Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge

Blackbeard Island NWR offers two, three-day archery deer hunts each year. These hunts are the oldest managed archery hunts of any within the entire National Wildlife Refuge System. Hunters may take up to five deer, no more than two antlered, as well as an unlimited number of feral hogs. The...

Saltwater fishing is permitted year-round in the estuarine waters adjacent to the refuge. Bank/beach fishing into estuarine waters is permitted only from sunrise to sunset. Saltwater species include bluefish, spotted seatrout, flounder, red drum, striped bass, bonefish, croaker and shark....

Wildlife observation, especially birdwatching, is excellent throughout the year on Blackbeard Island. In winter months, waterfowl utilize the marshland and man-made freshwater pools, while songbirds abound in the wooded acres in the spring and fall. The refuge also serves as an important area...

Perhaps the fastest growing activity on National Wildlife Refuges in the past ten years has been wildlife photography. That’s not surprising when you consider the popularity of digital cameras and cell phones with ever-improving picture-taking abilities. The number of nature photographers has...

Biking is a great way to explore the miles of trails at Blackbeard Island NWR. Visitors are asked to keep bikes on main trails, and remember that bicycles and all other mechanized equipment are not allowed within the boundaries of the Wilderness Area.