National Wildlife Refuge · Kentucky · FWS Region 4

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

Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge is located in Marshall County, Kentucky, with about 11,857 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 9 mapped hunt units: 8 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 11,669 huntable acres.

8 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
9hunt units
11.7Khuntable acres
11.9KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Clarks 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 Clarks River NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game 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.

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 Kentucky regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (9)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 11,669 (98%)Closed: 184 (2%)11.7Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations11,669 ac 98%
  • Closed184 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
Open Hunt
10,296 ac
Teal Unit
554 ac
Wood Duck Unit
322 ac
Closed to Hunting
184 ac
Mallard Point Waterfowl
181 ac
Redhead Waterfowl
116 ac
Archery Deer Only
100 ac
Wolfe Waterfowl
58 ac
Closed to Spring Turkey Hunting
43 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Archery Deer Only
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 100 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require a signed brochure currently.
Closed to Spring Turkey Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 43 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require a signed brochure currently.
Mallard Point Waterfowl
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 181 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require a signed brochure currently.
Open Hunt
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 10,296 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require a signed brochure currently.
Redhead Waterfowl
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 116 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require a signed brochure currently.
Teal Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 554 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require a signed brochure currently.
Wolfe Waterfowl
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 58 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require a signed brochure currently.
Wood Duck Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 322 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require a signed brochure currently.
Closed to Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 184 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require a signed brochure currently.

Clarks River NWR by the numbers

With about 11,669 huntable acres, Clarks River NWR ranks #1 of 1 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Kentucky and #170 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 98% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open Hunt (10,296 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Closed to Spring Turkey Hunting, covers 43 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 184 acres is closed to hunting (Closed to Hunting). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 11,857 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 0.1 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Clarks River NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Kentucky 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 require a signed brochure currently.

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)

You'll also need

  • A valid Kentucky hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
  • 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 Clarks River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Anglers can expect to find crappie, sunfish, bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish in the Clarks River. However, river access is limited. Seasons and creel limits are in accordance with state regulations.

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

How to get to Clarks River NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.81925, -88.29962
DMS
36°49′09.3″N 88°17′58.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Paducah, KY24 mi SE of town
  • Paris, TN36 mi N of town
  • Clarksville, TN56 mi W of town
  • Marion, IL72 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • BNA Nashville Intl102 mi
  • MEM Memphis Intl155 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 Clarks 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, 20265:53 AM6:23 AM7:23 PM13h 00m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM7:02 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM6:38 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM6:18 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM4:57 PM10h 41m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM4:45 PM10h 14m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM4:37 PM9h 51m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM4:38 PM9h 40m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM4:46 PM9h 41m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM4:58 PM9h 54m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:25 AM6:55 AM5:16 PM10h 21m

Computed for 36.819, -88.300 (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 Clarks 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…

Clarks River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Clarks River NWR?

Yes. Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 8 units (11,669 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 Clarks River NWR?

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

Can you fish at Clarks River NWR?

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

Where is Clarks River NWR located?

Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge is in Marshall County, Kentucky, about 24 miles SE of Paducah, KY (straight-line). GPS: 36.81925, -88.29962.

What are legal shooting hours at Clarks 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

Tennessee NWR

Henry County, TN · 34 mi S

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🎣

49.5K huntable acres

Cross Creeks NWR

Stewart County, TN · 39 mi SE

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

8.2K huntable acres

Cypress Creek NWR

Alexander County, IL · 56 mi W

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

16.4K huntable acres

Reelfoot NWR

Obion County, TN · 64 mi SW

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Lake Isom NWR

Lake County, TN · 71 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Crab Orchard NWR

Williamson County, IL · 73 mi NW

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

44.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Kentucky →

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