National Wildlife Refuge · Louisiana · FWS Region 4

Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge lies in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, with about 36,400 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Mississippi. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 3 closed, covering about 36,383 huntable acres.

3 with special regs3 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
36.4Khuntable acres
36.4KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Bogue Chitto 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 Bogue Chitto NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Upland game, deer, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, waterfowl, and hog hunting are allowed subject to State approved season and regulation. Hunters must review and abide by state regulations for the state in which they hunt.

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 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 (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 36,383 (100%)Closed: 113 (0%)36.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations36,383 ac 100%
  • Closed113 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
Open to Hunting - LA
29,023 ac
Open to Hunting - MS
6,794 ac
Old River WMA
567 ac
Pearl River Turnaround
56 ac
Closed to Hunting - LA
32 ac
Closed to Hunting - MS
25 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Old River WMA
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 567 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Open to Hunting - LA
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 29,023 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Open to Hunting - MS
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 6,794 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Closed to Hunting - LA
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 32 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Closed to Hunting - MS
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 25 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Pearl River Turnaround
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 56 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting

Bogue Chitto NWR by the numbers

With about 36,383 huntable acres, Bogue Chitto NWR ranks #3 of 20 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Louisiana and #75 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 Open to Hunting - LA (29,023 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Old River WMA, covers 567 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

3 units totaling 113 acres are closed to hunting (Closed to Hunting - LA, Closed to Hunting - MS, and Pearl River Turnaround). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Bogue Chitto NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Louisiana 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, Feral & Exotic
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
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Hunting

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 📋 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 Bogue Chitto NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish are the primary species caught in the refuge's oxbow and overflow lakes, the East and West Pearl Rivers, and the Bogue Chitto River.

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

How to get to Bogue Chitto NWR

Navigate

Destination: Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
30.56100, -89.81678
DMS
30°33′39.6″N 89°49′00.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • New Orleans, LA45 mi N of town
  • Gulfport, MS45 mi W of town
  • Hattiesburg, MS62 mi SW of town
  • Baton Rouge, LA82 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • MSY New Orleans Armstrong47 mi
  • BTR Baton Rouge Metro79 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 Bogue Chitto 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, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM7:23 PM12h 49m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:06 PM12h 24m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM6:45 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM6:29 PM11h 29m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:43 AM6:13 AM5:12 PM10h 59m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM5:03 PM10h 38m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM4:58 PM10h 20m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM4:59 PM10h 11m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:26 AM6:56 AM5:08 PM10h 12m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:26 AM6:56 AM5:18 PM10h 22m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:20 AM6:50 AM5:34 PM10h 43m

Computed for 30.561, -89.817 (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 Bogue Chitto 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…

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…

Bogue Chitto NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bogue Chitto NWR?

Yes. Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (36,383 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, 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 Bogue Chitto NWR?

Yes — Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, mail, online through fws, other, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Bogue Chitto NWR?

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

Where is Bogue Chitto NWR located?

Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge is in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, about 45 miles N of New Orleans, LA (straight-line). GPS: 30.56100, -89.81678.

What are legal shooting hours at Bogue Chitto 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

Big Branch Marsh NWR

St. Tammany Parish, LA · 21 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

19.1K huntable acres

Bayou Sauvage NWR

Orleans Parish, LA · 36 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

11.1K huntable acres

Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR

Jackson County, MS · 61 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Breton NWR

LA · 73 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Grand Bay NWR

Jackson County, MS · 84 mi E

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

10.1K huntable acres

Mandalay NWR

Terrebonne Parish, LA · 93 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

4.3K huntable acres

All refuges in Louisiana →

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