National Wildlife Refuge · Oklahoma · FWS Region 2

Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge is located in Haskell County, Oklahoma, within an approved boundary of roughly 20,985 acres. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 16 mapped hunt units: 13 open with special regulations and 3 closed, covering about 16,484 huntable acres.

13 with special regs3 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
16hunt units
16.5Khuntable acres
21Kboundary acres
6game categories

Sequoyah 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 Sequoyah NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

In the late 1800s, the hardwood forests and rivers that make up what is now Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge were the perfect hideout for many famous outlaws, including Frank and Jesse James, Belle Starr and the Daltons.

Youth hunting

A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

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 turkeyMigratory 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 Oklahoma regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (16)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 16,484 (79%)Closed: 4,433 (21%)16.5Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations16,484 ac 79%
  • Closed4,433 ac 21%
Units by size (acres)
Sandtown Bottom
4,248 ac
Water
3,272 ac
Kerr Islands
2,401 ac
Vian Creeks
1,449 ac
Delta Islands
1,380 ac
Webbers Bottom
1,216 ac
Haskell Closed
1,176 ac
Cook Bottom
882 ac
Waterfowl Sanctuary
881 ac
Girty Bottom
849 ac
Hisaw/Shelby
837 ac
Possum Hollow
800 ac
Sandtown Bottom Sanctuary
795 ac
Haskell Hunt
334 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Cook Bottom
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 882 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Delta Islands
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,380 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Girty Bottom
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 849 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Haskell Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,176 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Haskell Hunt
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 334 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Hisaw/Shelby
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 837 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Kerr Islands
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,401 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Possum Hollow
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 800 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Sandtown Bottom
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,248 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Sandtown Bottom Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 795 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Sandtown Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 117 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Vian Creeks
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,449 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Webbers Bottom
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,216 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Vian Creeks Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 280 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Water
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 3,272 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…
Waterfowl Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 881 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.
🧒 A rifle hunt for youth hunters is issued by lottery by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife…

Sequoyah NWR by the numbers

With about 16,484 huntable acres, Sequoyah NWR ranks #2 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Oklahoma and #129 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 79% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Sandtown Bottom (4,248 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Sandtown Closed, covers 117 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

3 units totaling 4,433 acres are closed to hunting (Vian Creeks Sanctuary, Water, and Waterfowl Sanctuary). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Sequoyah NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Oklahoma 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, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🕊️ 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 hunting, a signed brochure/tear sheet is required.

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Oklahoma hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
  • 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 Sequoyah NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Recreational fishing is available throughout the refuge. Visitors may fish from land or boat. The refuge allows fishing from land in units that are open to public use. The Sandtown Bottom Unit is the only unit with limited access.

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

How to get to Sequoyah NWR

Navigate

Destination: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.43318, -94.97548
DMS
35°25′59.4″N 94°58′31.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Sallisaw, OK11 mi W of town
  • Muskogee, OK31 mi SE of town
  • Fort Smith, AR33 mi W of town
  • Fayetteville, AR63 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • TUL Tulsa Intl74 mi
  • OKC Oklahoma City Will Rogers148 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 Sequoyah 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, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM7:49 PM12h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM7:28 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM7:05 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM6:46 PM11h 21m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM5:26 PM10h 46m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM5:14 PM10h 20m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM5:08 PM9h 58m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM5:08 PM9h 47m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM5:16 PM9h 48m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM5:28 PM10h 00m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:50 AM7:20 AM5:46 PM10h 26m

Computed for 35.433, -94.975 (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 Sequoyah 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…

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…

Sequoyah NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Sequoyah NWR?

Yes. Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 13 units (16,484 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Sequoyah NWR?

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

Can you fish at Sequoyah NWR?

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

Where is Sequoyah NWR located?

Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge is in Haskell County, Oklahoma, about 11 miles W of Sallisaw, OK (straight-line). GPS: 35.43318, -94.97548.

What are legal shooting hours at Sequoyah 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

Ozark Plateau NWR

Adair County, OK · 33 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🐗

799 huntable acres

Deep Fork NWR

Okmulgee County, OK · 54 mi W

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

8.3K huntable acres

Logan Cave NWR

Benton County, AR · 62 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Neosho NFH

Newton County, MO · 102 mi N

1 closed
🎣

Little River NWR

McCurtain County, OK · 104 mi S

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

14.1K huntable acres

Holla Bend NWR

Pope County, AR · 110 mi E

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

6K huntable acres

All refuges in Oklahoma →

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