National Wildlife Refuge · Mississippi · FWS Region 4

Hillside National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Hillside National Wildlife Refuge is located in Holmes County, Mississippi, with about 15,477 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 15,444 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
15.4Khuntable acres
15.5KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Hillside 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 Hillside NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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.

Originally, the Hillside National Wildlife Refuge lands were purchased by the U.S.

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 turkeySmall 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 (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 15,444 (100%)Closed: 47 (0%)15.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations15,444 ac 100%
  • Closed47 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
Waterfowl Hunt Area
10,208 ac
A.P. Slough
2,894 ac
Turkey Point Unit
2,342 ac
Closed to Hunting
47 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
A.P. Slough
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,894 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers are required to purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 through Rec access ($5 fee for online).
Turkey Point Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,342 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers are required to purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 through Rec access ($5 fee for online).
Waterfowl Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 10,208 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers are required to purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 through Rec access ($5 fee for online).
Closed to Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 47 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers are required to purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 through Rec access ($5 fee for online).

Hillside NWR by the numbers

With about 15,444 huntable acres, Hillside NWR ranks #4 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Mississippi and #135 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Waterfowl Hunt Area (10,208 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Turkey Point Unit, covers 2,342 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 47 acres is closed to hunting (Closed to Hunting). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Hillside NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Mississippi 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, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters and anglers are required to purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 through Rec access ($5 fee for online).

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 💻 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 Hillside NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is permitted throughout the refuge seven days a week during daylight hours March 1-November 15. The old borrow ponds east of the main levee are open year-round with the exception of the deer muzzleloader season and the spring turkey hunt.

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

How to get to Hillside NWR

Navigate

Destination: Hillside National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.01888, -90.29506
DMS
33°01′08.0″N 90°17′42.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Yazoo City, MS13 mi NE of town
  • Jackson, MS50 mi N of town
  • Greenville, MS52 mi SE of town
  • Vicksburg, MS57 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • JAN Jackson–Evers51 mi
  • MEM Memphis Intl141 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 Hillside 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, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM7:28 PM12h 53m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM7:09 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM6:47 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM6:29 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM5:11 PM10h 53m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM5:00 PM10h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM4:54 PM10h 09m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM4:55 PM9h 59m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:33 AM7:03 AM5:04 PM10h 00m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:15 PM10h 12m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:26 AM6:56 AM5:31 PM10h 35m

Computed for 33.019, -90.295 (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 Hillside 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…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Hillside NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Hillside NWR?

Yes. Hillside National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (15,444 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Hillside NWR?

Yes — Hillside National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online through fws, 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 Hillside NWR?

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

Where is Hillside NWR located?

Hillside National Wildlife Refuge is in Holmes County, Mississippi, about 13 miles NE of Yazoo City, MS (straight-line). GPS: 33.01888, -90.29506.

What are legal shooting hours at Hillside 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

Morgan Brake NWR

Holmes County, MS · 15 mi NE

4 special
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

7.6K huntable acres

Panther Swamp NWR

Yazoo County, MS · 21 mi SW

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

41.4K huntable acres

Mathews Brake NWR

Holmes County, MS · 24 mi N

2 special
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

2.4K huntable acres

Theodore Roosevelt NWR

Sharkey County, MS · 25 mi W

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

4.7K huntable acres

Holt Collier NWR

Washington County, MS · 29 mi NW

3 special
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

3K huntable acres

Yazoo NWR

Washington County, MS · 39 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.8K huntable acres

All refuges in Mississippi →

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