National Wildlife Refuge · Maine · FWS Region 5

Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is located in Penobscot County, Maine, with about 11,615 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open with special regulations, covering about 11,615 huntable acres.

1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
11.6Khuntable acres
11.6KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Sunkhaze Meadows 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 Sunkhaze Meadows 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.

Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is not an easy place to hunt. It is relatively inaccessible. It can be hunted only on foot, and the thick terrain can make finding game difficult.

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 (1)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 11,615 (100%)11.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations11,615 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 11,615 —

Sunkhaze Meadows NWR by the numbers

With about 11,615 huntable acres, Sunkhaze Meadows NWR ranks #2 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Maine and #172 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 Station (11,615 acres, special regulations).

Besides 11,615 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 6.0 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Sunkhaze Meadows 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

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 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 Sunkhaze Meadows NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing season is in accordance with Maine state regulations. Available species include brook trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and chain pickerel. Fishing access is via the county and Stud Mill roads in Milford. There are no fishing facilities.

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

How to get to Sunkhaze Meadows NWR

Navigate

Destination: Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
44.98623, -68.56506
DMS
44°59′10.4″N 68°33′54.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Bangor, ME16 mi NE of town
  • Ellsworth, ME32 mi N of town
  • Calais, ME64 mi W of town
  • Rockland, ME67 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • BGR Bangor Intl18 mi
  • PWM Portland Intl Jetport126 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 Sunkhaze Meadows 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, 20265:25 AM5:55 AM7:14 PM13h 19m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:41 AM6:11 AM6:47 PM12h 36m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM6:17 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM5:51 PM11h 03m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:41 AM6:11 AM4:24 PM10h 13m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM4:07 PM9h 36m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM3:55 PM9h 04m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM3:53 PM8h 48m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM4:02 PM8h 50m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM4:16 PM9h 08m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:24 AM6:54 AM4:39 PM9h 45m

Computed for 44.986, -68.565 (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 Sunkhaze Meadows 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…

Sunkhaze Meadows NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Sunkhaze Meadows NWR?

Yes. Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (11,615 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 Sunkhaze Meadows NWR?

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

Can you fish at Sunkhaze Meadows NWR?

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

Where is Sunkhaze Meadows NWR located?

Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is in Penobscot County, Maine, about 16 miles NE of Bangor, ME (straight-line). GPS: 44.98623, -68.56506.

What are legal shooting hours at Sunkhaze Meadows 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

Green Lake NFH

Hancock County, ME · 26 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

55 huntable acres

Craig Brook NFH

Hancock County, ME · 28 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

87 huntable acres

Carlton Pond WPA

Waldo County, ME · 40 mi SW

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1K huntable acres

Petit Manan NWR

Washington County, ME · 51 mi SE

35 open16 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇

5.1K huntable acres

Moosehorn NWR

Washington County, ME · 62 mi E

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

27.6K huntable acres

Cross Island NWR

ME · 67 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Maine →

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