National Wildlife Refuge · Arkansas · FWS Region 4

Cache River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Monroe County, Arkansas, Cache River National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 74,347 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 10 mapped hunt units: 10 open with special regulations, covering about 75,215 huntable acres.

10 with special regsPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
10hunt units
75.2Khuntable acres
74.3KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Cache River 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 Cache River 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. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Cache River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1986 to protect, conserve, enhance and restore bottomland hardwood forest habitats for the benefit of wintering waterfowl, migratory birds and other native species of wildlife.

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 Arkansas regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (10)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 75,215 (100%)75.2Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations75,215 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge North
28,334 ac
Refuge South
22,815 ac
Black Swamp Area
16,451 ac
Dixie Waterfowl Sanctuary
2,797 ac
Waterfowl Sanctuary North
1,768 ac
Plunkett Farm Waterfowl Sanctuary
1,086 ac
Youth Waterfowl Area
858 ac
Dixie
527 ac
Darby's Warrior
387 ac
Waterfowl Sanctuary South
192 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Black Swamp Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 16,451 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All current hunting opportunities
Darby's Warrior
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 387 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All current hunting opportunities
Dixie
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 527 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All current hunting opportunities
Dixie Waterfowl Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,797 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All current hunting opportunities
Plunkett Farm Waterfowl Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,086 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All current hunting opportunities
Refuge North
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 28,334 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All current hunting opportunities
Refuge South
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 22,815 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All current hunting opportunities
Waterfowl Sanctuary North
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,768 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All current hunting opportunities
Waterfowl Sanctuary South
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 192 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All current hunting opportunities
Youth Waterfowl Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 858 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar		 All current hunting opportunities

Cache River NWR by the numbers

With about 75,215 huntable acres, Cache River NWR ranks #3 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Arkansas and #34 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 North (28,334 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Waterfowl Sanctuary South, covers 192 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

Besides 74,347 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 1.7 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Cache River 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, 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

All current hunting opportunities

Type: Other, 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
  • 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 Cache River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish. Refuge waters include more than 200 acres in scattered small lakes and 220 acres in the Cache River and Bayou DeView.

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

How to get to Cache River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cache River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
34.72604, -91.36401
DMS
34°43′33.7″N 91°21′50.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Stuttgart, AR19 mi NE of town
  • Helena-West Helena, AR46 mi W of town
  • Pine Bluff, AR50 mi NE of town
  • Little Rock, AR53 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National49 mi
  • MEM Memphis Intl81 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 Cache River 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, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:33 PM12h 56m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:14 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:51 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:32 PM11h 22m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM5:12 PM10h 48m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM5:01 PM10h 23m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM4:55 PM10h 01m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM4:55 PM9h 51m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:04 PM9h 52m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:15 PM10h 04m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:32 PM10h 29m

Computed for 34.726, -91.364 (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 Cache River 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…

Cache River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cache River NWR?

Yes. Cache River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 10 units (75,215 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 Cache River NWR?

Yes — Cache River National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other and 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 Cache River NWR?

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

Where is Cache River NWR located?

Cache River National Wildlife Refuge is in Monroe County, Arkansas, about 19 miles NE of Stuttgart, AR (straight-line). GPS: 34.72604, -91.36401.

What are legal shooting hours at Cache River 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

Dale Bumpers White River NWR

Monroe County, AR · 21 mi SE

13 special4 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

154K huntable acres

Bald Knob NWR

White County, AR · 38 mi N

4 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Greers Ferry NFH

Cleburne County, AR · 65 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Dahomey NWR

Bolivar County, MS · 74 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

10.3K huntable acres

Wapanocca NWR

Crittenden County, AR · 78 mi NE

2 special
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

5.7K huntable acres

Coldwater River NWR

Quitman County, MS · 82 mi SE

1 open1 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

2.3K huntable acres

All refuges in Arkansas →

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