National Wildlife Refuge · Alabama · FWS Region 4

Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge lies in Jefferson County, Alabama, with about 24 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
24FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Watercress Darter 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.

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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 Watercress Darter 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: 24 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed24 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 24 —

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

Fishing at Watercress Darter NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Watercress Darter NWR.

How to get to Watercress Darter NWR

Navigate

Destination: Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
33.37524, -86.96255
DMS
33°22′30.9″N 86°57′45.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Birmingham, AL13 mi SW of town
  • Tuscaloosa, AL37 mi E of town
  • Montgomery, AL79 mi NW of town
  • Columbus, MS85 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • BHM Birmingham–Shuttlesworth18 mi
  • ATL Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta147 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 Watercress Darter 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, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM7:15 PM12h 54m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM6:56 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM6:33 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM6:15 PM11h 24m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:35 AM6:05 AM4:57 PM10h 52m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM4:46 PM10h 28m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM4:40 PM10h 07m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM4:41 PM9h 58m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:21 AM6:51 AM4:50 PM9h 59m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:21 AM6:51 AM5:01 PM10h 10m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:14 AM6:44 AM5:17 PM10h 34m

Computed for 33.375, -86.963 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Watercress Darter NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Watercress Darter NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Watercress Darter NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Watercress Darter 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 Watercress Darter NWR located?

Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge is in Jefferson County, Alabama, about 13 miles SW of Birmingham, AL (straight-line). GPS: 33.37524, -86.96255.

What are legal shooting hours at Watercress Darter 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.

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Sauta Cave NWR

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Key Cave NWR

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1 special
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All refuges in Alabama →

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