National Wildlife Refuge · Mississippi · FWS Region 4

St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Adams County, Mississippi, St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 24,283 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Louisiana. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 5 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 21,271 huntable acres.

5 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
21.3Khuntable acres
24.3KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

St. Catherine Creek 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 St. Catherine Creek 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.

With 25,000 acres of land open to deer hunting, St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest and most successful public hunting areas in southwest Mississippi.

Youth hunting

A youth turkey hunt is issued by lottery. Youth hunts are also held for deer (firearms) and waterfowl.

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 Mississippi regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 21,271 (86%)Closed: 3,517 (14%)21.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations21,271 ac 86%
  • Closed3,517 ac 14%
Units by size (acres)
Sibley Unit
9,345 ac
Cloverdale Unit
6,110 ac
Butler Unit
4,817 ac
Closed to Hunting
3,517 ac
Sibley Impoundments
998 ac
Mobility Impaired Units
1.4 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Butler Unit Special regs 4,817 Required
Other		 Annual public use permit for hunting and fishing.
🧒 A youth turkey hunt is issued by lottery. Youth hunts are also held for deer (firearms) and…
Cloverdale Unit Special regs 6,110 Required
Other		 Annual public use permit for hunting and fishing.
🧒 A youth turkey hunt is issued by lottery. Youth hunts are also held for deer (firearms) and…
Mobility Impaired Units Special regs 1.4 Required
Other		 Annual public use permit for hunting and fishing.
🧒 A youth turkey hunt is issued by lottery. Youth hunts are also held for deer (firearms) and…
Sibley Impoundments Special regs 998 Required
Other		 Annual public use permit for hunting and fishing.
🧒 A youth turkey hunt is issued by lottery. Youth hunts are also held for deer (firearms) and…
Sibley Unit Special regs 9,345 Required
Other		 Annual public use permit for hunting and fishing.
🧒 A youth turkey hunt is issued by lottery. Youth hunts are also held for deer (firearms) and…
Closed to Hunting Closed 3,517 Required
Other		 Annual public use permit for hunting and fishing.
🧒 A youth turkey hunt is issued by lottery. Youth hunts are also held for deer (firearms) and…

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Annual public use permit for hunting and fishing.

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)
  • 🏛️ 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 St. Catherine Creek NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is permitted from March 1 through the day before muzzleloader deer season begins in late November. Available species include catfish, largemouth bass and crappie. Both boat fishing and bank fishing are available.

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

How to get to St. Catherine Creek NWR

Navigate

Destination: St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
31.33577, -91.45820
DMS
31°20′08.8″N 91°27′29.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Natchez, MS16 mi S of town
  • Alexandria, LA59 mi E of town
  • Baton Rouge, LA63 mi N of town
  • Vicksburg, MS78 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • BTR Baton Rouge Metro59 mi
  • LFT Lafayette Regional84 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 St. Catherine Creek 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, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM7:31 PM12h 50m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM7:13 PM12h 24m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:52 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:35 PM11h 28m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:50 AM6:20 AM5:18 PM10h 57m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM5:08 PM10h 35m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM5:03 PM10h 17m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM5:04 PM10h 08m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:13 PM10h 09m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:23 PM10h 19m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:28 AM6:58 AM5:39 PM10h 41m

Computed for 31.336, -91.458 (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.

St. Catherine Creek NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at St. Catherine Creek NWR?

Yes. St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (21,271 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 St. Catherine Creek NWR?

Yes — St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov), other, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at St. Catherine Creek NWR?

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

Where is St. Catherine Creek NWR located?

St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge is in Adams County, Mississippi, about 16 miles S of Natchez, MS (straight-line). GPS: 31.33577, -91.45820.

What are legal shooting hours at St. Catherine Creek 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 Cocodrie NWR

Concordia Parish, LA · 19 mi NW

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.1K huntable acres

Lake Ophelia NWR

Avoyelles Parish, LA · 26 mi W

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.3K huntable acres

Catahoula NWR

Catahoula Parish, LA · 36 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

24.7K huntable acres

Cat Island NWR

West Feliciana Parish, LA · 40 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.7K huntable acres

Grand Cote NWR

Avoyelles Parish, LA · 43 mi W

1 open2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

3.4K huntable acres

Tensas River NWR

Tensas Parish, LA · 61 mi N

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

75.1K huntable acres

All refuges in Mississippi →

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