National Wildlife Refuge · Maine · FWS Region 5

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge lies in York County, Maine, with about 5,722 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 28 mapped hunt units: 17 open with special regulations and 11 closed, covering about 4,109 huntable acres.

17 with special regs11 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
28hunt units
4.1Khuntable acres
5.7KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Rachel Carson 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 Rachel Carson NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing and tidal / saltwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

With more than 50 miles of coastline available for waterfowl hunting, choosing a spot at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge may seem a daunting task.

Youth hunting

Some areas are designated for youth only.

All refuges with youth hunts →
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 mammals

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

Hunt units (28)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 4,109 (71%)Closed: 1,671 (29%)4.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations4,109 ac 71%
  • Closed1,671 ac 29%
Units by size (acres)
Brave Boat Harbor
637 ac
Lower Wells Open
489 ac
Goosefare Open - No Migratory Birds
462 ac
Moody Closed
400 ac
Upper Wells Closed
324 ac
Spurwink River Open
283 ac
Lower Wells Open - No Migratory Birds
279 ac
Upper Wells Open - No Migratory Birds
268 ac
Goose Rocks - No Migratory Birds
254 ac
Mousam River Open
242 ac
Mousam River Open - No Migratory Birds
220 ac
Lower Wells Closed
216 ac
Spurwink River Open - No Migratory Birds
213 ac
Goose Rocks Open
207 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Brave Boat Harbor
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 637 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Brave Boat Youth
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 66 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Goose Rocks - No Migratory Birds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 254 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Goose Rocks Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 207 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Goose Rocks Youth
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 12 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Goosefare Open - No Migratory Birds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 462 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Little River Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 203 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Lower Wells Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 489 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Lower Wells Open - No Migratory Birds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 279 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Lower Wells Youth
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 44 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Mousam River Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 242 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Mousam River Open - No Migratory Birds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 220 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Spurwink River Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 283 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Spurwink River Open - No Migratory Birds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 213 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Upper Wells Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 139 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Upper Wells Open - No Migratory Birds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 268 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
York River Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 91 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Biddeford Pool Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 174 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Brave Boat Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 39 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Goose Rocks Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 81 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Goosefare Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 42 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Little River Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 173 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Lower Wells Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 216 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Moody Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 400 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Mousam River Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 60 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Spurwink River Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 86 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
Upper Wells Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 324 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.
York River Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 76 Required
Special Use Permit		 Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.
🧒 Some areas are designated for youth only.

Rachel Carson NWR by the numbers

With about 4,109 huntable acres, Rachel Carson NWR ranks #4 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Maine and #276 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 71% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Brave Boat Harbor (637 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Goose Rocks Youth, covers 12 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

11 units totaling 1,671 acres are closed to hunting (Biddeford Pool Closed, Brave Boat Closed, Goose Rocks Closed, Goosefare Closed, and Little River Closed, …). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 5,722 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 131 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Rachel Carson NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Maine 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, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Big game, small game and migratory game bird hunting.

Type: Special Use Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

  • A valid Maine hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
  • 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 Rachel Carson NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

Fishing season is in accordance with state regulations. Available species include striped bass and sea-run brown trout with fly rod or other tackle. Refuge regulations require the use of non-lead jigs and sinkers.

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

How to get to Rachel Carson NWR

Navigate

Destination: Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.10074, -70.66588
DMS
43°06′02.7″N 70°39′57.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Portsmouth, NH5.2 mi NE of town
  • Newburyport, MA23 mi NE of town
  • Manchester, NH41 mi E of town
  • Portland, ME44 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • MHT Manchester–Boston41 mi
  • PWM Portland Intl Jetport42 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 Rachel Carson 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, 20265:35 AM6:05 AM7:20 PM13h 14m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM6:55 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM6:26 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM6:01 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM4:36 PM10h 20m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM4:20 PM9h 46m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM4:09 PM9h 16m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:08 PM9h 01m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM4:17 PM9h 03m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:41 AM7:11 AM4:31 PM9h 20m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:28 AM6:58 AM4:52 PM9h 54m

Computed for 43.101, -70.666 (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 Rachel Carson 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…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

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…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Rachel Carson NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Rachel Carson NWR?

Yes. Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 17 units (4,109 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Rachel Carson NWR?

Yes — Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Special Use Permit. 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 Rachel Carson NWR?

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

Where is Rachel Carson NWR located?

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is in York County, Maine, about 5 miles NE of Portsmouth, NH (straight-line). GPS: 43.10074, -70.66588.

What are legal shooting hours at Rachel Carson 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

Great Bay NWR

Rockingham County, NH · 9.2 mi W

1 special
🦌🦆🦃

1.1K huntable acres

Parker River NWR

Essex County, MA · 26 mi S

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.5K huntable acres

Thacher Island NWR

Essex County, MA · 32 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site

Hillsborough County, NH · 45 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Nashua NFH

Hillsborough County, NH · 48 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Great Meadows NWR

Middlesex County, MA · 61 mi SW

12 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

3.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Maine →

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