m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM5:15 PM10h 21m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM5:09 PM9h 59m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM5:09 PM9h 49m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM5:18 PM9h 50m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:57 AM7:27 AM5:29 PM10h 02m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM5:47 PM10h 27m

Computed for 35.076, -80.058 (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.

Pee Dee NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Pee Dee NWR?

Yes. Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (7,888 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, 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 Pee Dee NWR?

Yes — Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit and 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 Pee Dee NWR?

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

Where is Pee Dee NWR located?

Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge is in Anson County, North Carolina, about 45 miles E of Charlotte, NC (straight-line). GPS: 35.07622, -80.05762.

What are legal shooting hours at Pee Dee 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

Carolina Sandhills NWR

Chesterfield County, SC · 36 mi S

5 special3 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

45.1K huntable acres

Santee NWR

Clarendon County, SC · 109 mi S

4 special2 closed
🦌🐇🐗🎣

12K huntable acres

Waccamaw NWR

Georgetown County, SC · 116 mi SE

6 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

33.6K huntable acres

Orangeburg NFH

Orangeburg County, SC · 125 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Cape Romain NWR

Charleston County, SC · 145 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🕊️🐇🎣

27.1K huntable acres

Erwin NFH

Unicoi County, TN · 151 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in North Carolina →

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