National Wildlife Refuge · Missouri · FWS Region 3

Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge lies in Lawrence County, Missouri, with about 41 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
41FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Ozark Cavefish 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 Ozark Cavefish NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 41 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed41 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 41 —

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 Missouri hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Missouri Department of Conservation
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Ozark Cavefish NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Ozark Cavefish NWR.

How to get to Ozark Cavefish NWR

Navigate

Destination: Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
37.19988, -93.69530
DMS
37°11′59.6″N 93°41′43.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Springfield, MO22 mi W of town
  • Fayetteville, AR83 mi N of town
  • Jefferson City, MO127 mi SW of town
  • Fort Smith, AR131 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • SGF Springfield–Branson17 mi
  • TUL Tulsa Intl140 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 Ozark Cavefish 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, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM7:45 PM13h 01m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM7:24 PM12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM6:59 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM6:39 PM11h 18m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM5:18 PM10h 40m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM5:06 PM10h 13m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:58 PM9h 49m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM4:58 PM9h 38m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM5:07 PM9h 39m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:57 AM7:27 AM5:19 PM9h 52m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:48 AM7:18 AM5:37 PM10h 19m

Computed for 37.200, -93.695 (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.

Ozark Cavefish NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Ozark Cavefish NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Ozark Cavefish NWR?

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

Where is Ozark Cavefish NWR located?

Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge is in Lawrence County, Missouri, about 22 miles W of Springfield, MO (straight-line). GPS: 37.19988, -93.69530.

What are legal shooting hours at Ozark Cavefish 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

Neosho NFH

Newton County, MO · 43 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Logan Cave NWR

Benton County, AR · 79 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Marais des Cygnes NWR

Linn County, KS · 88 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5K huntable acres

Norfork NFH

Baxter County, AR · 104 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Ozark Plateau NWR

Adair County, OK · 111 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🐗

799 huntable acres

Mammoth Spring NFH

Oregon County, MO · 129 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Missouri →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.