National Wildlife Refuge · Louisiana · FWS Region 4

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge is located in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, with about 11,359 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 9,725 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
9.7Khuntable acres
11.4KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Cat Island 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 Cat Island NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, 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.

Hunters will find healthy deer and squirrel populations on 13,000 acres of the cypress swamp and bottomland hardwood forest that make up Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsMigratory 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 (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 9,725 (86%)Closed: 1,635 (14%)9.7Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations9,725 ac 86%
  • Closed1,635 ac 14%
Units by size (acres)
Open Area
9,725 ac
Closed Area
1,635 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open Area Special regs 9,725 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers over age 16 and under 65 must have annual hunt permit.
Closed Area Closed 1,635 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers over age 16 and under 65 must have annual hunt permit.

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters and anglers over age 16 and under 65 must have annual hunt 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 Cat Island NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge is subject to Louisiana state fishing regulations and is open for fishing year-round. The refuge provides a variety of fishing opportunities. Species include largemouth bass, catfish, garfish and bream.

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

How to get to Cat Island NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
30.75607, -91.52488
DMS
30°45′21.9″N 91°31′29.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Baton Rouge, LA29 mi NW of town
  • Lafayette, LA47 mi NE of town
  • Natchez, MS56 mi S of town
  • Alexandria, LA67 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • BTR Baton Rouge Metro27 mi
  • LFT Lafayette Regional47 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 Cat Island 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 AM7:30 PM12h 49m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM7:13 PM12h 24m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:52 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:35 PM11h 28m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM5:19 PM10h 59m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM5:09 PM10h 37m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM5:04 PM10h 19m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM5:06 PM10h 10m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:33 AM7:03 AM5:14 PM10h 11m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:25 PM10h 21m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:27 AM6:57 AM5:40 PM10h 43m

Computed for 30.756, -91.525 (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.

Cat Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cat Island NWR?

Yes. Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (9,725 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Cat Island NWR?

Yes — Cat Island 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 Cat Island NWR?

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

Where is Cat Island NWR located?

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge is in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, about 29 miles NW of Baton Rouge, LA (straight-line). GPS: 30.75607, -91.52488.

What are legal shooting hours at Cat Island 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

Atchafalaya NWR

St. Martin Parish, LA · 24 mi S

2 special
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.8K huntable acres

Lake Ophelia NWR

Avoyelles Parish, LA · 37 mi NW

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.3K huntable acres

St. Catherine Creek NWR

Adams County, MS · 40 mi N

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

21.3K huntable acres

Grand Cote NWR

Avoyelles Parish, LA · 43 mi NW

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

3.4K huntable acres

Bayou Cocodrie NWR

Concordia Parish, LA · 56 mi N

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.1K huntable acres

Catahoula NWR

Catahoula Parish, LA · 67 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

24.7K huntable acres

All refuges in Louisiana →

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