National Wildlife Refuge · Arkansas · FWS Region 4

Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Union County, Arkansas, Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 77,617 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Louisiana. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 77,289 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
77.3Khuntable acres
77.6KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Felsenthal 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 Felsenthal NWR

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

Thousands of mallards flying through flooded timber have traditionally made Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge a major hunting destination.

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 Arkansas regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 77,289 (97%)Closed: 2,583 (3%)77.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations77,289 ac 97%
  • Closed2,583 ac 3%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Area
70,321 ac
Waterfowl Sanctuary
6,968 ac
No Hunting Zone
2,583 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Area Special regs 70,321 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Big game, small game, waterfowl hunting
Waterfowl Sanctuary Special regs 6,968 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Big game, small game, waterfowl hunting
No Hunting Zone Closed 2,583 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Big game, small game, waterfowl hunting

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Big game, small game, waterfowl hunting

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Arkansas hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
  • 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 Felsenthal NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include one 3-acre pond, one 1-acre pond used for special fishing events, a 15,000-acre impoundment that can be enlarged to 36,000 acres seasonally, several oxbow lakes, the Ouachita River, (approximately 30 river miles), the Saline River…

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

How to get to Felsenthal NWR

Navigate

Destination: Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.11471, -92.16488
DMS
33°06′53.0″N 92°09′53.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • El Dorado, AR30 mi E of town
  • Monroe, LA42 mi N of town
  • Greenville, MS67 mi W of town
  • Pine Bluff, AR78 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • SHV Shreveport Regional107 mi
  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National112 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 Felsenthal 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, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:35 PM12h 53m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM7:16 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:54 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM6:36 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM5:18 PM10h 52m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM5:07 PM10h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM5:02 PM10h 09m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM5:03 PM9h 59m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:41 AM7:11 AM5:11 PM10h 00m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:41 AM7:11 AM5:22 PM10h 11m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:39 PM10h 35m

Computed for 33.115, -92.165 (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.

Felsenthal NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Felsenthal NWR?

Yes. Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (77,289 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 Felsenthal NWR?

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

Can you fish at Felsenthal NWR?

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

Where is Felsenthal NWR located?

Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge is in Union County, Arkansas, about 30 miles E of El Dorado, AR (straight-line). GPS: 33.11471, -92.16488.

What are legal shooting hours at Felsenthal 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

Upper Ouachita NWR

Morehouse Parish, LA · 15 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

43.8K huntable acres

Overflow NWR

Ashley County, AR · 29 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

13.4K huntable acres

Black Bayou Lake NWR

Ouachita Parish, LA · 36 mi S

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

3.8K huntable acres

D'Arbonne NWR

Ouachita Parish, LA · 37 mi S

3 special
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

17.6K huntable acres

Yazoo NWR

Washington County, MS · 69 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.8K huntable acres

Tensas River NWR

Tensas Parish, LA · 79 mi SE

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

75.1K huntable acres

All refuges in Arkansas →

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