National Wildlife Refuge · Tennessee · FWS Region 4

Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 21,528 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Arkansas. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 26,714 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
26.7Khuntable acres
21.5KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Chickasaw 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 Chickasaw NWR

Permitted hunting categories are 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. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

The largest bottomland hardwood forest in Tennessee, Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge has become an important wintering and stopover area for huge numbers of waterfowl.

Youth hunting

A youth deer hunt is offered. The refuge is also open during the state youth-only waterfowl hunt.

All refuges with youth hunts →
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 Tennessee regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 26,714 (99%)Closed: 182 (1%)26.7Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations26,714 ac 99%
  • Closed182 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge
25,057 ac
Waterfowl Sanctuary
1,423 ac
Archery Unit
234 ac
Closed
182 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Archery Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 234 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters must have signed brochure.
🧒 A youth deer hunt is offered. The refuge is also open during the state youth-only waterfowl hunt.
Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 25,057 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters must have signed brochure.
🧒 A youth deer hunt is offered. The refuge is also open during the state youth-only waterfowl hunt.
Waterfowl Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,423 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters must have signed brochure.
🧒 A youth deer hunt is offered. The refuge is also open during the state youth-only waterfowl hunt.
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 182 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters must have signed brochure.
🧒 A youth deer hunt is offered. The refuge is also open during the state youth-only waterfowl hunt.

Chickasaw NWR by the numbers

With about 26,714 huntable acres, Chickasaw NWR ranks #2 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Tennessee and #93 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 99% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Refuge (25,057 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Archery Unit, covers 234 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 182 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Chickasaw NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Tennessee 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

Required

All hunters must have signed brochure.

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 Tennessee hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
  • 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 Chickasaw NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, carp, buffalo and gar.

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

How to get to Chickasaw NWR

Navigate

Destination: Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.83872, -89.67228
DMS
35°50′19.4″N 89°40′20.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Dyersburg, TN21 mi SW of town
  • Jackson, TN51 mi W of town
  • Memphis, TN52 mi NE of town
  • Jonesboro, AR58 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • MEM Memphis Intl58 mi
  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National163 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 Chickasaw 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, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM7:28 PM12h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM7:07 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM6:44 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM6:24 PM11h 20m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM5:04 PM10h 44m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM4:52 PM10h 18m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM4:45 PM9h 56m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM4:46 PM9h 45m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM4:54 PM9h 46m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM5:06 PM9h 59m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:29 AM6:59 AM5:24 PM10h 25m

Computed for 35.839, -89.672 (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 Chickasaw 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…

Chickasaw NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Chickasaw NWR?

Yes. Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (26,714 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 Chickasaw NWR?

Yes — Chickasaw 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 Chickasaw NWR?

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

Where is Chickasaw NWR located?

Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge is in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, about 21 miles SW of Dyersburg, TN (straight-line). GPS: 35.83872, -89.67228.

What are legal shooting hours at Chickasaw 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

Lower Hatchie NWR

Lauderdale County, TN · 19 mi SW

6 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.5K huntable acres

Big Lake NWR

Mississippi County, AR · 26 mi W

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Lake Isom NWR

Lake County, TN · 35 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Hatchie NWR

Haywood County, TN · 36 mi SE

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.2K huntable acres

Reelfoot NWR

Obion County, TN · 45 mi NE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Wapanocca NWR

Crittenden County, AR · 46 mi SW

2 special
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

5.7K huntable acres

All refuges in Tennessee →

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