National Wildlife Refuge · Georgia · FWS Region 4

Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Jasper County, Georgia, Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 34,924 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 38,218 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
38.2Khuntable acres
34.9KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Piedmont 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 Piedmont NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, wild turkey, upland 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.

Established in 1939 on abandoned farmland with little wildlife, Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge has been restored to upland pine and pine-hardwood forest where wildlife thrive.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeSmall 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 Georgia regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 38,218 (97%)Closed: 1,295 (3%)38.2Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations38,218 ac 97%
  • Closed1,295 ac 3%
Units by size (acres)
Piedmont Refuge
38,218 ac
Closed to Hunting
1,295 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Piedmont Refuge Special regs 38,218 Required
Other, Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers are required to have signed brochure; quota hunts need additional permit.
Closed to Hunting Closed 1,295 Required
Other, Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters and anglers are required to have signed brochure; quota hunts need additional permit.

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters and anglers are required to have signed brochure; quota hunts need additional permit.

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

Fishing at Piedmont NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset March 15-September 30. Freshwater species are largemouth bass, sunfish and catfish.

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

How to get to Piedmont NWR

Navigate

Destination: Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.14071, -83.76420
DMS
33°08′26.6″N 83°45′51.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Macon, GA22 mi N of town
  • Atlanta, GA55 mi SE of town
  • Columbus, GA85 mi NE of town
  • Augusta, GA106 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • ATL Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta52 mi
  • GSP Greenville–Spartanburg150 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 Piedmont 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, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM8:02 PM12h 53m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM7:43 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM7:21 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:08 AM7:38 AM7:03 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM5:44 PM10h 52m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM5:34 PM10h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM5:28 PM10h 08m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM5:29 PM9h 59m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:08 AM7:38 AM5:37 PM9h 60m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:08 AM7:38 AM5:49 PM10h 11m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:01 AM7:31 AM6:05 PM10h 34m

Computed for 33.141, -83.764 (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.

Piedmont NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Piedmont NWR?

Yes. Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (38,218 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, upland 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 Piedmont NWR?

Yes — Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other, 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 Piedmont NWR?

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

Where is Piedmont NWR located?

Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge is in Jasper County, Georgia, about 22 miles N of Macon, GA (straight-line). GPS: 33.14071, -83.76420.

What are legal shooting hours at Piedmont 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

Bond Swamp NWR

Bibb County, GA · 29 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

8.6K huntable acres

Warm Springs NFH

Meriwether County, GA · 55 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Chattahoochee Forest NFH

Fannin County, GA · 110 mi N

1 closed
🎣

Eufaula NWR

Barbour County, AL · 112 mi SW

9 special3 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

10.6K huntable acres

Mountain Longleaf NWR

Calhoun County, AL · 121 mi W

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

3.3K huntable acres

Banks Lake NWR

Lanier County, GA · 151 mi S

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in Georgia →

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