National Wildlife Refuge · Virginia · FWS Region 5

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

Located in Accomack County, Virginia, Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 365 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open with special regulations, covering about 365 huntable acres.

1 with special regsPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
365huntable acres
365FWS-owned acres
5game categories

Wallops 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 Wallops Island NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Wallops Island, near the better-known Chincoteague Island, is most famous for its NASA-operated aeronautic flight facility, one of the first such facilities in the world.

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 turkeyMigratory 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 Virginia regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 365 (100%)365huntable acres
  • Special regulations365 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 365 Required
Other OMB-Approved Permit		 White-tailed deer hunting

Wallops Island NWR by the numbers

With about 365 huntable acres, Wallops Island NWR ranks #11 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Virginia and #388 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 Hunt Zone (365 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

When to hunt Wallops Island NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Virginia 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, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

White-tailed deer hunting

Type: Other OMB-Approved Permit

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Virginia hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Virginia Department of Wildlife 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 Wallops Island NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Wallops Island NWR.

How to get to Wallops Island NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
37.92365, -75.46555
DMS
37°55′25.1″N 75°27′56.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Chincoteague, VA4.7 mi W of town
  • Salisbury, MD31 mi S of town
  • Cambridge, MD55 mi SE of town
  • Lewes, DE61 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • SBY Salisbury–Ocean City29 mi
  • ORF Norfolk Intl82 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 Wallops 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, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM7:33 PM13h 03m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:11 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:46 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:25 PM11h 17m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM5:04 PM10h 38m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM4:51 PM10h 10m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM4:43 PM9h 45m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM4:43 PM9h 34m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM4:52 PM9h 35m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:04 PM9h 48m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:23 PM10h 16m

Computed for 37.924, -75.466 (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 Wallops Island 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…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

Wallops Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Wallops Island NWR?

Yes. Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (365 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Wallops Island NWR?

Yes — Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other OMB-Approved Permit. Permits can be obtained mail, online through fws, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Wallops Island NWR located?

Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Accomack County, Virginia, about 5 miles W of Chincoteague, VA (straight-line). GPS: 37.92365, -75.46555.

What are legal shooting hours at Wallops 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

Chincoteague NWR

Accomack County, VA · 11 mi NE

5 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🎣

9.9K huntable acres

Martin NWR

MD · 31 mi W

2 closed
No hunting listed

Blackwater NWR

Dorchester County, MD · 48 mi NW

37 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

20K huntable acres

Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR

Northampton County, VA · 61 mi SW

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

1.1K huntable acres

Fisherman Island NWR

VA · 63 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️

752 huntable acres

Prime Hook NWR

Sussex County, DE · 64 mi N

8 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

7K huntable acres

All refuges in Virginia →

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