National Wildlife Refuge · Oklahoma · FWS Region 2

Little River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, Little River National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 14,236 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 7 mapped hunt units: 6 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 14,083 huntable acres.

6 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
7hunt units
14.1Khuntable acres
14.2KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Little River 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 Little River 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.

The refuge in the Little River floodplain serves to conserve one of the last remnants of the floodplain’s once-extensive bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem.

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 Oklahoma regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (7)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 14,083 (99%)Closed: 153 (1%)14.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations14,083 ac 99%
  • Closed153 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
5
3,357 ac
3
2,766 ac
1
2,571 ac
4
2,138 ac
2
2,003 ac
Small Game
1,249 ac
No Hunt
153 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
1 Special regs 2,571 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 General hunting requires the signature of the refuge hunting brochure.
2 Special regs 2,003 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 General hunting requires the signature of the refuge hunting brochure.
3 Special regs 2,766 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 General hunting requires the signature of the refuge hunting brochure.
4 Special regs 2,138 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 General hunting requires the signature of the refuge hunting brochure.
5 Special regs 3,357 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 General hunting requires the signature of the refuge hunting brochure.
Small Game Special regs 1,249 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 General hunting requires the signature of the refuge hunting brochure.
No Hunt Closed 153 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 General hunting requires the signature of the refuge hunting brochure.

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

General hunting requires the signature of the refuge hunting brochure.

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 💻 Online (FWS)

You'll also need

  • A valid Oklahoma hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
  • 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 Little River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include Forked Lake, Pine Lake, Little River, Crooked Creek and Yanubbee Lake. Fishing season is year-round. Available species include largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish.

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

How to get to Little River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Little River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.94104, -94.68365
DMS
33°56′27.7″N 94°41′01.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Idabel, OK8.9 mi E of town
  • Texarkana, AR51 mi NW of town
  • Durant, OK97 mi E of town
  • Fort Smith, AR101 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • SHV Shreveport Regional114 mi
  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National151 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 Little River 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, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM7:46 PM12h 55m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM7:27 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM7:04 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM6:46 PM11h 24m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM5:27 PM10h 50m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM5:16 PM10h 26m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM5:10 PM10h 05m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM5:11 PM9h 55m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM5:19 PM9h 56m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM5:31 PM10h 07m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:47 PM10h 32m

Computed for 33.941, -94.684 (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.

Little River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Little River NWR?

Yes. Little River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 6 units (14,083 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 Little River NWR?

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

Can you fish at Little River NWR?

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

Where is Little River NWR located?

Little River National Wildlife Refuge is in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, about 9 miles E of Idabel, OK (straight-line). GPS: 33.94104, -94.68365.

What are legal shooting hours at Little River 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

Pond Creek NWR

Sevier County, AR · 25 mi E

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

28.4K huntable acres

Caddo Lake NWR

Harrison County, TX · 94 mi S

11 special1 closed
🦌🐇🐗

6.9K huntable acres

Sequoyah NWR

Haskell County, OK · 104 mi N

13 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

16.5K huntable acres

Tishomingo NWR

Marshall County, OK · 113 mi W

1 open5 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.5K huntable acres

Tishomingo NFH

Johnston County, OK · 119 mi W

1 closed
🎣

Hagerman NWR

Grayson County, TX · 121 mi W

9 special2 closed
🦌🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Oklahoma →

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