National Wildlife Refuge · Illinois · FWS Region 3

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge lies in Alexander County, Illinois, with about 16,671 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 16,436 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
16.4Khuntable acres
16.7KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Cypress Creek 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 Cypress Creek NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Known by many as the “Illinois Bayou,” the area that encompasses Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most significant natural areas in the state. It is home to waterfowl, deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit and other game species.

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 Illinois regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 16,436 (99%)Closed: 238 (1%)16.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations16,436 ac 99%
  • Closed238 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
Open
15,256 ac
Bellrose
1,179 ac
Closed
238 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Bellrose
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,179 —
Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 15,256 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 238 —

Cypress Creek NWR by the numbers

With about 16,436 huntable acres, Cypress Creek NWR ranks #2 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Illinois and #130 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 Open (15,256 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Bellrose, covers 1,179 acres.

1 unit totaling 238 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 16,671 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 0.3 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Cypress Creek NWR

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

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Illinois hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Illinois Department of Natural 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 Cypress Creek NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The refuge has two boat ramps that provide access to an old channel of the Cache River. Predominant species include bluegill, largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. The refuge includes state, federal and private lands.

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

How to get to Cypress Creek NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
37.10713, -89.25241
DMS
37°06′25.7″N 89°15′08.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Cape Girardeau, MO20 mi SE of town
  • Paducah, KY36 mi W of town
  • Carbondale, IL43 mi S of town
  • Marion, IL47 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • STL St. Louis Lambert129 mi
  • MEM Memphis Intl148 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 Cypress Creek 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, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM7:27 PM13h 01m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM7:06 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM6:42 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM6:21 PM11h 18m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM5:00 PM10h 41m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM4:48 PM10h 13m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM4:40 PM9h 49m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM4:41 PM9h 38m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM4:49 PM9h 39m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:01 PM9h 52m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:30 AM7:00 AM5:20 PM10h 20m

Computed for 37.107, -89.252 (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 Cypress Creek 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…

Cypress Creek NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cypress Creek NWR?

Yes. Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (16,436 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 Cypress Creek NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Cypress Creek NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Cypress Creek NWR?

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

Where is Cypress Creek NWR located?

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge is in Alexander County, Illinois, about 20 miles SE of Cape Girardeau, MO (straight-line). GPS: 37.10713, -89.25241.

What are legal shooting hours at Cypress Creek 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

Crab Orchard NWR

Williamson County, IL · 41 mi N

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

44.4K huntable acres

Reelfoot NWR

Obion County, TN · 47 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Middle Mississippi River NWR

Jackson County, IL · 49 mi NW

9 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

8.2K huntable acres

Mingo NWR

Wayne County, MO · 51 mi W

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

16.4K huntable acres

Lake Isom NWR

Lake County, TN · 56 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Clarks River NWR

Marshall County, KY · 56 mi E

8 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.7K huntable acres

All refuges in Illinois →

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