National Wildlife Refuge · Virginia · FWS Region 5

Presquile National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Presquile National Wildlife Refuge is located in Chesterfield County, Virginia, with about 1,295 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 1,280 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
1.3Khuntable acres
1.3KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Presquile 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 Presquile NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, wild turkey, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Hunts will occur on approximately 1,229 acres of the 1,329-acre island refuge, with access provided on the 3.5-mile trail network and stationary docking locations.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeySmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

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: 1,280 (99%)Closed: 15 (1%)1.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,280 ac 99%
  • Closed15 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Area
1,280 ac
No Hunting Area
15 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,280 Required
Other		 Deer hunting requires a permit, obtained through a State-sponsored lottery system.
No Hunting Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 15 Required
Other		 Deer hunting requires a permit, obtained through a State-sponsored lottery system.

Presquile NWR by the numbers

With about 1,280 huntable acres, Presquile NWR ranks #7 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Virginia and #346 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 99% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Area (1,280 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 15 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 1,295 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 1.5 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Presquile NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Virginia 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, Wild Turkey, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Deer hunting requires a permit, obtained through a State-sponsored lottery system.

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
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Presquile NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Presquile NWR.

How to get to Presquile NWR

Navigate

Destination: Presquile National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
37.36498, -77.25932
DMS
37°21′53.9″N 77°15′33.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Richmond, VA16 mi SE of town
  • Tappahannock, VA45 mi SW of town
  • Suffolk, VA58 mi NW of town
  • Norfolk, VA64 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • RIC Richmond Intl11 mi
  • ORF Norfolk Intl67 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 Presquile 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, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM7:40 PM13h 01m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM7:18 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM6:54 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM6:33 PM11h 18m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM5:12 PM10h 40m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM4:59 PM10h 12m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM4:52 PM9h 48m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM4:52 PM9h 37m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM5:00 PM9h 38m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:52 AM7:22 AM5:13 PM9h 51m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:31 PM10h 19m

Computed for 37.365, -77.259 (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 Presquile 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…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

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…

Presquile NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Presquile NWR?

Yes. Presquile National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (1,280 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Presquile NWR?

Yes — Presquile 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 Presquile NWR located?

Presquile National Wildlife Refuge is in Chesterfield County, Virginia, about 16 miles SE of Richmond, VA (straight-line). GPS: 37.36498, -77.25932.

What are legal shooting hours at Presquile 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

Harrison Lake NFH

Charles City County, VA · 4.3 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

James River NWR

Prince George County, VA · 9.4 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Rappahannock River Valley NWR

Richmond County, VA · 46 mi NE

18 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

6.8K huntable acres

Plum Tree Island NWR

Poquoson city, VA · 55 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦆

213 huntable acres

Great Dismal Swamp NWR

Chesapeake city, VA · 68 mi SE

11 special3 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

102K huntable acres

Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR

Northampton County, VA · 73 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.1K huntable acres

All refuges in Virginia →

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