National Wildlife Refuge · Illinois · FWS Region 3

Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Jackson County, Illinois, Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 8,759 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Missouri. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 10 mapped hunt units: 9 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 8,249 huntable acres.

9 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
10hunt units
8.2Khuntable acres
8.8KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Middle Mississippi 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 Middle Mississippi River NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Illinois and Missouri deer hunters know of the quality hunting available on Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. Established after the 1993 flood breached various levees, the refuge provides public hunting opportunities along the river.

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 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 Illinois regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (10)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 8,249 (98%)Closed: 179 (2%)8.2Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations8,249 ac 98%
  • Closed179 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
Horse Island
2,049 ac
Wilkinson Island - IL
1,928 ac
Rockwood Island
1,263 ac
Harlow Island
1,191 ac
Wilkinson Island - MO
715 ac
Crains Island - IL
641 ac
Beaver Island
256 ac
Closed Unit
179 ac
Meissner Island
103 ac
Crains Island - MO
103 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Beaver Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 256 —
Crains Island - IL
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 641 —
Crains Island - MO
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 103 —
Harlow Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,191 —
Horse Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,049 —
Meissner Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 103 —
Rockwood Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,263 —
Wilkinson Island - IL
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,928 —
Wilkinson Island - MO
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 715 —
Closed Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 179 —

Middle Mississippi River NWR by the numbers

With about 8,249 huntable acres, Middle Mississippi River NWR ranks #5 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Illinois and #218 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 98% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Horse Island (2,049 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Crains Island - MO, covers 103 acres.

1 unit totaling 179 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 8,759 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 31 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Middle Mississippi River NWR

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

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Illinois hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Illinois Department of Natural Resources
  • 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 Middle Mississippi River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include largemouth bass, channel catfish, bullhead, bluegill, crappie, walleye, carp and white bass.

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

How to get to Middle Mississippi River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
37.75399, -89.62699
DMS
37°45′14.4″N 89°37′37.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Carbondale, IL22 mi W of town
  • Cape Girardeau, MO31 mi N of town
  • Marion, IL38 mi W of town
  • St. Louis, MO68 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • STL St. Louis Lambert80 mi
  • MEM Memphis Intl189 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 Middle Mississippi 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, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM7:29 PM13h 02m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM7:08 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM6:43 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM6:22 PM11h 17m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:52 AM6:22 AM5:01 PM10h 39m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM4:48 PM10h 10m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM4:40 PM9h 46m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM4:40 PM9h 34m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM4:49 PM9h 36m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:01 PM9h 49m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:33 AM7:03 AM5:20 PM10h 17m

Computed for 37.754, -89.627 (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 Middle Mississippi River 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…

Middle Mississippi River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Middle Mississippi River NWR?

Yes. Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 9 units (8,249 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, 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 Middle Mississippi River NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Middle Mississippi River NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Middle Mississippi River NWR?

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

Where is Middle Mississippi River NWR located?

Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge is in Jackson County, Illinois, about 22 miles W of Carbondale, IL (straight-line). GPS: 37.75399, -89.62699.

What are legal shooting hours at Middle Mississippi 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

Crab Orchard NWR

Williamson County, IL · 31 mi E

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

44.4K huntable acres

Cypress Creek NWR

Alexander County, IL · 49 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

16.4K huntable acres

Pilot Knob NWR

Iron County, MO · 55 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Mingo NWR

Wayne County, MO · 61 mi SW

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

16.4K huntable acres

Reelfoot NWR

Obion County, TN · 93 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Two Rivers NWR

Calhoun County, IL · 97 mi NW

8 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9K huntable acres

All refuges in Illinois →

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