National Wildlife Refuge · Tennessee · FWS Region 4

Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge lies in Haywood County, Tennessee, with about 11,425 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 5 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 11,154 huntable acres.

5 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
11.2Khuntable acres
11.4KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Hatchie 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 Hatchie NWR

Hunting opportunities include 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.

The bottomland hardwood forest and cropland of Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge offer the best wildlife habitat in the area, and local hunters know this refuge holds good numbers of game species in its thick cover.

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 (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 11,154 (98%)Closed: 271 (2%)11.2Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations11,154 ac 98%
  • Closed271 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge
7,254 ac
Waterfowl Sanctuary
2,733 ac
Archery Sanctuary
540 ac
Porter Hole
355 ac
Archery Only Unit
272 ac
Closed Area
271 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Archery Only Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 272 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
Archery Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 540 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
Porter Hole
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 355 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 7,254 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
Waterfowl Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,733 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 271 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.

Hatchie NWR by the numbers

With about 11,154 huntable acres, Hatchie NWR ranks #4 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Tennessee and #176 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 Refuge (7,254 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Archery Only Unit, covers 272 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 271 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Hatchie 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 are required to have signed brochure.

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ 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 Hatchie NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing season is year-round. Available species include largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish.

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

How to get to Hatchie NWR

Navigate

Destination: Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.49336, -89.20263
DMS
35°29′36.1″N 89°12′09.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Jackson, TN23 mi W of town
  • Dyersburg, TN39 mi S of town
  • Memphis, TN53 mi NE of town
  • Paris, TN74 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • MEM Memphis Intl54 mi
  • BNA Nashville 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 Hatchie 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, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM7:26 PM12h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM7:05 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM6:42 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM6:22 PM11h 21m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:47 AM6:17 AM5:03 PM10h 45m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM4:51 PM10h 20m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM4:44 PM9h 57m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM4:45 PM9h 47m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM4:53 PM9h 48m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:05 PM10h 00m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:27 AM6:57 AM5:22 PM10h 26m

Computed for 35.493, -89.203 (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 Hatchie 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…

Hatchie NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Hatchie NWR?

Yes. Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (11,154 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 Hatchie NWR?

Yes — Hatchie 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, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Hatchie NWR?

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

Where is Hatchie NWR located?

Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge is in Haywood County, Tennessee, about 23 miles W of Jackson, TN (straight-line). GPS: 35.49336, -89.20263.

What are legal shooting hours at Hatchie 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

Chickasaw NWR

Lauderdale County, TN · 36 mi NW

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

26.7K huntable acres

Lower Hatchie NWR

Lauderdale County, TN · 37 mi W

6 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.5K huntable acres

Lake Isom NWR

Lake County, TN · 57 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Wapanocca NWR

Crittenden County, AR · 58 mi W

2 special
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

5.7K huntable acres

Big Lake NWR

Mississippi County, AR · 59 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Reelfoot NWR

Obion County, TN · 65 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

10.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Tennessee →

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