National Wildlife Refuge · Louisiana · FWS Region 4

Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge is located in Louisiana, with about 3.9 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
4FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Shell Keys 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 Shell Keys 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: 3.9 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed3.9 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 3.9 —

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

Fishing at Shell Keys NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Shell Keys NWR.

How to get to Shell Keys NWR

Navigate

Destination: Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
29.41596, -91.85554
DMS
29°24′57.5″N 91°51′19.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Lafayette, LA56 mi S of town
  • Houma, LA69 mi W of town
  • Baton Rouge, LA82 mi SW of town
  • Lake Charles, LA99 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • LFT Lafayette Regional55 mi
  • BTR Baton Rouge Metro88 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 Shell Keys 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 AM7:31 PM12h 47m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM7:14 PM12h 23m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM6:54 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:38 PM11h 30m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:49 AM6:19 AM5:22 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM5:13 PM10h 42m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM5:09 PM10h 25m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM5:10 PM10h 17m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:31 AM7:01 AM5:19 PM10h 17m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:32 AM7:02 AM5:29 PM10h 27m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:27 AM6:57 AM5:44 PM10h 47m

Computed for 29.416, -91.856 (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.

Shell Keys NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Shell Keys NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Shell Keys NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Shell Keys 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 Shell Keys NWR located?

Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge is in Louisiana, about 56 miles S of Lafayette, LA (straight-line). GPS: 29.41596, -91.85554.

What are legal shooting hours at Shell Keys 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

Bayou Teche NWR

St. Mary Parish, LA · 31 mi NE

7 special1 closed
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Mandalay NWR

Terrebonne Parish, LA · 64 mi E

2 special1 closed
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4.3K huntable acres

Atchafalaya NWR

St. Martin Parish, LA · 70 mi N

2 special
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Lacassine NWR

Cameron Parish, LA · 73 mi NW

3 special1 closed
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Cameron Prairie NWR

Cameron Parish, LA · 87 mi W

2 special2 closed
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Cat Island NWR

West Feliciana Parish, LA · 95 mi N

1 special1 closed
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9.7K huntable acres

All refuges in Louisiana →

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