Hunting opportunities at Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge vary by unit, and include white-tailed deer, coyote, fall turkey, spring turkey, rabbit, squirrel, and waterfowl (see annual hunt letter: 2026 Hunt Letter). All state regulations apply. For fall and winter hunting seasons, permits become available beginning on the first Sunday in August, at noon. Hunters can acquire up to one archery, one muzzleloader and/or one shotgun permit during a 2-week, first-come first-served, time period. After this 2-week period, all remaining permits are available on a first-come first-served basis, with no restrictions on how many a hunter can purchase, until all permits are sold. Starting in 2026, we will require all hunters to use the online check in/check out system for all units, including those that also require permits. Three Refuge units (Mothershead, Franklin, and Wright) do not require a permit, but they still require the use of an online check in/check out system. There is no Sunday hunting. For spring turkey, permits become available by the end of February.
Scouting on the Refuge is permitted on designated days for each season (see the annual hunt letter: 2026 Hunt Letter). Driving directions to each Refuge unit can be foundhere: Directions to Hunt Units (and see hunt maps in Related Documents below as well as the national interactive Refuge hunt map here: Where to hunt (https://www.fws.gov/hunting/map?station=FF05RRPP00) or download the map data layers (https://gis-fws.opendata.arcgis.com/maps/efe1c85829524b8895412b7faf17e90e/about). [FYI - the map doesn't allow the complex level, you have to go refuge by refuge so just put Rapp]
In 2021, a new hunt plan was finalized which increased existing hunting opportunities (2026 Hunting and Fishing Plan) at Rappahannock River Valley NWR.
Hunting permits, and the use of the online check in/check out system can be accessed at RecAccess. Registration is free.
