National Wildlife Refuge · Tennessee · FWS Region 4

Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge lies in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, with about 12,272 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 8 mapped hunt units: 6 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 12,514 huntable acres.

6 with special regs2 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
8hunt units
12.5Khuntable acres
12.3KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Lower 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 Lower Hatchie NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge sits along the lower 17 miles of the Hatchie River in western Tennessee.

Youth hunting

The refuge is open during the state youth-only waterfowl season. A non-quota youth deer hunt is also offered.

All refuges with youth hunts →
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 (8)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 12,514 (88%)Closed: 1,662 (12%)12.5Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations12,514 ac 88%
  • Closed1,662 ac 12%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge
9,322 ac
Waterfowl Sanctuary
2,400 ac
South Unit Sunk Lake
1,573 ac
North Unit Sunk Lake
284 ac
Archery Sanctuary
280 ac
Archery Unit
177 ac
Closed
89 ac
Champion Lakes
50 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Archery Sanctuary Special regs 280 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
🧒 The refuge is open during the state youth-only waterfowl season. A non-quota youth deer hunt is…
Archery Unit Special regs 177 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
🧒 The refuge is open during the state youth-only waterfowl season. A non-quota youth deer hunt is…
Champion Lakes Special regs 50 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
🧒 The refuge is open during the state youth-only waterfowl season. A non-quota youth deer hunt is…
North Unit Sunk Lake Special regs 284 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
🧒 The refuge is open during the state youth-only waterfowl season. A non-quota youth deer hunt is…
Refuge Special regs 9,322 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
🧒 The refuge is open during the state youth-only waterfowl season. A non-quota youth deer hunt is…
Waterfowl Sanctuary Special regs 2,400 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
🧒 The refuge is open during the state youth-only waterfowl season. A non-quota youth deer hunt is…
Closed Closed 89 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
🧒 The refuge is open during the state youth-only waterfowl season. A non-quota youth deer hunt is…
South Unit Sunk Lake Closed 1,573 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters are required to have signed brochure.
🧒 The refuge is open during the state youth-only waterfowl season. A non-quota youth deer hunt is…

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)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)
  • 🏛️ 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 Lower Hatchie NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish. Fishing is allowed on Champion Lake (5 acres), Teal Pond (2 acres), Shoaf Pond (1.5 acres), the Hatchie River and the Mississippi River.

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

How to get to Lower Hatchie NWR

Navigate

Destination: Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.60377, -89.84591
DMS
35°36′13.6″N 89°50′45.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Memphis, TN33 mi N of town
  • Dyersburg, TN39 mi SW of town
  • Jonesboro, AR51 mi E of town
  • Jackson, TN58 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • MEM Memphis Intl40 mi
  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National147 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 Lower 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, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM7:28 PM12h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM7:08 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM6:44 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM6:25 PM11h 21m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM5:05 PM10h 45m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM4:53 PM10h 19m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM4:47 PM9h 57m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM4:47 PM9h 46m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM4:55 PM9h 47m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM5:07 PM9h 60m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:29 AM6:59 AM5:25 PM10h 25m

Computed for 35.604, -89.846 (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.

Lower Hatchie NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lower Hatchie NWR?

Yes. Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 6 units (12,514 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 Lower Hatchie NWR?

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

Can you fish at Lower Hatchie NWR?

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

Where is Lower Hatchie NWR located?

Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge is in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, about 33 miles N of Memphis, TN (straight-line). GPS: 35.60377, -89.84591.

What are legal shooting hours at Lower 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 · 19 mi NE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

26.7K huntable acres

Big Lake NWR

Mississippi County, AR · 26 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Wapanocca NWR

Crittenden County, AR · 27 mi SW

2 special
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

5.7K huntable acres

Hatchie NWR

Haywood County, TN · 37 mi E

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.2K huntable acres

Lake Isom NWR

Lake County, TN · 54 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Reelfoot NWR

Obion County, TN · 64 mi NE

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 September 29, 2026.