National Wildlife Refuge · North Carolina · FWS Region 4

Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge lies in Hyde County, North Carolina, with about 16,637 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: 1 open under general rules and 2 closed, covering about 6,384 huntable acres.

1 open unit2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
6.4Khuntable acres
16.6KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Swanquarter 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 Swanquarter NWR

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

Hunters can pursue waterfowl here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Hunters who enjoy the challenges of hunting fast-flying sea and diving ducks have a great public opportunity at Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge, where species like scaup, bufflehead and scoter are common late in the fall.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

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 (3)

Acreage by status
Open: 6,384 (38%)Closed: 10,253 (62%)6.4Khuntable acres
  • Open6,384 ac 38%
  • Closed10,253 ac 62%
Units by size (acres)
B
10,253 ac
A
6,384 ac
Closed
0.1 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
A
Show on map · Directions		 Open 6,384 —
B
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 10,253 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 0.1 —

Swanquarter NWR by the numbers

With about 6,384 huntable acres, Swanquarter NWR ranks #7 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Carolina and #245 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 38% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is A (6,384 acres).

2 units totaling 10,253 acres are closed to hunting (B and Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Swanquarter 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 — Waterfowl
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose

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 Swanquarter NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Swanquarter NWR.

How to get to Swanquarter NWR

Navigate

Destination: Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.41798, -76.37753
DMS
35°25′04.7″N 76°22′39.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Plymouth, NC38 mi SE of town
  • New Bern, NC43 mi NE of town
  • Manteo, NC52 mi SW of town
  • Greenville, NC57 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • ORF Norfolk Intl102 mi
  • ILM Wilmington Intl117 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 Swanquarter 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, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:34 PM12h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:14 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM6:50 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:31 PM11h 21m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM5:11 PM10h 46m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM5:00 PM10h 20m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM4:53 PM9h 58m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM4:54 PM9h 47m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:02 PM9h 48m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM5:14 PM10h 01m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:31 PM10h 26m

Computed for 35.418, -76.378 (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 Swanquarter NWR

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…

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…

Swanquarter NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Swanquarter NWR?

Yes. Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (6,384 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Swanquarter NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Swanquarter 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 Swanquarter NWR located?

Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge is in Hyde County, North Carolina, about 38 miles SE of Plymouth, NC (straight-line). GPS: 35.41798, -76.37753.

What are legal shooting hours at Swanquarter 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

Mattamuskeet NWR

Hyde County, NC · 12 mi NE

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🎣

48.8K huntable acres

Pocosin Lakes NWR

Tyrrell County, NC · 20 mi N

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

107K huntable acres

Alligator River NWR

Hyde County, NC · 29 mi NE

3 open4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

153K huntable acres

Cedar Island NWR

Carteret County, NC · 32 mi S

1 open1 closed
🦆

463 huntable acres

Edenton NFH

Chowan County, NC · 47 mi N

1 closed
🎣

Pea Island NWR

Dare County, NC · 53 mi E

1 closed
🎣

All refuges in North Carolina →

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