National Wildlife Refuge · New York · FWS Region 5

Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge lies in Ulster County, New York, with about 598 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 165 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
165huntable acres
598FWS-owned acres
2game categories

Shawangunk Grasslands 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 Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

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

Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1999, is in the Hudson Valley in Ulster County, New York. Archery deer hunting is permitted on 154 acres during seasons administered by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkey

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 (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 165 (28%)Closed: 433 (72%)165huntable acres
  • Special regulations165 ac 28%
  • Closed433 ac 72%
Units by size (acres)
Closed Area
433 ac
Hunt Area
134 ac
30 Acre Unit
31 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
30 Acre Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 31 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Deer hunting.
Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 134 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Deer hunting.
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 433 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Deer hunting.

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR by the numbers

With about 165 huntable acres, Shawangunk Grasslands NWR ranks #5 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in New York and #400 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 28% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Area (134 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, 30 Acre Unit, covers 31 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 433 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Shawangunk Grasslands 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, Wild Turkey
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Deer hunting.

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

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 Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Shawangunk Grasslands NWR.

How to get to Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

Navigate

Destination: Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.63690, -74.20763
DMS
41°38′12.8″N 74°12′27.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Newark, NJ62 mi N of town
  • New York City, NY65 mi N of town
  • Stroudsburg, PA68 mi NE of town
  • New Haven, CT70 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • EWR Newark Liberty65 mi
  • JFK New York JFK72 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 Shawangunk Grasslands 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, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM7:32 PM13h 11m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM7:08 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM6:40 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:17 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM4:53 PM10h 26m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM4:38 PM9h 53m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM4:28 PM9h 25m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM4:27 PM9h 11m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM4:35 PM9h 13m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM4:49 PM9h 28m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:10 PM10h 01m

Computed for 41.637, -74.208 (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 Shawangunk Grasslands 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…

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…

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Shawangunk Grasslands NWR?

Yes. Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (165 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game and wild turkey. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Shawangunk Grasslands NWR?

Yes — Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved 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.

Where is Shawangunk Grasslands NWR located?

Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge is in Ulster County, New York, about 62 miles N of Newark, NJ (straight-line). GPS: 41.63690, -74.20763.

What are legal shooting hours at Shawangunk Grasslands 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 Thicket NWR

Dutchess County, NY · 33 mi E

1 open1 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇

192 huntable acres

Wallkill River NWR

Sussex County, NJ · 35 mi SW

3 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.9K huntable acres

Berkshire NFH

Berkshire County, MA · 62 mi NE

1 closed
🎣

Oyster Bay NWR

Nassau County, NY · 62 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Target Rock NWR

Suffolk County, NY · 63 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Stewart B. Mckinney NWR

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT · 64 mi SE

5 special8 closed
🦌🦆🦃

496 huntable acres

All refuges in New York →

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