National Wildlife Refuge · Mississippi · FWS Region 4

Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge is located in Washington County, Mississippi, with about 13,042 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 12,784 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
12.8Khuntable acres
13KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Yazoo 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 Yazoo NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, 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.

One of the best bowhunting areas in Mississippi, Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge has become a hotspot for traveling sportsmen and women looking to take deer with archery tackle.

Youth hunting

A deer hunt for youth is issued by lottery.

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 cootsMigratory 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 (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 12,784 (98%)Closed: 266 (2%)12.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations12,784 ac 98%
  • Closed266 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge
12,195 ac
Cox Ponds
379 ac
Closed to Hunting
266 ac
Granicus
210 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Cox Ponds Special regs 379 Required
Other		 All hunters (except deer and youth waterfowl) are required to purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 through Rec access…
🧒 A deer hunt for youth is issued by lottery.
Granicus Special regs 210 Required
Other		 All hunters (except deer and youth waterfowl) are required to purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 through Rec access…
🧒 A deer hunt for youth is issued by lottery.
Refuge Special regs 12,195 Required
Other		 All hunters (except deer and youth waterfowl) are required to purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 through Rec access…
🧒 A deer hunt for youth is issued by lottery.
Closed to Hunting Closed 266 Required
Other		 All hunters (except deer and youth waterfowl) are required to purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 through Rec access…
🧒 A deer hunt for youth is issued by lottery.

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters (except deer and youth waterfowl) are required to purchase a TR Complex permit for $15 through Rec access ($5 fee online) or at the Refuge Office.

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 💻 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 Yazoo NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to Yazoo NWR

Navigate

Destination: Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.09898, -90.96554
DMS
33°05′56.3″N 90°57′55.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Greenville, MS22 mi S of town
  • Yazoo City, MS36 mi NW of town
  • Vicksburg, MS52 mi N of town
  • Jackson, MS72 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • JAN Jackson–Evers75 mi
  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National134 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 Yazoo 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, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:30 PM12h 53m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM7:11 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:49 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM6:31 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM5:13 PM10h 52m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM5:03 PM10h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM4:57 PM10h 09m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM4:58 PM9h 59m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:06 PM10h 00m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:18 PM10h 11m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:29 AM6:59 AM5:34 PM10h 35m

Computed for 33.099, -90.966 (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.

Yazoo NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Yazoo NWR?

Yes. Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (12,784 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Yazoo NWR?

Yes — Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online through fws, 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 Yazoo NWR?

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

Where is Yazoo NWR located?

Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge is in Washington County, Mississippi, about 22 miles S of Greenville, MS (straight-line). GPS: 33.09898, -90.96554.

What are legal shooting hours at Yazoo 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

Holt Collier NWR

Washington County, MS · 15 mi NE

3 special
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

3K huntable acres

Theodore Roosevelt NWR

Sharkey County, MS · 17 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

4.7K huntable acres

Panther Swamp NWR

Yazoo County, MS · 31 mi SE

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

41.4K huntable acres

Hillside NWR

Holmes County, MS · 39 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Overflow NWR

Ashley County, AR · 41 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

13.4K huntable acres

Dahomey NWR

Bolivar County, MS · 43 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

10.3K huntable acres

All refuges in Mississippi →

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