National Wildlife Refuge · South Carolina · FWS Region 4

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge is located in Beaufort County, South Carolina, with about 1,517 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 2,425 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
2.4Khuntable acres
1.5KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Pinckney Island 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 Pinckney Island NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

Hunting opportunities include big game, 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.

This coastal, back-barrier island, adjacent to Hilton Head, has a moderate deer population that is kept in check by an annual, one-day shotgun hunt. Local hunters love this opportunity, and many return year after year, averaging 1 to 1.5 deer.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow South Carolina regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 2,425 (60%)Closed: 1,616 (40%)2.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations2,425 ac 60%
  • Closed1,616 ac 40%
Units by size (acres)
Open Area
2,425 ac
Closed Area
1,616 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,425 Required
Other		 Hunters are required to have annual hunter permit.
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,616 Required
Other		 Hunters are required to have annual hunter permit.

Pinckney Island NWR by the numbers

With about 2,425 huntable acres, Pinckney Island NWR ranks #7 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in South Carolina and #313 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 60% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open Area (2,425 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 1,616 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Pinckney Island NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. South Carolina 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
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Hunters are required to have annual hunter permit.

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

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

Fishing at Pinckney Island NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Saltwater fishing is permitted year-round in the estuarine waters adjacent to the refuge. Available species include bluefish, spotted seatrout, flounder, red drum, striped bass, tarpon, saltwater catfish, croaker and shark.

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

How to get to Pinckney Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
32.24944, -80.76432
DMS
32°14′58.0″N 80°45′51.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Beaufort, SC14 mi SW of town
  • Savannah, GA22 mi NE of town
  • Charleston, SC61 mi SW of town
  • Brunswick, GA87 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • SAV Savannah/Hilton Head27 mi
  • CHS Charleston Intl62 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 Pinckney Island 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, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM7:49 PM12h 52m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM7:30 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM7:09 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM6:51 PM11h 26m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM5:34 PM10h 55m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM5:23 PM10h 32m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM5:18 PM10h 12m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM5:19 PM10h 03m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM5:28 PM10h 04m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:54 AM7:24 AM5:39 PM10h 15m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:54 PM10h 38m

Computed for 32.249, -80.764 (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.

Guides for hunting Pinckney Island 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…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

Pinckney Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Pinckney Island NWR?

Yes. Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (2,425 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Pinckney Island NWR?

Yes — Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov). You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Pinckney Island NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Pinckney Island NWR located?

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Beaufort County, South Carolina, about 14 miles SW of Beaufort, SC (straight-line). GPS: 32.24944, -80.76432.

What are legal shooting hours at Pinckney Island 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

Tybee NWR

SC · 17 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Savannah NWR

Jasper County, SC · 20 mi W

9 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

29.8K huntable acres

Wassaw NWR

Chatham County, GA · 27 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🐗🎣

2.1K huntable acres

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR

Charleston County, SC · 35 mi NE

7 special4 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐗🎣

7.9K huntable acres

Bears Bluff NFH

Charleston County, SC · 40 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Harris Neck NWR

McIntosh County, GA · 52 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🐗🎣

2.5K huntable acres

All refuges in South Carolina →

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