National Wildlife Refuge · Louisiana · FWS Region 4

Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge lies in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, with about 77,861 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 75,113 huntable acres.

4 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
75.1Khuntable acres
77.9KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Tensas River 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 Tensas River NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, 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.

Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge consists of extensive bottomland hardwood forests intermingled with sloughs, swamps and lakes that support a tremendous diversity of wildlife.

Youth hunting

Guided lottery youth hunts for deer are offered for qualifying youths between 8-15 years of age.

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 Louisiana regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 75,113 (96%)Closed: 2,737 (4%)75.1Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations75,113 ac 96%
  • Closed2,737 ac 4%
Units by size (acres)
Open Unit
53,568 ac
No Waterfowl Hunting Area
10,343 ac
Reforested Area
5,756 ac
Reforested Area - No Waterfowl Hunting
5,445 ac
Closed Unit
2,737 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
No Waterfowl Hunting Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 10,343 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All approved hunting and fishing opportunities
🧒 Guided lottery youth hunts for deer are offered for qualifying youths between 8-15 years of age.
Open Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 53,568 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All approved hunting and fishing opportunities
🧒 Guided lottery youth hunts for deer are offered for qualifying youths between 8-15 years of age.
Reforested Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,756 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All approved hunting and fishing opportunities
🧒 Guided lottery youth hunts for deer are offered for qualifying youths between 8-15 years of age.
Reforested Area - No Waterfowl Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,445 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All approved hunting and fishing opportunities
🧒 Guided lottery youth hunts for deer are offered for qualifying youths between 8-15 years of age.
Closed Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,737 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All approved hunting and fishing opportunities
🧒 Guided lottery youth hunts for deer are offered for qualifying youths between 8-15 years of age.

Tensas River NWR by the numbers

With about 75,113 huntable acres, Tensas River NWR ranks #1 of 20 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Louisiana and #35 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 96% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open Unit (53,568 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Reforested Area - No Waterfowl Hunting, covers 5,445 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 2,737 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 77,861 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 1,035 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Tensas River NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Louisiana 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 approved hunting and fishing opportunities

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ 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 Tensas River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing season is open year-round, except during firearm deer hunts, on Africa Lake (27 acres), Judd Lake (40 acres) Buck Lake (60 acres), Rainey Lake (16 acres) and Little Bear Lake. Outboard motors may be used, but not larger than 10hp.

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

How to get to Tensas River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
32.20824, -91.34521
DMS
32°12′29.7″N 91°20′42.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Vicksburg, MS29 mi W of town
  • Natchez, MS45 mi N of town
  • Monroe, LA50 mi SE of town
  • Jackson, MS68 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • JAN Jackson–Evers74 mi
  • BTR Baton Rouge Metro117 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 Tensas River 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, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM7:31 PM12h 52m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM7:13 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:51 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:34 PM11h 26m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM5:16 PM10h 55m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM5:06 PM10h 32m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM5:00 PM10h 13m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM5:02 PM10h 03m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:10 PM10h 04m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:21 PM10h 15m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:29 AM6:59 AM5:37 PM10h 38m

Computed for 32.208, -91.345 (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 Tensas River 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…

Tensas River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Tensas River NWR?

Yes. Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (75,113 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 Tensas River NWR?

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

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

Where is Tensas River NWR located?

Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge is in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, about 29 miles W of Vicksburg, MS (straight-line). GPS: 32.20824, -91.34521.

What are legal shooting hours at Tensas River 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 · 48 mi S

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.1K huntable acres

Black Bayou Lake NWR

Ouachita Parish, LA · 49 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

3.8K huntable acres

Catahoula NWR

Catahoula Parish, LA · 52 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

24.7K huntable acres

D'Arbonne NWR

Ouachita Parish, LA · 57 mi NW

3 special
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

17.6K huntable acres

St. Catherine Creek NWR

Adams County, MS · 61 mi S

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

21.3K huntable acres

Overflow NWR

Ashley County, AR · 61 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

13.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Louisiana →

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