National Wildlife Refuge · Massachusetts · FWS Region 5

Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Essex County, Massachusetts, Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 17 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
17FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Thacher Island 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 Thacher Island NWR

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

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 17 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed17 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 17 —

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

Fishing at Thacher Island NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Thacher Island NWR.

How to get to Thacher Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
42.63906, -70.57492
DMS
42°38′20.6″N 70°34′29.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Newburyport, MA19 mi SE of town
  • Portsmouth, NH31 mi S of town
  • Boston, MA31 mi NE of town
  • Manchester, NH51 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • BOS Boston Logan29 mi
  • MHT Manchester–Boston48 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 Thacher Island 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, 20265:36 AM6:06 AM7:19 PM13h 13m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM6:54 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM6:25 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM6:01 PM11h 08m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:44 AM6:14 AM4:36 PM10h 22m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM4:21 PM9h 48m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM4:10 PM9h 19m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM4:09 PM9h 05m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM4:18 PM9h 06m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM4:32 PM9h 22m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:27 AM6:57 AM4:53 PM9h 56m

Computed for 42.639, -70.575 (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.

Thacher Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Thacher Island NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Thacher Island NWR?

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

Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Essex County, Massachusetts, about 19 miles SE of Newburyport, MA (straight-line). GPS: 42.63906, -70.57492.

What are legal shooting hours at Thacher Island 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

Parker River NWR

Essex County, MA · 13 mi NW

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.5K huntable acres

Rachel Carson NWR

York County, ME · 32 mi N

17 special11 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

4.1K huntable acres

Great Bay NWR

Rockingham County, NH · 34 mi NW

1 special
🦌🦆🦃

1.1K huntable acres

Great Meadows NWR

Middlesex County, MA · 44 mi SW

12 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

3.4K huntable acres

Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Smolt Release Site

Hillsborough County, NH · 47 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Nashua NFH

Hillsborough County, NH · 48 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Massachusetts →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.