National Wildlife Refuge · Mississippi · FWS Region 4

Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Yazoo County, Mississippi, Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 34,139 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 5 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 41,448 huntable acres.

5 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
41.4Khuntable acres
34.1KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Panther Swamp 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 Panther Swamp NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic 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.

Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge contains one of the largest blocks (21,000 acres) of bottomland forest in the lower Mississippi River alluvial floodplain.

Youth hunting

A general-access youth waterfowl hunt is offered, usually in late December.

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 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 (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 41,448 (99%)Closed: 347 (1%)41.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations41,448 ac 99%
  • Closed347 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge
18,463 ac
Waterfowl Hunt Unit 2
10,785 ac
Waterfowl Hunt Unit 1
8,996 ac
Lower Twist
2,576 ac
Carter Ponds
629 ac
Closed to Hunting
347 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Carter Ponds
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 629 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers on TR Complex must purchase $15 permit through Rec access ($5 fee for online) or at the refuge…
🧒 A general-access youth waterfowl hunt is offered, usually in late December.
Lower Twist
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,576 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers on TR Complex must purchase $15 permit through Rec access ($5 fee for online) or at the refuge…
🧒 A general-access youth waterfowl hunt is offered, usually in late December.
Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 18,463 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers on TR Complex must purchase $15 permit through Rec access ($5 fee for online) or at the refuge…
🧒 A general-access youth waterfowl hunt is offered, usually in late December.
Waterfowl Hunt Unit 1
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 8,996 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers on TR Complex must purchase $15 permit through Rec access ($5 fee for online) or at the refuge…
🧒 A general-access youth waterfowl hunt is offered, usually in late December.
Waterfowl Hunt Unit 2
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 10,785 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers on TR Complex must purchase $15 permit through Rec access ($5 fee for online) or at the refuge…
🧒 A general-access youth waterfowl hunt is offered, usually in late December.
Closed to Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 347 Required
Other		 All hunters and anglers on TR Complex must purchase $15 permit through Rec access ($5 fee for online) or at the refuge…
🧒 A general-access youth waterfowl hunt is offered, usually in late December.

Panther Swamp NWR by the numbers

With about 41,448 huntable acres, Panther Swamp NWR ranks #2 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Mississippi and #66 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 99% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Refuge (18,463 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Carter Ponds, covers 629 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 347 acres is closed to hunting (Closed to Hunting). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 34,139 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 8.1 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Panther Swamp 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.

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

Required

All hunters and anglers on TR Complex must purchase $15 permit through Rec access ($5 fee for online) or at the refuge office. Other opportunities require additional limited draw permits.

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

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 Panther Swamp NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include catfish, largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie, buffalo, carp, gar and bowfin.

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

How to get to Panther Swamp NWR

Navigate

Destination: Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
32.81467, -90.56189
DMS
32°48′52.8″N 90°33′42.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Yazoo City, MS9.4 mi W of town
  • Vicksburg, MS37 mi NE of town
  • Jackson, MS42 mi NW of town
  • Greenville, MS50 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • JAN Jackson–Evers45 mi
  • MEM Memphis Intl157 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 Panther Swamp 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, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM7:28 PM12h 53m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM7:10 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM6:48 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM6:30 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:49 AM6:19 AM5:12 PM10h 53m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM5:02 PM10h 30m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM4:56 PM10h 10m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM4:57 PM10h 00m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:05 PM10h 01m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:17 PM10h 12m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:27 AM6:57 AM5:33 PM10h 36m

Computed for 32.815, -90.562 (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 Panther Swamp 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…

Panther Swamp NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Panther Swamp NWR?

Yes. Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (41,448 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 Panther Swamp NWR?

Yes — Panther Swamp 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 visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Panther Swamp NWR?

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

Where is Panther Swamp NWR located?

Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is in Yazoo County, Mississippi, about 9 miles W of Yazoo City, MS (straight-line). GPS: 32.81467, -90.56189.

What are legal shooting hours at Panther Swamp 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

Theodore Roosevelt NWR

Sharkey County, MS · 14 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

4.7K huntable acres

Hillside NWR

Holmes County, MS · 21 mi NE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Holt Collier NWR

Washington County, MS · 29 mi N

3 special
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

3K huntable acres

Yazoo NWR

Washington County, MS · 31 mi NW

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.8K huntable acres

Morgan Brake NWR

Holmes County, MS · 35 mi NE

4 special
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

7.6K huntable acres

Mathews Brake NWR

Holmes County, MS · 42 mi NE

2 special
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

2.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Mississippi →

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