National Wildlife Refuge · New Jersey · FWS Region 5

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Sussex County, New Jersey, Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 6,004 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into New York. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 4,932 huntable acres.

3 with special regs2 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
4.9Khuntable acres
6KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Wallkill River 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 Wallkill River NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge provides ample opportunity for hunting. Public hunting is permitted on approximately 5,000 acres in New Jersey and 160 acres in New York in accordance with those states’ seasons. Some special regulations apply.

Youth hunting

The refuge offers hunting, issued by lottery, on state youth-only turkey and waterfowl hunt days.

All refuges with youth hunts →
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 New Jersey regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 4,932 (82%)Closed: 1,073 (18%)4.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations4,932 ac 82%
  • Closed1,073 ac 18%
Units by size (acres)
Open Area (NJ)
4,653 ac
Closed Area (NJ)
886 ac
Closed Area (NY)
186 ac
Open Area (NY)
160 ac
Disabled Hunt Zone
118 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Disabled Hunt Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 118 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory birds, small game (brochure indicates: "A Refuge Small Game Permit is required for hunting squirrel, rabbit…
🧒 The refuge offers hunting, issued by lottery, on state youth-only turkey and waterfowl hunt days.
Open Area (NJ)
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,653 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory birds, small game (brochure indicates: "A Refuge Small Game Permit is required for hunting squirrel, rabbit…
🧒 The refuge offers hunting, issued by lottery, on state youth-only turkey and waterfowl hunt days.
Open Area (NY)
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 160 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory birds, small game (brochure indicates: "A Refuge Small Game Permit is required for hunting squirrel, rabbit…
🧒 The refuge offers hunting, issued by lottery, on state youth-only turkey and waterfowl hunt days.
Closed Area (NJ)
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 886 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory birds, small game (brochure indicates: "A Refuge Small Game Permit is required for hunting squirrel, rabbit…
🧒 The refuge offers hunting, issued by lottery, on state youth-only turkey and waterfowl hunt days.
Closed Area (NY)
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 186 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 Migratory birds, small game (brochure indicates: "A Refuge Small Game Permit is required for hunting squirrel, rabbit…
🧒 The refuge offers hunting, issued by lottery, on state youth-only turkey and waterfowl hunt days.

Wallkill River NWR by the numbers

With about 4,932 huntable acres, Wallkill River NWR ranks #4 of 5 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in New Jersey and #262 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 82% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open Area (NJ) (4,653 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Disabled Hunt Zone, covers 118 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

2 units totaling 1,073 acres are closed to hunting (Closed Area (NJ) and Closed Area (NY)). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 6,004 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 2.3 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Wallkill River NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. New Jersey 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

Required

Migratory birds, small game (brochure indicates: "A Refuge Small Game Permit is required for hunting squirrel, rabbit and hare."), wild turkey, deer and bear.

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

  • A valid New Jersey hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Jersey Division of Fish & 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 Wallkill River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is available by canoe or car-top boat along nine miles of the Wallkill River as it passes through Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, which straddles the New Jersey-New York border.

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

How to get to Wallkill River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.20659, -74.56959
DMS
41°12′23.7″N 74°34′10.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Stroudsburg, PA36 mi NE of town
  • Newark, NJ38 mi NW of town
  • New York City, NY45 mi NW of town
  • Scranton, PA58 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • EWR Newark Liberty41 mi
  • JFK New York JFK57 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 Wallkill River 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, 20265:53 AM6:23 AM7:33 PM13h 10m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:09 PM12h 32m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM6:42 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM6:19 PM11h 11m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM4:55 PM10h 27m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM4:40 PM9h 55m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM4:31 PM9h 27m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM4:30 PM9h 14m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM4:38 PM9h 15m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM4:52 PM9h 31m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM5:12 PM10h 03m

Computed for 41.207, -74.570 (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 Wallkill River 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…

Wallkill River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Wallkill River NWR?

Yes. Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (4,932 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 Wallkill River NWR?

Yes — Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov). You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Wallkill River NWR?

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

Where is Wallkill River NWR located?

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge is in Sussex County, New Jersey, about 36 miles NE of Stroudsburg, PA (straight-line). GPS: 41.20659, -74.56959.

What are legal shooting hours at Wallkill River 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

Great Swamp NWR

Morris County, NJ · 35 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇

6.8K huntable acres

Shawangunk Grasslands NWR

Ulster County, NY · 35 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃

165 huntable acres

Cherry Valley NWR

Monroe County, PA · 45 mi SW

3 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5K huntable acres

Oyster Bay NWR

Nassau County, NY · 59 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Target Rock NWR

Suffolk County, NY · 62 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Great Thicket NWR

Dutchess County, NY · 63 mi NE

1 open1 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇

192 huntable acres

All refuges in New Jersey →

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