National Wildlife Refuge · Louisiana · FWS Region 4

Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, Sabine National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 123,814 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 34,140 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
34.1Khuntable acres
124KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Sabine 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 Sabine NWR

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

Hunters can pursue waterfowl here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Established in 1937, Sabine National Wildlife Refuge consists of 125,000 acres of coastal marsh. Annually this refuge hosts a popular general-access waterfowl hunt on 34,000 acres, most of which must be accessed by boat.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Louisiana regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 34,140 (27%)Closed: 90,708 (73%)34.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations34,140 ac 27%
  • Closed90,708 ac 73%
Units by size (acres)
Closed to Hunting
90,708 ac
Waterfowl
34,140 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Waterfowl Special regs 34,140 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting
Closed to Hunting Closed 90,708 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Hunting

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Hunting

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 💻 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 Sabine NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Refuge waters consist of a freshwater impoundment totaling approximately 26,000 acres, plus marshes and canals totaling approximately 99,000 acres. Fishing season, via boats, is March 15-October 15. Fishing is open year-round along Louisiana Hwy.

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

How to get to Sabine NWR

Navigate

Destination: Sabine National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
29.90242, -93.57942
DMS
29°54′08.7″N 93°34′45.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Port Arthur, TX21 mi E of town
  • Lake Charles, LA31 mi SW of town
  • Beaumont, TX35 mi E of town
  • Galveston, TX84 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • LFT Lafayette Regional97 mi
  • IAH Houston Bush Intercontinental106 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 Sabine 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, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM7:38 PM12h 48m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM7:21 PM12h 23m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM7:01 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM6:44 PM11h 30m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM5:28 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM5:19 PM10h 41m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM5:14 PM10h 23m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM5:16 PM10h 14m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:24 PM10h 15m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM5:35 PM10h 25m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:50 PM10h 45m

Computed for 29.902, -93.579 (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.

Sabine NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Sabine NWR?

Yes. Sabine National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (34,140 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Sabine NWR?

Yes — Sabine National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, 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 Sabine NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Sabine NWR located?

Sabine National Wildlife Refuge is in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, about 21 miles E of Port Arthur, TX (straight-line). GPS: 29.90242, -93.57942.

What are legal shooting hours at Sabine 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

Cameron Prairie NWR

Cameron Parish, LA · 22 mi E

2 special2 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🎣

9.2K huntable acres

Texas Point NWR

Jefferson County, TX · 24 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦆🎣

3.6K huntable acres

Lacassine NWR

Cameron Parish, LA · 42 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🎣

33.2K huntable acres

McFaddin NWR

Jefferson County, TX · 42 mi SW

4 special1 closed
🦆🎣

21.6K huntable acres

Jocelyn Nungaray NWR

Chambers County, TX · 55 mi W

3 open1 closed
🦆🎣

12.9K huntable acres

Trinity River NWR

Liberty County, TX · 81 mi W

7 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

8.8K huntable acres

All refuges in Louisiana →

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