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Refuge · 2026-27
National wildlife refuge in Jackson County: 7,413 acres kept by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo: Steve Knight (CC BY 2.0)
7,413 acres in Jackson County make up Grand Bay NWR, a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge in the care of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. MDWFP South Region Office in Magnolia is the nearest MDWFP office, 131 miles away in a straight line. Species on the Grand Bay NWR sheet: geese, ducks, coots, dove, squirrel, rabbit and deer.
In the agency's words. Although the Escatawpa Trail remains open, the Mississippi Welcome Center parking lot – which provides the primary parking for the trail is temporarily closed for state-led upgrades. Please plan ahead, as parking access will be unavailable or limited during construction. When the state reopens the parking lot to the public, we will share an update. The Grand Bay Coastal Resources Center serves as the headquarters for the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The Interpretative Area is open to the public 9 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday. The center is closed on all State Holidays. Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge's marshy habitats hold many surprises for adventurous hunters. For instance, many do not consider the refuge to be a good spot for waterfowling, but good numbers of wood ducks can be found in backwater sloughs. Marine wetlands at the refuge also attract lesser scaup, redhead, ring-necked duck, canvasback, bufflehead, American wigeon, and green-wing teal. Hunters willing to search upland areas can also be rewarded with good deer hunting during the archery season held at the refuge.
From the agency records read on November 14, 2026: refuge page, 50 CFR 32.43, source 4.
Nearby
The layer divides the refuge into 2 pieces, hunting being open on 1 totalling 7,413 acres. A unit marked special rules is huntable only under the refuge's extra conditions.
| Name of unit | Status | Size (ac) |
|---|---|---|
| Open Area – MS | Special rules | 7,413 |
| Closed Area | Closed | 148 |
From the FWS Public Hunt Units layer; acres are GIS area; checked November 14, 2026.
The Code of Federal Regulations opens Grand Bay NWR to geese, ducks, coot, mourning dove, squirrel, rabbit, white-tailed deer hunting, with conditions below. Refuge conditions per game group follow, and Mississippi seasons and limits sit beneath them.
| Kind of game | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Migratory birds | We allow hunting of goose, duck, coot, and dove (mourning and white-winged) on designated areas of the refuge. Conditions include: (1) Each hunter must possess and carry a signed copy of the refuge brochure while participating in refuge hunts. (2) Hunters must remove all decoys, blind material, and harvested waterfowl from the refuge at the end of each day's hunt (see § 27.93 of this chapter). |
| Upland game | We allow hunting of squirrel (gray and fox) and rabbit (cottontail and swamp), and incidental take of coyote and nutria, on designated areas of the refuge subject to the conditions set forth at paragraphs (d)(1)(i) and (v) of this section. |
| Big game | We allow hunting of white-tailed deer, and incidental take of feral hog, on designated areas of the refuge. Conditions include: (1) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (d)(1)(i) and (v) of this section apply. (2) We only allow hunting with bow and arrow. We prohibit firearms. |
From 50 CFR 32.43 as fetched November 14, 2026; refuge hunting page: refuge page, 50 CFR 32.43, source 4.
Grand Bay NWR adds federal paperwork to the state license; the agency texts below say how.
| Heading | Source text |
|---|---|
| Permit | FWS hunt unit layer: permit required "yes" (Signed Brochure or Similar). All hunters must have signed brochure. |
| Permit information | These regulations apply to all Refuge hunts. Each Grand Bay NWR hunter must have in their possession a valid, signed copy of the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Brochure and all required state license(s). All hunters under 16 years of age must be in the presence and under direct supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter at least 21 years of age. |
| Refuge hours | General Refuge hours are from sunrise to sunset. During hunting season, hunters may enter the Refuge at 4 am and must exit no later than two hours after legal shooting hours unless otherwise specified. Restricted and/or Closed Areas It is unlawful to hunt from or shoot into an area within 100 feet of a feral hog trap. |
| Big game | We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and feral hog on designated areas of the Refuge subject to State regulations and the following conditions: Hunting is permitted only with bow and arrow and crossbows, according to state regulations. Deer Stands We allow portable and climbing tree stands. Hunters must remove tree stands from the Refuge at the end of each day's hunt. • Alligator hunting. |
| Small game | We allow hunting of squirrels and rabbits on designated areas of the Refuge utilizing approved methods of take allowed on MS/AL State Wildlife Management Areas, all other state regulations apply. Decoys, duck blinds, blind material, and spent shells must be removed from the hunting area following each day's hunt. |
| Migratory birds | Migratory bird hunting (including duck, goose, coot, and dove) is allowed on designated areas of the Refuge and subject to State and Federal regulation and the following conditions: You must possess only approved nontoxic shot while hunting migratory birds. You must only use portable or temporary blinds. Refuge Hours General Refuge hours are from sunrise to sunset. |
From the refuge pages and brochures (refuge page, 50 CFR 32.43, source 4); checked November 14, 2026.
No part of Jackson County falls inside a CWD management zone. 144 deer were sampled across Jackson County and 0 tested positive on the county layer. No date comes with the counts; they are cumulative as served on the day we read them. MDWFP draws the Delta, Hills and Southeast deer units along highways and rivers rather than county lines. See the zone guide, the county CWD results and the deer unit guide for the rules in full.
| Name | MDWFP region | District no. | Management zone | Feeding rule | Positive samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | South | 1 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 144 |
MDWFP county layer (County_Info), CWD management zones and deer management units; region labels are the layer’s only county source; checked November 14, 2026.
Coordinates for Grand Bay NWR: 30.4108, -88.4268, from the Fish and Wildlife Service hunt-unit layer. The nearest town on this site is Moss Point, 6 miles away as the crow flies.
From the area page and brochure (refuge page, 50 CFR 32.43) and the Fish and Wildlife Service hunt-unit layer; checked November 14, 2026.
Duck and goose dates are one statewide set with no zones, which means the rows for Grand Bay NWR match the rows for every other county.
| Animal | Hunt type | What to buy | Covers | Begins | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery velvet season | Velvet permit | Delta, Hills, North Central | Sep 11, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery velvet season | Velvet permit | Southeast unit | Sep 11, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Oct 15, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless primitive | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Nov 9, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (with dogs) | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (with dogs) | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive weapon | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Dec 2, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive weapon | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Dec 2, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (without dogs) | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (without dogs) | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (with dogs) | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (with dogs) | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, primitive | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Jan 21, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, primitive | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Jan 21, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, primitive, buck | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun, buck | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth turkey | Turkey stamp | Statewide | Mar 8, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Regular turkey | Turkey stamp | Statewide | Mar 15, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Bobwhite quail | Hunting license | Statewide | Nov 26, 2026 | Mar 7, 2027 | |
| Rabbit | Rabbit | Hunting license | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Youth squirrel | Hunting license | Statewide | Sep 24, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Squirrel | Fall season | Hunting license | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Teal | September teal | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mergansers | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Mergansers | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Mergansers | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Coots | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Coots | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Coots | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Special days | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation Order | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Conservation Order | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 3, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Conservation Order | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 5, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation Order | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Feb 8, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mourning and white-winged dove | Dove | License and HIP | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Mourning and white-winged dove | Dove | License and HIP | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Mourning and white-winged dove | Dove | License and HIP | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | License and HIP | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | License and HIP | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Nov 22, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Nov 22, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Nov 22, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow | Hunting license | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, opossum and bobcat | Food and sport | Hunting license | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, opossum and bobcat | Food, sport and pelt | Hunting license | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 |
From the 2026-27 MDWFP hunting seasons sheet and the migratory game bird digest (Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks), checked November 14, 2026.
Every Mississippi county keeps Central Time, which falls back on November 1, 2026 and returns on March 14, 2027; the Grand Bay NWR rows show the clock change.
| Date | Marker | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and resident game | Ducks, geese, doves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery, Delta and Hills | 6:46 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery, Southeast | 6:55 a.m. | 6:24 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:54 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun deer | 6:12 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 5:42 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 5:42 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 6:24 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Quail season opens | 6:29 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:29 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Dec 2, 2026 | Primitive weapon deer | 6:34 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 6:46 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Mar 15, 2027 | Turkey season opens | 7:05 a.m. | 7:01 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:01 p.m. |
Hours rules from the MDWFP general hunting rules and the 2026-27 migratory game bird digest (Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks); sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula on Central Time; checked November 14, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
The closest pin to the Grand Bay NWR point is Ward Bayou WMA, 16 miles northwest. Pinned within reach: 5 WMA and 1 ranger district. Read the distances as air miles from the Grand Bay NWR point.
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Compass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ward Bayou WMA | WMA | 13,234 | Jackson | 16 miles | northwest |
| Pascagoula River WMA | WMA | 37,415 | Jackson | 18 miles | northwest |
| Red Creek WMA | WMA | 23,000 | Stone | 37 miles | northwest |
| De Soto Ranger District | Ranger district | 381,023 | Perry | 44 miles | northwest |
| Leaf River WMA | WMA | 41,411 | Perry | 48 miles | northwest |
| Little Biloxi WMA | WMA | 13,699 | Stone | 55 miles | northwest |
Point from the Fish and Wildlife Service hunt-unit layer; straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Five town pages sit within 30 miles of Grand Bay NWR, the closest at 6 miles. For wider shopping the 2024 estimate favours Biloxi, home to 48,144. Nearest sample drop-off on the MDWFP list: Lower Pascagoula WMA, Moss Point, 16 miles.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moss Point | Jackson | 11,791 | 6 miles | west |
| Pascagoula | Jackson | 21,476 | 8 miles | southwest |
| Wade | Jackson | – | 17 miles | northwest |
| Vancleave | Jackson | – | 17 miles | northwest |
| Biloxi | Harrison | 48,144 | 30 miles | west |
Towns from Census 2024 estimates; CWD drop-off sites from the MDWFP drop-off list; businesses from services listings; straight-line miles; checked November 14, 2026.
Marsh and open water with reeds at Grand Bay National Wildlife RefugePhoto: Steve Knight (CC BY 2.0)
Salt marsh at Grand Bay National Wildlife RefugePhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0)
Bridge across Biloxi Bay at dusk, Jackson CountyPhoto: Jeremy Gilbrech (CC BY 2.0)
It sits in Jackson County. The nearest town with a page on this site is Moss Point, 6 miles away.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service runs the 7,413 acres of Grand Bay NWR. The Fish and Wildlife Service hunt-unit layer supplies the acreage.
Besides a Mississippi license, the refuge sets its own permit rules: FWS Public Hunt Units layer: permit required "yes" (Signed Brochure or Similar). All hunters must have signed brochure.
The record names geese, ducks, coots, dove, squirrel, rabbit and deer. See the statewide seasons page for dates and limits.
No separate dates are printed for it; use the statewide seasons on the seasons page.
The rule on file is half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for resident game and sunset for migratory birds, with nothing printed for spring turkey. The hours page works out times by date.
Samples tested for Jackson County total 144 with 0 positives, and 0 of 1 counties fall within a management zone. Zone rules are on the CWD page.
Within reach are Ward Bayou WMA (16 miles), Pascagoula River WMA (18 miles) and Red Creek WMA (37 miles).
By straight line the closest towns are Moss Point (6 miles), Pascagoula (8 miles) and Wade (17 miles).
Not all of it: 1 unit (Closed Area) are not huntable.
Section 32.43 lists the refuge as open for hunting and/or fishing under applicable federal and state regulations and sets conditions for each group of game; the conditions are in the table above.
Look up weather, high water and road closures that affect Grand Bay NWR before the trip.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; statewide seasons from the 2026-27 MDWFP hunting seasons sheet. Checked November 14, 2026.