National Wildlife Refuge · Missouri · FWS Region 3

Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge is located in Iron County, Missouri, with about 96 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
96FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Pilot Knob 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.

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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 Pilot Knob 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: 96 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed96 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 96 —

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

Fishing at Pilot Knob NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Pilot Knob NWR.

How to get to Pilot Knob NWR

Navigate

Destination: Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
37.61755, -90.62502
DMS
37°37′03.2″N 90°37′30.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Poplar Bluff, MO61 mi N of town
  • Cape Girardeau, MO64 mi W of town
  • St. Louis, MO74 mi S of town
  • Carbondale, IL77 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • STL St. Louis Lambert79 mi
  • SGF Springfield–Branson154 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 Pilot Knob 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, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM7:33 PM13h 02m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM7:12 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:47 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:26 PM11h 17m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM5:05 PM10h 39m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM4:52 PM10h 11m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM4:45 PM9h 47m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:45 PM9h 35m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:53 PM9h 36m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:06 PM9h 50m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:24 PM10h 18m

Computed for 37.618, -90.625 (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.

Pilot Knob NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Pilot Knob NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Pilot Knob NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Pilot Knob 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 Pilot Knob NWR located?

Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge is in Iron County, Missouri, about 61 miles N of Poplar Bluff, MO (straight-line). GPS: 37.61755, -90.62502.

What are legal shooting hours at Pilot Knob 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

Mingo NWR

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Middle Mississippi River NWR

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Cypress Creek NWR

Alexander County, IL · 83 mi SE

2 special1 closed
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Crab Orchard NWR

Williamson County, IL · 85 mi E

5 special1 closed
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44.4K huntable acres

Mammoth Spring NFH

Oregon County, MO · 92 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Two Rivers NWR

Calhoun County, IL · 93 mi N

8 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9K huntable acres

All refuges in Missouri →

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