National Wildlife Refuge · Louisiana · FWS Region 4

Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge is located in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, with about 17,251 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 12,301 huntable acres.

4 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
12.3Khuntable acres
17.3KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Lake Ophelia 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 Lake Ophelia NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, 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.

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 turkeyMigratory 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 Louisiana regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 12,301 (71%)Closed: 5,139 (29%)12.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations12,301 ac 71%
  • Closed5,139 ac 29%
Units by size (acres)
Closed Area Unit
5,139 ac
Hunt Area 1A
4,983 ac
Hunt Area 2A
4,817 ac
Hunt Area 2B
1,742 ac
Hunt Area 1B
759 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Area 1A
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,983 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All approved H& F opportunities
Hunt Area 1B
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 759 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All approved H& F opportunities
Hunt Area 2A
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,817 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All approved H& F opportunities
Hunt Area 2B
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,742 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All approved H& F opportunities
Closed Area Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 5,139 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All approved H& F opportunities

Lake Ophelia NWR by the numbers

With about 12,301 huntable acres, Lake Ophelia NWR ranks #12 of 20 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Louisiana and #161 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 71% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Area 1A (4,983 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Hunt Area 1B, covers 759 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 5,139 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 17,251 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 1.9 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Lake Ophelia NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Louisiana 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, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🕊️ 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

Required

All approved H& F opportunities

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Louisiana hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
  • 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 Lake Ophelia NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include largemouth bass (minimum of 14 inches), black and white crappie (minimum of 10 inches) and white bass.

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

How to get to Lake Ophelia NWR

Navigate

Destination: Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
31.20283, -91.87492
DMS
31°12′10.2″N 91°52′29.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Alexandria, LA35 mi E of town
  • Natchez, MS37 mi SW of town
  • Baton Rouge, LA66 mi NW of town
  • Lafayette, LA68 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • BTR Baton Rouge Metro63 mi
  • LFT Lafayette Regional69 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 Lake Ophelia 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 AM7:32 PM12h 50m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM7:14 PM12h 24m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM6:53 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:36 PM11h 28m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM5:19 PM10h 58m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM5:10 PM10h 36m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM5:05 PM10h 17m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM5:06 PM10h 08m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:15 PM10h 09m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:25 PM10h 19m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:30 AM7:00 AM5:41 PM10h 41m

Computed for 31.203, -91.875 (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 Lake Ophelia 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…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

Lake Ophelia NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lake Ophelia NWR?

Yes. Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (12,301 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Lake Ophelia NWR?

Yes — Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained 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 Lake Ophelia NWR?

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

Where is Lake Ophelia NWR located?

Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge is in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, about 35 miles E of Alexandria, LA (straight-line). GPS: 31.20283, -91.87492.

What are legal shooting hours at Lake Ophelia 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

Grand Cote NWR

Avoyelles Parish, LA · 17 mi SW

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

3.4K huntable acres

St. Catherine Creek NWR

Adams County, MS · 26 mi E

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

21.3K huntable acres

Bayou Cocodrie NWR

Concordia Parish, LA · 28 mi NE

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.1K huntable acres

Catahoula NWR

Catahoula Parish, LA · 32 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

24.7K huntable acres

Cat Island NWR

West Feliciana Parish, LA · 37 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.7K huntable acres

Atchafalaya NWR

St. Martin Parish, LA · 56 mi S

2 special
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.8K huntable acres

All refuges in Louisiana →

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