National Wildlife Refuge · Louisiana · FWS Region 4

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 4,413 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 4,296 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
4.3Khuntable acres
4.4KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Mandalay 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 Mandalay NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, approximately five miles west of Houma in Terrebonne Parish, consists predominantly of freshwater marshes and cypress-tupelo swamps that provide excellent habitat for waterfowl, wading birds and neotropical songbirds.

Youth hunting

Youth hunters receive preference for permits. Lottery-issued waterfowl hunts for youth hunters are held on state youth waterfowl hunting days and throughout the waterfowl season.

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 cootsMigratory 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 (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 4,296 (97%)Closed: 117 (3%)4.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations4,296 ac 97%
  • Closed117 ac 3%
Units by size (acres)
Lake Hatch
3,467 ac
Hanson
829 ac
Closed Area
117 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hanson
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 829 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting
🧒 Youth hunters receive preference for permits. Lottery-issued waterfowl hunts for youth hunters are…
Lake Hatch
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,467 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting
🧒 Youth hunters receive preference for permits. Lottery-issued waterfowl hunts for youth hunters are…
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 117 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting
🧒 Youth hunters receive preference for permits. Lottery-issued waterfowl hunts for youth hunters are…

Mandalay NWR by the numbers

With about 4,296 huntable acres, Mandalay NWR ranks #18 of 20 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Louisiana and #273 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 97% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Lake Hatch (3,467 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Hanson, covers 829 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 117 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 4,413 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 203 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Mandalay 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, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🕊️ 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 hunting

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 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 Mandalay NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge conserves 4,416 acres of freshwater marsh and pond habitat, intersected with levees and man-made canals, and bisected by the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

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

How to get to Mandalay NWR

Navigate

Destination: Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
29.52632, -90.80269
DMS
29°31′34.8″N 90°48′09.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Houma, LA7.1 mi SW of town
  • New Orleans, LA53 mi SW of town
  • Baton Rouge, LA68 mi S of town
  • Lafayette, LA87 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • MSY New Orleans Armstrong46 mi
  • BTR Baton Rouge Metro72 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 Mandalay 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, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM7:27 PM12h 47m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM7:09 PM12h 23m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM6:50 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM6:33 PM11h 30m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:45 AM6:15 AM5:17 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM5:08 PM10h 42m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM5:04 PM10h 24m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM5:06 PM10h 16m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:27 AM6:57 AM5:14 PM10h 17m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:28 AM6:58 AM5:25 PM10h 26m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:23 AM6:53 AM5:39 PM10h 47m

Computed for 29.526, -90.803 (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 Mandalay 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…

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…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Mandalay NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Mandalay NWR?

Yes. Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (4,296 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Mandalay NWR?

Yes — Mandalay 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 Mandalay NWR?

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

Where is Mandalay NWR located?

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge is in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, about 7 miles SW of Houma, LA (straight-line). GPS: 29.52632, -90.80269.

What are legal shooting hours at Mandalay 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

Bayou Teche NWR

St. Mary Parish, LA · 48 mi W

7 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.8K huntable acres

Shell Keys NWR

LA · 64 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Bayou Sauvage NWR

Orleans Parish, LA · 68 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

11.1K huntable acres

Big Branch Marsh NWR

St. Tammany Parish, LA · 74 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

19.1K huntable acres

Atchafalaya NWR

St. Martin Parish, LA · 80 mi NW

2 special
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.8K huntable acres

Bogue Chitto NWR

St. Tammany Parish, LA · 93 mi NE

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

36.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Louisiana →

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