National Wildlife Refuge · Arkansas · FWS Region 4

Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in Mississippi County, Arkansas, with about 11,001 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Missouri. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 10,446 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
10.4Khuntable acres
11KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Big Lake 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 Big Lake NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, wild turkey, upland 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.

Once a free-flowing river, the Little River was transformed to a lake and swamp ecosystem by earthquakes in 1811-12. Today, Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge still consists mainly of wooded swamps and open water.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland 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 Arkansas regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 10,446 (95%)Closed: 544 (5%)10.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations10,446 ac 95%
  • Closed544 ac 5%
Units by size (acres)
Little River
8,134 ac
Waterfowl Sanctuary
2,312 ac
No Hunting Zone
544 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Little River
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 8,134 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Upland, Small and Big Game
Waterfowl Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,312 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Upland, Small and Big Game
No Hunting Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 544 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Upland, Small and Big Game

Big Lake NWR by the numbers

With about 10,446 huntable acres, Big Lake NWR ranks #7 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Arkansas and #184 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 95% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Little River (8,134 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Waterfowl Sanctuary, covers 2,312 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 544 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting Zone). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 11,001 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 137 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Big Lake NWR

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

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Upland, Small and Big Game

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

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

You'll also need

  • A valid Arkansas hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Big Lake NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish. Refuge waters include 3,500 acres, of which 2,600 acres are open water where depth averages 2.5 feet to 3 feet. Portions may be closed during bald eagle nesting activities.

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

How to get to Big Lake NWR

Navigate

Destination: Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.91490, -90.12032
DMS
35°54′53.6″N 90°07′13.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Jonesboro, AR33 mi E of town
  • Dyersburg, TN42 mi W of town
  • Memphis, TN53 mi N of town
  • Poplar Bluff, MO60 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • MEM Memphis Intl61 mi
  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National144 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 Big Lake 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, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM7:30 PM12h 59m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:09 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM6:45 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM6:26 PM11h 20m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM5:06 PM10h 44m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM4:54 PM10h 18m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM4:47 PM9h 55m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM4:47 PM9h 45m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM4:56 PM9h 46m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM5:08 PM9h 58m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:31 AM7:01 AM5:25 PM10h 24m

Computed for 35.915, -90.120 (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 Big Lake 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…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

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…

Big Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Big Lake NWR?

Yes. Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (10,446 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, 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 Big Lake NWR?

Yes — Big Lake 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 Big Lake NWR?

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

Where is Big Lake NWR located?

Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Mississippi County, Arkansas, about 33 miles E of Jonesboro, AR (straight-line). GPS: 35.91490, -90.12032.

What are legal shooting hours at Big Lake 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

Chickasaw NWR

Lauderdale County, TN · 26 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

26.7K huntable acres

Lower Hatchie NWR

Lauderdale County, TN · 26 mi SE

6 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.5K huntable acres

Wapanocca NWR

Crittenden County, AR · 40 mi S

2 special
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

5.7K huntable acres

Lake Isom NWR

Lake County, TN · 48 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Reelfoot NWR

Obion County, TN · 56 mi NE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Hatchie NWR

Haywood County, TN · 59 mi SE

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.2K huntable acres

All refuges in Arkansas →

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