National Wildlife Refuge · Louisiana · FWS Region 4

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge lies in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, with about 15,177 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 7 mapped hunt units: 6 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 15,064 huntable acres.

6 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
7hunt units
15.1Khuntable acres
15.2KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Bayou Cocodrie 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 Bayou Cocodrie NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Upland game hunting and big game hunting were expanded in 2015. Many young hunters may remember Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge as the place they killed their first deer.

Youth hunting

The refuge offers a special youth deer hunt in an area closed to all other hunters. Young hunters have guides and assigned blinds.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall 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 Louisiana regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (7)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 15,064 (99%)Closed: 91 (1%)15.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations15,064 ac 99%
  • Closed91 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
Cross Bayou Unit
4,771 ac
Brooks Brake Unit
4,463 ac
Wallace Lake Unit
2,908 ac
Hoover Slough Unit
1,483 ac
Greentree Unit
1,438 ac
Closed to Hunting
91 ac
Mobility Impaired Units
2.0 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Brooks Brake Unit Special regs 4,463 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 must have permit
🧒 The refuge offers a special youth deer hunt in an area closed to all other hunters. Young hunters…
Cross Bayou Unit Special regs 4,771 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 must have permit
🧒 The refuge offers a special youth deer hunt in an area closed to all other hunters. Young hunters…
Greentree Unit Special regs 1,438 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 must have permit
🧒 The refuge offers a special youth deer hunt in an area closed to all other hunters. Young hunters…
Hoover Slough Unit Special regs 1,483 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 must have permit
🧒 The refuge offers a special youth deer hunt in an area closed to all other hunters. Young hunters…
Mobility Impaired Units Special regs 2.0 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 must have permit
🧒 The refuge offers a special youth deer hunt in an area closed to all other hunters. Young hunters…
Wallace Lake Unit Special regs 2,908 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 must have permit
🧒 The refuge offers a special youth deer hunt in an area closed to all other hunters. Young hunters…
Closed to Hunting Closed 91 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 must have permit
🧒 The refuge offers a special youth deer hunt in an area closed to all other hunters. Young hunters…

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters and anglers over the age of 16 and under the age of 65 must have permit

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Louisiana hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Bayou Cocodrie NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing season is year-round. Available species include largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill and crappie. Fishing access is limited to a put-in at Bayou Cocodrie near the refuge headquarters and near the south end of the refuge via a private launch.

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

How to get to Bayou Cocodrie NWR

Navigate

Destination: Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
31.55985, -91.65466
DMS
31°33′35.5″N 91°39′16.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Natchez, MS15 mi W of town
  • Alexandria, LA50 mi E of town
  • Vicksburg, MS71 mi SW of town
  • Monroe, LA71 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • BTR Baton Rouge Metro77 mi
  • LFT Lafayette Regional95 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 Bayou Cocodrie 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, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM7:32 PM12h 50m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM7:14 PM12h 24m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM6:53 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM6:35 PM11h 27m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM5:18 PM10h 57m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM5:08 PM10h 35m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM5:03 PM10h 16m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM5:04 PM10h 07m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:13 PM10h 08m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:24 PM10h 18m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:29 AM6:59 AM5:39 PM10h 40m

Computed for 31.560, -91.655 (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.

Bayou Cocodrie NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bayou Cocodrie NWR?

Yes. Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 6 units (15,064 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, migratory 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 Bayou Cocodrie NWR?

Yes — Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov), other, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Bayou Cocodrie NWR?

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

Where is Bayou Cocodrie NWR located?

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge is in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, about 15 miles W of Natchez, MS (straight-line). GPS: 31.55985, -91.65466.

What are legal shooting hours at Bayou Cocodrie 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

Catahoula NWR

Catahoula Parish, LA · 19 mi W

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

24.7K huntable acres

St. Catherine Creek NWR

Adams County, MS · 19 mi SE

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

21.3K huntable acres

Lake Ophelia NWR

Avoyelles Parish, LA · 28 mi SW

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.3K huntable acres

Grand Cote NWR

Avoyelles Parish, LA · 43 mi SW

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

3.4K huntable acres

Tensas River NWR

Tensas Parish, LA · 48 mi N

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

75.1K huntable acres

Cat Island NWR

West Feliciana Parish, LA · 56 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.7K huntable acres

All refuges in Louisiana →

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