National Wildlife Refuge · Mississippi · FWS Region 4

Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge lies in Bolivar County, Mississippi, with about 9,537 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 10,276 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
10.3Khuntable acres
9.5KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Dahomey 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 Dahomey NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, 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.

Squirrel hunters know that some of the best hunting in the Mississippi River Delta can be found at Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland 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 Mississippi regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 10,276 (92%)Closed: 834 (8%)10.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations10,276 ac 92%
  • Closed834 ac 8%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Zone
10,276 ac
No Hunt Area
834 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Zone Special regs 10,276 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers 16 years and older are required to have a North MS Refuge Complex permit.
No Hunt Area Closed 834 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers 16 years and older are required to have a North MS Refuge Complex permit.

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters and anglers 16 years and older are required to have a North MS Refuge Complex permit.

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

  • A valid Mississippi hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
  • 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 Dahomey NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

All waters on the refuge are open to fishing year-round during daylight hours. Happy Hollow Lake provides opportunities to harvest bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish.

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

How to get to Dahomey NWR

Navigate

Destination: Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.72378, -90.93238
DMS
33°43′25.6″N 90°55′56.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Greenville, MS23 mi N of town
  • Helena-West Helena, AR59 mi S of town
  • Stuttgart, AR64 mi SE of town
  • Yazoo City, MS67 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National101 mi
  • MEM Memphis Intl106 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 Dahomey 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, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM7:31 PM12h 54m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM7:12 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:49 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:31 PM11h 24m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM5:12 PM10h 51m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM5:01 PM10h 27m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM4:55 PM10h 06m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM4:56 PM9h 56m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM5:05 PM9h 57m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM5:16 PM10h 08m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:30 AM7:00 AM5:33 PM10h 32m

Computed for 33.724, -90.932 (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.

Dahomey NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Dahomey NWR?

Yes. Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (10,276 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Dahomey NWR?

Yes — Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov) or other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Dahomey NWR?

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

Where is Dahomey NWR located?

Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge is in Bolivar County, Mississippi, about 23 miles N of Greenville, MS (straight-line). GPS: 33.72378, -90.93238.

What are legal shooting hours at Dahomey 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

Holt Collier NWR

Washington County, MS · 37 mi S

3 special
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

3K huntable acres

Yazoo NWR

Washington County, MS · 43 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.8K huntable acres

Tallahatchie NWR

Tallahatchie County, MS · 44 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

3.6K huntable acres

Mathews Brake NWR

Holmes County, MS · 47 mi SE

2 special
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

2.4K huntable acres

Coldwater River NWR

Quitman County, MS · 52 mi NE

1 open1 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

2.3K huntable acres

Dale Bumpers White River NWR

Monroe County, AR · 53 mi N

13 special4 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

154K huntable acres

All refuges in Mississippi →

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