National Wildlife Refuge · Illinois · FWS Region 3

Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge is located in Calhoun County, Illinois, with about 1,014 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Missouri. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 8 mapped hunt units: 8 open with special regulations, covering about 9,009 huntable acres.

8 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
8hunt units
9Khuntable acres
1KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Two Rivers 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 Two Rivers NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Hunting on Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge was expanded in 2020 and included additional opportunities for migratory birds, upland game and big game hunting.

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 mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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

Hunt units (8)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 9,009 (100%)9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations9,009 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Swan Lake Wetlands
3,791 ac
Batchtown
2,463 ac
Clarksville Island
782 ac
Calhoun Wetlands
747 ac
Gilbert Lake
688 ac
Apple Creek
298 ac
Portage Island
143 ac
Pohlman Forest
96 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Apple Creek Special regs 298 —
Batchtown Special regs 2,463 —
Calhoun Wetlands Special regs 747 —
Clarksville Island Special regs 782 —
Gilbert Lake Special regs 688 —
Pohlman Forest Special regs 96 —
Portage Island Special regs 143 —
Swan Lake Wetlands Special regs 3,791 —

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 Illinois hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Illinois Department of Natural Resources
  • 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 Two Rivers NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Two Rivers allows for recreational and commercial fishing. Commercial fishing, including that for carp control, requires a special use permit, contact the refuge if interested in commercial fishing on Two Rivers.

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

How to get to Two Rivers NWR

Navigate

Destination: Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
38.95515, -90.54731
DMS
38°57′18.5″N 90°32′50.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • St. Louis, MO29 mi NW of town
  • Springfield, IL76 mi SW of town
  • Quincy, IL82 mi SE of town
  • Jefferson City, MO91 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • STL St. Louis Lambert17 mi
  • PIA Peoria Intl126 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 Two Rivers NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM7:34 PM13h 05m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:12 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:46 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:25 PM11h 15m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM5:03 PM10h 35m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM4:49 PM10h 05m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM4:41 PM9h 40m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM4:41 PM9h 28m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:50 AM7:20 AM4:49 PM9h 29m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM5:02 PM9h 43m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:21 PM10h 12m

Computed for 38.955, -90.547 (CDT / 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.

Two Rivers NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Two Rivers NWR?

Yes. Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 8 units (9,009 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Two Rivers NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Two Rivers 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 Two Rivers NWR?

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

Where is Two Rivers NWR located?

Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge is in Calhoun County, Illinois, about 29 miles NW of St. Louis, MO (straight-line). GPS: 38.95515, -90.54731.

What are legal shooting hours at Two Rivers 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

Clarence Cannon NWR

Pike County, MO · 25 mi NW

1 open2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Meredosia NWR

Morgan County, IL · 63 mi N

2 closed
🎣

Great River NWR

Adams County, IL · 90 mi NW

5 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

11.3K huntable acres

Pilot Knob NWR

Iron County, MO · 93 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Middle Mississippi River NWR

Jackson County, IL · 97 mi SE

9 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

8.2K huntable acres

Emiquon NWR

Fulton County, IL · 98 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

894 huntable acres

All refuges in Illinois →

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