National Wildlife Refuge · North Carolina · FWS Region 4

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is located in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, with about 116,401 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 107,257 huntable acres.

4 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
107Khuntable acres
116KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Pocosin Lakes 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 Pocosin Lakes NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, 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.

The 110,000-acre Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge conserves a rare type of wetland habitat, known as "pocosin," derived from a Native American word meaning "swamp on a hill." Before the refuge was established, many acres of this wetland were…

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall 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 North Carolina regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 107,257 (92%)Closed: 9,472 (8%)107Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations107,257 ac 92%
  • Closed9,472 ac 8%
Units by size (acres)
Main Hunt Unit A
62,651 ac
Non-toxic Shot Special Zone
18,779 ac
Main Hunt Unit B
16,249 ac
Pungo Unit, Non-toxic Shot Zone
9,578 ac
No Hunting Area
9,472 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Main Hunt Unit A Special regs 62,651 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar, Special Use Permit		 ~Signed brochure required to hunt and/or fish on the station~Special recreational permit (name, address, permit…
Main Hunt Unit B Special regs 16,249 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar, Special Use Permit		 ~Signed brochure required to hunt and/or fish on the station~Special recreational permit (name, address, permit…
Non-toxic Shot Special Zone Special regs 18,779 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar, Special Use Permit		 ~Signed brochure required to hunt and/or fish on the station~Special recreational permit (name, address, permit…
Pungo Unit, Non-toxic Shot Zone Special regs 9,578 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar, Special Use Permit		 ~Signed brochure required to hunt and/or fish on the station~Special recreational permit (name, address, permit…
No Hunting Area Closed 9,472 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar, Special Use Permit		 ~Signed brochure required to hunt and/or fish on the station~Special recreational permit (name, address, permit…

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

~Signed brochure required to hunt and/or fish on the station~Special recreational permit (name, address, permit number) required to hunt on station ($15 fee)

Type: Other, Signed Brochure or Similar, Special Use Permit

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 Pocosin Lakes NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge lands include 4.5 miles of shoreline along Lake Phelps, a 16,500-acre lake that is part of Pettigrew State Park, and half of the shoreline at Frying Pan Lake, a 2,000-acre bay on the Alligator River. Fishing season is year-round in most waters.

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

How to get to Pocosin Lakes NWR

Navigate

Destination: Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.70808, -76.36866
DMS
35°42′29.1″N 76°22′07.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Plymouth, NC24 mi SE of town
  • Elizabeth City, NC41 mi S of town
  • Manteo, NC42 mi W of town
  • New Bern, NC56 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • ORF Norfolk Intl82 mi
  • ILM Wilmington Intl132 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 Pocosin Lakes 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, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM7:34 PM12h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:14 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM6:50 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:31 PM11h 21m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM5:11 PM10h 45m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM4:59 PM10h 19m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM4:52 PM9h 56m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:53 PM9h 46m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:01 PM9h 47m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:13 PM9h 59m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:31 PM10h 25m

Computed for 35.708, -76.369 (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.

Pocosin Lakes NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Pocosin Lakes NWR?

Yes. Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (107,257 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory 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 Pocosin Lakes NWR?

Yes — Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other, Signed Brochure or Similar, and Special Use Permit. 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 Pocosin Lakes NWR?

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

Where is Pocosin Lakes NWR located?

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, about 24 miles SE of Plymouth, NC (straight-line). GPS: 35.70808, -76.36866.

What are legal shooting hours at Pocosin Lakes 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

Mattamuskeet NWR

Hyde County, NC · 18 mi SE

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🎣

48.8K huntable acres

Swanquarter NWR

Hyde County, NC · 20 mi S

1 open2 closed
🦆

6.4K huntable acres

Alligator River NWR

Hyde County, NC · 23 mi E

3 open4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

153K huntable acres

Edenton NFH

Chowan County, NC · 29 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

Roanoke River NWR

Bertie County, NC · 47 mi W

8 special
🦌🦆🦃🐇

21.3K huntable acres

Pea Island NWR

Dare County, NC · 49 mi E

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in North Carolina →

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