National Wildlife Refuge · Virginia · FWS Region 5

Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Richmond County, Virginia, Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 7,664 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 20 mapped hunt units: 18 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 6,802 huntable acres.

18 with special regs2 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
20hunt units
6.8Khuntable acres
7.7KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Rappahannock River Valley 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 Rappahannock River Valley NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, and small game, 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.

Hunting opportunities at Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge vary by unit, and include white-tailed deer, coyote, fall turkey, spring turkey, rabbit, squirrel, and waterfowl (see annual hunt letter: 2026 Hunt Letter).

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 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 (20)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 6,802 (83%)Closed: 1,362 (17%)6.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations6,802 ac 83%
  • Closed1,362 ac 17%
Units by size (acres)
No Hunt Zone
1,184 ac
Tayloe
1,120 ac
Laurel Grove
994 ac
Wright
847 ac
Island Farm
829 ac
Wilna East
461 ac
Hutchinson West
436 ac
Toby's Point
348 ac
Thomas
231 ac
Mothershead
227 ac
Wilna West
220 ac
Wilna Middle
217 ac
Kennedy
178 ac
Hutchinson East
174 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Cat Point Creek North
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 94 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Cat Point Creek South
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 150 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Fones Cliffs North
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 165 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Fones Cliffs South
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 77 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Franklin
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 107 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Hutchinson East
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 174 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Hutchinson West
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 436 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Island Farm
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 829 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Laurel Grove
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 994 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Mothershead
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 227 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Port Royal
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 102 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Tayloe
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,120 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Thomas
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 231 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Toby's Point
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 348 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Wilna East
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 461 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Wilna Middle
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 217 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Wilna West
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 220 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Wright
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 847 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
Kennedy
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 178 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting
No Hunt Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,184 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed deer and turkey hunting

Rappahannock River Valley NWR by the numbers

With about 6,802 huntable acres, Rappahannock River Valley NWR ranks #3 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Virginia and #238 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 83% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Tayloe (1,120 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Fones Cliffs South, covers 77 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

2 units totaling 1,362 acres are closed to hunting (Kennedy and No Hunt Zone). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 7,664 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 4,417 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Rappahannock River Valley 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, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

White-tailed deer and turkey hunting

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit, Signed Brochure or Similar

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 Rappahannock River Valley NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is available year round at our Hutchinson, Laurel Grove, and Wilna Units. (Cat Point Creek will be open in the near future). State regulations are enforced and use of live minnows for bait and lead sinkers are prohibited.

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

How to get to Rappahannock River Valley NWR

Navigate

Destination: Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
37.93886, -76.82688
DMS
37°56′19.9″N 76°49′36.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Tappahannock, VA1.9 mi E of town
  • Fredericksburg, VA43 mi SE of town
  • Richmond, VA43 mi NE of town
  • Cambridge, MD59 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • RIC Richmond Intl40 mi
  • SBY Salisbury–Ocean City77 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 Rappahannock River Valley 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 AM7:38 PM13h 03m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:17 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:52 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM6:31 PM11h 17m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM5:09 PM10h 38m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM4:56 PM10h 10m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM4:49 PM9h 45m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM4:49 PM9h 33m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:52 AM7:22 AM4:57 PM9h 35m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM5:10 PM9h 48m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:28 PM10h 16m

Computed for 37.939, -76.827 (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 Rappahannock River Valley 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…

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…

Rappahannock River Valley NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Rappahannock River Valley NWR?

Yes. Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 18 units (6,802 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Rappahannock River Valley NWR?

Yes — Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit and Signed Brochure or Similar. 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 Rappahannock River Valley NWR?

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

Where is Rappahannock River Valley NWR located?

Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge is in Richmond County, Virginia, about 2 miles E of Tappahannock, VA (straight-line). GPS: 37.93886, -76.82688.

What are legal shooting hours at Rappahannock River Valley 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

Southern Maryland Woodlands NWR

Charles County, MD · 41 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃

31 huntable acres

Martin NWR

MD · 45 mi E

2 closed
No hunting listed

Harrison Lake NFH

Charles City County, VA · 46 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Presquile NWR

Chesterfield County, VA · 46 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇

1.3K huntable acres

James River NWR

Prince George County, VA · 49 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck NWR

Fairfax County, VA · 51 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

All refuges in Virginia →

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