Hunting

Waterfowl hunters who enjoy the challenges of hunting fast-flying sea and diving ducks have a great public opportunity at Swanquarter NWR, where species like scaup, bufflehead and scoter are common late in the fall. Good numbers of puddle ducks, especially American black duck and wigeon, can also be found on the refuge. Hunting can be good, particularly later in the season. When area lakes freeze, more birds move onto the refuge. Large decoy spreads are a must to lure in diving ducks. 

6,120 acres of marsh on the refuge are open to waterfowl hunting in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations. The hunt area includes Great Island and portions of marsh on both sides of Juniper Bay, as indicated on the hunting brochure and signage. Waterfowl may be hunted according to seasons and regulations set by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Hunters access the area by boat. No hunting is allowed in the open waters of the refuge within the 27,000 acre Presidential Proclamation Boundary, located in Pamlico Sound and adjacent to the refuge and the refuge hunt area (please see map in hunt brochure). However, if hunters, or a portion of their boat, are located within the marshes of the public hunt area, they may set decoys within the waters adjacent to the marsh (and within the Proclamation Boundary) and shoot at and retrieve waterfowl from the adjacent waters. 

The Proclamation Boundary is posted with large pilings and signs. Three piles mark each corner and single pilings are located every one mile between the corner pilings along the entire boundary. GPS coordinates indicating the location of the corner pilings are provided on the map in the Hunt Brochure.

Only temporary blinds that are removed daily are permitted. For reasons of hunter safety and courtesy, hunters may not hunt closer than 150 yards to another hunting party. Youth hunters under the age of 16 must have proof of passing a state approved Hunter Education Course to hunt on the refuge and must be supervised by a licensed hunter over the age of 21.

For full details, review the Swanquarter NWR Hunt Brochure linked below. No permit is needed to hunt on the refuge, but all hunters must have a valid State hunting license and applicable waterfowl stamps and endorsements. Waterfowl are the only game species authorized to hunt on the refuge.