National Wildlife Refuge · New York · FWS Region 5

Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Suffolk County, New York, Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 211 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 108 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
108huntable acres
211FWS-owned acres
1game categories

Seatuck 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 Seatuck NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

Permitted hunting categories are big game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge –- part of the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex –- opens 100 acres to white-tailed deer hunting November through January, and otherwise is closed to the public.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammals

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

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 108 (51%)Closed: 104 (49%)108huntable acres
  • Special regulations108 ac 51%
  • Closed104 ac 49%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Unit 1
108 ac
No Hunting
104 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Unit 1
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 108 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 archery deer hunting
No Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 104 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 archery deer hunting

Seatuck NWR by the numbers

With about 108 huntable acres, Seatuck NWR ranks #6 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in New York and #407 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 51% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Unit 1 (108 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 104 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Seatuck NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. New York 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
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

archery deer hunting

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail

You'll also need

  • A valid New York hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New York State DEC
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Seatuck NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

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

How to get to Seatuck NWR

Navigate

Destination: Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
40.71354, -73.20889
DMS
40°42′48.7″N 73°12′32.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Riverhead, NY32 mi SW of town
  • New York City, NY42 mi E of town
  • New Haven, CT44 mi S of town
  • Newark, NJ50 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • JFK New York JFK30 mi
  • EWR Newark Liberty50 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 Seatuck 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, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM7:27 PM13h 09m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM7:04 PM12h 32m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM6:36 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM6:14 PM11h 12m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM4:50 PM10h 29m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM4:36 PM9h 57m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM4:27 PM9h 30m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:26 PM9h 17m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM4:34 PM9h 18m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM4:48 PM9h 33m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:33 AM7:03 AM5:08 PM10h 05m

Computed for 40.714, -73.209 (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 Seatuck 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…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

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…

Seatuck NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Seatuck NWR?

Yes. Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (108 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Seatuck NWR?

Yes — Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit. Permits can be obtained mail. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Seatuck NWR?

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

Where is Seatuck NWR located?

Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge is in Suffolk County, New York, about 32 miles SW of Riverhead, NY (straight-line). GPS: 40.71354, -73.20889.

What are legal shooting hours at Seatuck 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

Wertheim NWR

Suffolk County, NY · 17 mi E

5 special7 closed
🦌🦃🎣

1.7K huntable acres

Target Rock NWR

Suffolk County, NY · 19 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

Oyster Bay NWR

Nassau County, NY · 20 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

Lido Beach Wildlife Management Area

NY · 23 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Stewart B. Mckinney NWR

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT · 31 mi N

5 special8 closed
🦌🦆🦃

496 huntable acres

Conscience Point NWR

Suffolk County, NY · 44 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in New York →

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