National Wildlife Refuge · Mississippi · FWS Region 4

Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge is located in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, with about 4,182 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 3,639 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
3.6Khuntable acres
4.2KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Tallahatchie 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 Tallahatchie NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

With the meandering Tippo Bayou as its centerpiece, Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge consists of a rich mix of habitats, ranging from cultivated farmland to reforested fields, from old oxbow lakes to bottomland hardwood forest.

Youth hunting

The refuge is open for youth hunters during state youth-only seasons for squirrel, deer, 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 cootsUpland 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 (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 3,639 (46%)Closed: 4,275 (54%)3.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations3,639 ac 46%
  • Closed4,275 ac 54%
Units by size (acres)
North Unit
4,275 ac
South Unit
3,639 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
South Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,639 Required
Other, Special Use Permit		 All hunters and anglers 16 years and older are required to have a North MS Refuge Complex permit.
🧒 The refuge is open for youth hunters during state youth-only seasons for squirrel, deer, and…
North Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 4,275 Required
Other, Special Use Permit		 All hunters and anglers 16 years and older are required to have a North MS Refuge Complex permit.
🧒 The refuge is open for youth hunters during state youth-only seasons for squirrel, deer, and…

Tallahatchie NWR by the numbers

With about 3,639 huntable acres, Tallahatchie NWR ranks #10 of 13 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Mississippi and #285 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 46% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is South Unit (3,639 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 4,275 acres is closed to hunting (North Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 4,182 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 4,916 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Tallahatchie 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 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 16 years and older are required to have a North MS Refuge Complex permit.

Type: Other, Special Use Permit

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

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 Tallahatchie NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Refuge waters south of Mississippi Highway 8 are open to fishing year-round, offering opportunities to harvest crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish in Tippo Bayou and Long Branch. Boat ramps for both fishing areas are accessible from Highway 8.

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

How to get to Tallahatchie NWR

Navigate

Destination: Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.75468, -90.16071
DMS
33°45′16.8″N 90°09′38.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Greenville, MS57 mi NE of town
  • Helena-West Helena, AR59 mi SE of town
  • Yazoo City, MS63 mi N of town
  • Tupelo, MS91 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • MEM Memphis Intl89 mi
  • JAN Jackson–Evers100 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 Tallahatchie 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, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:28 PM12h 54m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM7:08 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM6:46 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM6:28 PM11h 24m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM5:09 PM10h 51m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM4:58 PM10h 26m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM4:52 PM10h 06m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM4:53 PM9h 56m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:01 PM9h 57m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:35 AM7:05 AM5:13 PM10h 08m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:27 AM6:57 AM5:29 PM10h 32m

Computed for 33.755, -90.161 (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 Tallahatchie 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…

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…

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…

Tallahatchie NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Tallahatchie NWR?

Yes. Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (3,639 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Tallahatchie NWR?

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

Can you fish at Tallahatchie NWR?

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

Where is Tallahatchie NWR located?

Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge is in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, about 57 miles NE of Greenville, MS (straight-line). GPS: 33.75468, -90.16071.

What are legal shooting hours at Tallahatchie 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

Coldwater River NWR

Quitman County, MS · 23 mi N

1 open1 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

2.3K huntable acres

Mathews Brake NWR

Holmes County, MS · 28 mi S

2 special
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

2.4K huntable acres

Morgan Brake NWR

Holmes County, MS · 37 mi S

4 special
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

7.6K huntable acres

Dahomey NWR

Bolivar County, MS · 44 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

10.3K huntable acres

Holt Collier NWR

Washington County, MS · 51 mi SW

3 special
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

3K huntable acres

Hillside NWR

Holmes County, MS · 51 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

15.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Mississippi →

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