Mathews Brake NWR
Holmes County, MS · 11 mi N
!2 special
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣
2.4K huntable acres
Morgan Brake 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 Morgan Brake NWR
- Big Game
- Waterfowl
-
Wild Turkey -
Upland Birds - Migratory Birds
- Small Game
- Feral & Exotic
- Fishing
Permitted hunting categories are 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.
Near Tchula, Mississippi, along the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta, Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge is a mix of flooded timber, backwater sloughs, cypress brakes and bottomland hardwood forest.
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 Mississippi regulations plus refuge-specific rules.
Hunt units (4)
- Special regulations7,569 ac 100%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Waterfowl Hunting Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 240 | Required Other |
All hunters and anglers must purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 on Rec access ($5 fee online) or over the counter at… |
| Providence Ponds Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 117 | Required Other |
All hunters and anglers must purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 on Rec access ($5 fee online) or over the counter at… |
| Refuge Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 2,878 | Required Other |
All hunters and anglers must purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 on Rec access ($5 fee online) or over the counter at… |
| Waterfowl Sanctuary Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 4,334 | Required Other |
All hunters and anglers must purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 on Rec access ($5 fee online) or over the counter at… |
Morgan Brake NWR by the numbers
With about 7,569 huntable acres, Morgan Brake NWR ranks #8 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Mississippi and #224 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is Waterfowl Sanctuary (4,334 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Providence Ponds, covers 117 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.
Besides 7,569 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 1,960 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.
When to hunt Morgan Brake NWR
Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Mississippi 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
🕊️ Migratory Birds
🐇 Small Game
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Permits & licenses
Refuge permit
Required
All hunters and anglers must purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 on Rec access ($5 fee online) or over the counter at Panther Swamp NWR or Yazoo NWR offices.
Type: Other
How to get it:
- 💻 Online (FWS)
- 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
- 📋 Other (see refuge)
You'll also need
- A valid Mississippi hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
- 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 Morgan Brake NWR
- 🐟 Freshwater fishing
Fishing is offered year-round in refuge waters, except during the muzzleloader deer hunt. Providence ponds, north of the refuge office, are closed one day prior to the beginning of waterfowl season through March 1.
State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.
How to get to Morgan Brake NWR
Navigate
Destination: Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
33.21290, -90.18285- DMS
33°12′46.4″N 90°10′58.3″W
Nearest towns
- Yazoo City, MS28 mi NE of town
- Greenville, MS52 mi E of town
- Jackson, MS63 mi N of town
- Vicksburg, MS72 mi NE of town
Closest airports
- JAN Jackson–Evers63 mi
- MEM Memphis Intl127 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 Morgan Brake 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 | 6:04 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:27 PM | 12h 53m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:08 PM | 12h 26m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:46 PM | 11h 53m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 6:28 PM | 11h 25m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:48 AM | 6:18 AM | 5:10 PM | 10h 52m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:01 AM | 6:31 AM | 4:59 PM | 10h 29m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:15 AM | 6:45 AM | 4:54 PM | 10h 08m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:26 AM | 6:56 AM | 4:55 PM | 9h 59m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 5:03 PM | 9h 60m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:34 AM | 7:04 AM | 5:14 PM | 10h 11m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:26 AM | 6:56 AM | 5:30 PM | 10h 34m |
Computed for 33.213, -90.183 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day hunting weather
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Guides for hunting Morgan Brake 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…
Morgan Brake NWR FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Morgan Brake NWR?
Yes. Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (7,569 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 Morgan Brake NWR?
Yes — Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online through fws, online (e.g. recreation.gov), or other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.
Can you fish at Morgan Brake NWR?
Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.
Where is Morgan Brake NWR located?
Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge is in Holmes County, Mississippi, about 28 miles NE of Yazoo City, MS (straight-line). GPS: 33.21290, -90.18285.
What are legal shooting hours at Morgan Brake 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
Hillside NWR
Holmes County, MS · 15 mi SW
!3 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣
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Holt Collier NWR
Washington County, MS · 33 mi W
!3 special
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Panther Swamp NWR
Yazoo County, MS · 35 mi SW
!5 special✕1 closed
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41.4K huntable acres
Theodore Roosevelt NWR
Sharkey County, MS · 36 mi SW
!2 special✕1 closed
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Tallahatchie NWR
Tallahatchie County, MS · 37 mi N
!1 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
3.6K huntable acres
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.