National Wildlife Refuge · Virginia · FWS Region 5

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge is located in Poquoson city, Virginia, with about 3,065 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 213 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
213huntable acres
3.1KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Plum Tree 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 Plum Tree Island NWR

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

Permitted hunting categories are waterfowl, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge, approximately seven miles north of the Hampton, Virginia, encompasses 3,502 acres of salt marsh, marine shrubland and dune, sandy beaches and mudflats, and estuarine habitats in the lower Chesapeake Bay, near…

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

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

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 213 (7%)Closed: 2,852 (93%)213huntable acres
  • Special regulations213 ac 7%
  • Closed2,852 ac 93%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
2,852 ac
Cow Island
213 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Cow Island Special regs 213 Required
Other		 Waterfowl hunting
Closed Closed 2,852 Required
Other		 Waterfowl hunting

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Waterfowl hunting

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

  • A valid Virginia hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
  • 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 Plum Tree Island NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Plum Tree Island NWR.

How to get to Plum Tree Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
37.12520, -76.31164
DMS
37°07′30.7″N 76°18′41.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Norfolk, VA19 mi N of town
  • Virginia Beach, VA26 mi NW of town
  • Suffolk, VA31 mi NE of town
  • Elizabeth City, NC58 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • ORF Norfolk Intl17 mi
  • RIC Richmond Intl61 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 Plum Tree 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, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM7:36 PM13h 01m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM7:14 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM6:50 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM6:29 PM11h 18m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM5:09 PM10h 40m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM4:56 PM10h 13m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM4:49 PM9h 49m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM4:49 PM9h 38m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:48 AM7:18 AM4:57 PM9h 39m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:09 PM9h 52m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM5:28 PM10h 20m

Computed for 37.125, -76.312 (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.

Plum Tree Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Plum Tree Island NWR?

Yes. Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (213 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Plum Tree Island NWR?

Yes — Plum Tree 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.

Where is Plum Tree Island NWR located?

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Poquoson city, Virginia, about 19 miles N of Norfolk, VA (straight-line). GPS: 37.12520, -76.31164.

What are legal shooting hours at Plum Tree 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

Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR

Northampton County, VA · 19 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.1K huntable acres

Fisherman Island NWR

VA · 20 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

752 huntable acres

Great Dismal Swamp NWR

Chesapeake city, VA · 36 mi S

11 special3 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

102K huntable acres

Back Bay NWR

Virginia Beach city, VA · 40 mi SE

8 special1 closed
🦌🐗🎣

2.2K huntable acres

Mackay Island NWR

Currituck County, NC · 46 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

8.7K huntable acres

James River NWR

Prince George County, VA · 46 mi W

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

3.9K huntable acres

All refuges in Virginia →

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