Chickasaw NWR
Lauderdale County, TN · 19 mi NE
!3 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
26.7K huntable acres
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
Hunting at Lower Hatchie NWR
- Big Game
- Waterfowl
- Wild Turkey
- Upland Birds
- Migratory Birds
- Small Game
-
Feral & Exotic - Fishing
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)
- Special regulations12,514 ac 88%
- Closed1,662 ac 12%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Sanctuary Show on map · Directions |
!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 Show on map · Directions |
!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 Show on map · Directions |
!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 Show on map · Directions |
!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 Show on map · Directions |
!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 Show on map · Directions |
!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 Show on map · Directions |
✕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 Show on map · Directions |
✕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… |
Lower Hatchie NWR by the numbers
With about 12,514 huntable acres, Lower Hatchie NWR ranks #3 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Tennessee and #160 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 88% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is Refuge (9,322 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Champion Lakes, covers 50 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.
2 units totaling 1,662 acres are closed to hunting (Closed and South Unit Sunk Lake). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.
Besides 12,272 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 10 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.
When to hunt Lower 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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
🦆 Waterfowl
🦃 Wild Turkey
🐦 Upland Birds
🕊️ Migratory Birds
🐇 Small Game
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)
- Decimal
35.60377, -89.84591- DMS
35°36′13.6″N 89°50′45.3″W
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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:00 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:28 PM | 12h 58m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:11 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:08 PM | 12h 27m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:44 PM | 11h 52m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:34 AM | 7:04 AM | 6:25 PM | 11h 21m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:50 AM | 6:20 AM | 5:05 PM | 10h 45m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:04 AM | 6:34 AM | 4:53 PM | 10h 19m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 4:47 PM | 9h 57m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:31 AM | 7:01 AM | 4:47 PM | 9h 46m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 4:55 PM | 9h 47m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 5:07 PM | 9h 60m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 5:25 PM | 10h 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.
Guides for hunting Lower 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…
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
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Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.