National Wildlife Refuge · Alabama · FWS Region 4

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge lies in Limestone County, Alabama, with about 7,996 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 27,628 huntable acres.

3 with special regs2 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
27.6Khuntable acres
8KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Wheeler 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 Wheeler NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, upland birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, 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.

The easternmost refuge in the Mississippi Flyway, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge provides an important home for Alabama's largest wintering duck population.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeSmall 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 Alabama regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 27,628 (82%)Closed: 6,249 (18%)27.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations27,628 ac 82%
  • Closed6,249 ac 18%
Units by size (acres)
Main Hunt Area
23,948 ac
Redstone Arsenal
5,623 ac
Garth Slough
2,034 ac
Flint Creek West
1,646 ac
Administrative Area
626 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Flint Creek West
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,646 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All species open to hunting on the station
Garth Slough
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,034 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All species open to hunting on the station
Main Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 23,948 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All species open to hunting on the station
Administrative Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 626 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All species open to hunting on the station
Redstone Arsenal
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 5,623 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All species open to hunting on the station

Wheeler NWR by the numbers

With about 27,628 huntable acres, Wheeler NWR ranks #1 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Alabama and #88 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 Main Hunt Area (23,948 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Flint Creek West, covers 1,646 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

2 units totaling 6,249 acres are closed to hunting (Administrative Area and Redstone Arsenal). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 7,996 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 384 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Wheeler NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Alabama 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, Upland Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All species open to hunting on the station

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

Fishing at Wheeler NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The refuge is open all year to fishing, with the exception of Garth Slough, which is closed November 15-January 14 to all public entry.

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

How to get to Wheeler NWR

Navigate

Destination: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
34.59988, -86.88157
DMS
34°35′59.6″N 86°52′53.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Decatur, AL5.6 mi E of town
  • Huntsville, AL19 mi SW of town
  • Birmingham, AL75 mi N of town
  • Chattanooga, TN94 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • BHM Birmingham–Shuttlesworth72 mi
  • CHA Chattanooga Metro100 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 Wheeler 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, 20265:49 AM6:19 AM7:15 PM12h 56m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM6:56 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM6:33 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM6:14 PM11h 22m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:37 AM6:07 AM4:55 PM10h 48m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM4:43 PM10h 23m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM4:37 PM10h 02m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM4:38 PM9h 51m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:24 AM6:54 AM4:46 PM9h 53m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:23 AM6:53 AM4:58 PM10h 04m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:16 AM6:46 AM5:15 PM10h 29m

Computed for 34.600, -86.882 (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 Wheeler 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…

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…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Feral Hog Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

Why many refuges allow — and encourage — feral hog hunting, how refuge rules handle hogs, safe shot placement, disease…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

Wheeler NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Wheeler NWR?

Yes. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (27,628 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, upland 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 Wheeler NWR?

Yes — Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, online through fws, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Wheeler NWR?

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

Where is Wheeler NWR located?

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is in Limestone County, Alabama, about 6 miles E of Decatur, AL (straight-line). GPS: 34.59988, -86.88157.

What are legal shooting hours at Wheeler 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

Fern Cave NWR

Jackson County, AL · 33 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Sauta Cave NWR

Jackson County, AL · 43 mi E

1 special
🐦🐇

266 huntable acres

Key Cave NWR

Lauderdale County, AL · 53 mi W

1 special
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🐗

1.1K huntable acres

Paint Rock River NWR

Franklin County, TN · 54 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Watercress Darter NWR

Jefferson County, AL · 85 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

Mountain Longleaf NWR

Calhoun County, AL · 90 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

3.3K huntable acres

All refuges in Alabama →

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