National Wildlife Refuge · North Carolina · FWS Region 4

Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Bertie County, North Carolina, Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 21,306 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 8 mapped hunt units: 8 open with special regulations, covering about 21,313 huntable acres.

8 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
8hunt units
21.3Khuntable acres
21.3KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Roanoke River 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 Roanoke River NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Spread out along the river whose name it bears, Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge consists of many separate tracts that protect the river's bottomland hardwood forest.

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 North Carolina regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (8)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 21,313 (100%)21.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations21,313 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
A
4,621 ac
G
4,352 ac
E
3,787 ac
B
3,279 ac
C
2,048 ac
D
1,362 ac
F
1,343 ac
H
521 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
A
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,621 —
B
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,279 —
C
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,048 —
D
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,362 —
E
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,787 —
F
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,343 —
G
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,352 —
H
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 521 —

Roanoke River NWR by the numbers

With about 21,313 huntable acres, Roanoke River NWR ranks #4 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Carolina and #113 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is A (4,621 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, H, covers 521 acres.

Besides 21,306 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 2,820 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Roanoke River NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Carolina 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

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

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 Roanoke River NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Roanoke River NWR.

How to get to Roanoke River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.94772, -77.14621
DMS
35°56′51.8″N 77°08′46.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Plymouth, NC23 mi W of town
  • Greenville, NC26 mi NE of town
  • Elizabeth City, NC55 mi SW of town
  • New Bern, NC58 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • ORF Norfolk Intl84 mi
  • RDU Raleigh–Durham92 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 Roanoke River 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, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM7:38 PM12h 59m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM7:17 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM6:53 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM6:34 PM11h 20m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM5:14 PM10h 44m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM5:02 PM10h 18m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM4:55 PM9h 55m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM4:55 PM9h 44m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:48 AM7:18 AM5:04 PM9h 46m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:48 AM7:18 AM5:16 PM9h 58m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:33 PM10h 24m

Computed for 35.948, -77.146 (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 Roanoke River 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…

Roanoke River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Roanoke River NWR?

Yes. Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 8 units (21,313 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 Roanoke River NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Roanoke River NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Roanoke River NWR located?

Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge is in Bertie County, North Carolina, about 23 miles W of Plymouth, NC (straight-line). GPS: 35.94772, -77.14621.

What are legal shooting hours at Roanoke River 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

Edenton NFH

Chowan County, NC · 29 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Pocosin Lakes NWR

Tyrrell County, NC · 47 mi E

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

107K huntable acres

Swanquarter NWR

Hyde County, NC · 57 mi SE

1 open2 closed
🦆

6.4K huntable acres

Great Dismal Swamp NWR

Chesapeake city, VA · 59 mi NE

11 special3 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

102K huntable acres

Mattamuskeet NWR

Hyde County, NC · 62 mi SE

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🎣

48.8K huntable acres

Alligator River NWR

Hyde County, NC · 69 mi E

3 open4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

153K huntable acres

All refuges in North Carolina →

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