National Wildlife Refuge · Missouri · FWS Region 3

Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge lies in Cooper County, Missouri, with about 11,932 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open with special regulations, covering about 21,929 huntable acres.

1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
21.9Khuntable acres
11.9KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Big Muddy NFWR 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 Muddy NFWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Lands along the Missouri River floodplain often have been converted to agriculture, reducing available wildlife habitat.

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 turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Missouri regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 21,929 (100%)21.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations21,929 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 21,929 —

Big Muddy NFWR by the numbers

With about 21,929 huntable acres, Big Muddy NFWR ranks #1 of 5 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Missouri and #109 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Refuge (21,929 acres, special regulations).

Besides 11,932 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 1,099 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Big Muddy NFWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Missouri 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, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Missouri hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Missouri Department of Conservation
  • 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 Big Muddy NFWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The Missouri River is currently accessible by vehicle at the Overton Bottoms North unit only; a boat ramp there also allows river access. At the Overton Bottoms unit, scour holes left behind by major floods provide good fishing for warm-water species.

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

How to get to Big Muddy NFWR

Navigate

Destination: Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
38.92419, -92.51800
DMS
38°55′27.1″N 92°31′04.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Columbia, MO10 mi W of town
  • Jefferson City, MO30 mi NW of town
  • Chillicothe, MO82 mi SE of town
  • Quincy, IL92 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • STL St. Louis Lambert116 mi
  • MCI Kansas City Intl120 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 Muddy NFWR

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, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM7:42 PM13h 05m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM7:20 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM6:54 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:48 AM7:18 AM6:33 PM11h 15m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM5:11 PM10h 35m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM4:57 PM10h 05m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:49 PM9h 40m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM4:49 PM9h 28m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM4:57 PM9h 29m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:57 AM7:27 AM5:10 PM9h 43m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:29 PM10h 12m

Computed for 38.924, -92.518 (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 Muddy NFWR

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…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

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…

Big Muddy NFWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Big Muddy NFWR?

Yes. Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (21,929 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Big Muddy NFWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Big Muddy NFWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Big Muddy NFWR?

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

Where is Big Muddy NFWR located?

Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is in Cooper County, Missouri, about 10 miles W of Columbia, MO (straight-line). GPS: 38.92419, -92.51800.

What are legal shooting hours at Big Muddy NFWR?

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

Swan Lake NWR

Chariton County, MO · 59 mi NW

7 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.7K huntable acres

Great River NWR

Adams County, IL · 95 mi NE

5 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

11.3K huntable acres

Clarence Cannon NWR

Pike County, MO · 96 mi E

1 open2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Two Rivers NWR

Calhoun County, IL · 106 mi E

8 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9K huntable acres

Meredosia NWR

Morgan County, IL · 123 mi NE

2 closed
🎣

Marais des Cygnes NWR

Linn County, KS · 124 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5K huntable acres

All refuges in Missouri →

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