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
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 298 —
Batchtown
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,463 —
Calhoun Wetlands
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 747 —
Clarksville Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 782 —
Gilbert Lake
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 688 —
Pohlman Forest
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 96 —
Portage Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 143 —
Swan Lake Wetlands
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,791 —

Two Rivers NWR by the numbers

With about 9,009 huntable acres, Two Rivers NWR ranks #4 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Illinois and #206 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 Swan Lake Wetlands (3,791 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Pohlman Forest, covers 96 acres.

Besides 1,014 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 353 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Two Rivers NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Illinois 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, Feral & Exotic
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
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

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.

Guides for hunting Two Rivers 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…

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 October 28, 2026.