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Refuge · 44,706 acres
National wildlife refuge in Winston County and 2 more counties, about 44,706 acres and managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo: David Wipf (CC BY 2.0)
The national wildlife refuge called Noxubee NWR holds 44,706 acres across 3 counties including Winston, Oktibbeha and Noxubee and answers to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The closest MDWFP office on the agency map is MDWFP North Region Tupelo Office in Tupelo, 72 miles from the Noxubee NWR point. Noxubee NWR carries the following game in its record: ducks, geese, merganser, woodcock, gallinule, snipe, coots, squirrel, rabbit, quail, opossum and raccoon, deer and turkey.
From the managing agency's own description. Established in 1940, Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge manages habitat for the conservation of migratory birds. The refuge is located in three counties of Mississippi, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, and Winston. In 2012, the refuge was renamed Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge in honor of Sam D. Hamilton, a former director of the Fish and Wildlife Service who grew up in this area. National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Aside from hunting and fishing, the refuge is known for nature photography and birding. The National Audubon Society has designated Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge as an Important Bird Area, one of five of global importance in Mississippi. Exceptional hunting opportunities await sportsmen and women at Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, well known for a large deer population and good-sized bucks. The refuge has designated seasons for a variety of small game, waterfowl, turkey and deer, including special opportunities for youth and disabled hunters. To hunt the refuge anyone aged 16 to 64 must purchase a Hunting and Fishing permit.
From the agency records read on November 14, 2026: refuge page, 50 CFR 32.43, refuge hunt regulations.
Nearby
A refuge permit or brochure rule may apply at Noxubee NWR beyond the usual license; the details are below.
| Subject | Wording on file |
|---|---|
| Permit | FWS hunt unit layer: permit required "yes" (Other). Waterfowl and deer hunters require a quota permit |
| Youth hunting | General-access youth hunts are offered for deer, turkey and squirrel. A special youth waterfowl workshop is held in conjunction with Mississippi State University; participants are selected by lottery. The workshop concludes with a special hunt the first |
| Hunting and fishing permit | Hunters and anglers age 16 years or older are required to purchase and possess a North Mississippi Refuge Complex Hunting/Fishing Permit (#606). Youth age 15 and younger and age 65 and older are not required to obtain a 606 permit. All hunters and anglers under 16 years of age must be in the presence and under the direct supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter at least 21 years of age. |
| Hours of operation | General refuge hours are sunrise to sunset. During hunting seasons, hunters may enter the refuge at 4 am and must exit one hour after sunset. Hunters are not allowed to stage vehicles along right-of-ways of refuge roads before 4am. The Visitor Center hours vary with the season. Check the website at:www.fws. gov/refuge/noxubee for exact times or call the refuge office at 662/323-5548. |
| Deer | Deer hunters may use those firearms defined by state regulation. During any deer firearm season, hunter orange must be worn at all times when actively hunting; hunters are not allowed to remove hunter orange when in tree stands. State limits and antler restrictions apply. The refuge is within the State Hills Unit. Driving deer is prohibited. |
| Harvest reporting | All hunters are required to complete a Harvest Report (FWS form 3-2542) card and display it on the dash of the vehicle so that the name is legible and clearly visible from the outside. Cards are available at any of the check station kiosks (see map for locations). Prior to leaving the Refuge, the card must be completed and deposited at a Refuge Check Station kiosk. |
From the refuge pages and brochures (refuge page, 50 CFR 32.43, refuge hunt regulations); checked November 14, 2026.
Under 50 CFR 32.43(j), hunters may pursue ducks, geese, merganser, woodcock, gallinule, snipe, coot, squirrel, rabbit, bobwhite quail, opossum, raccoon, white-tailed deer, wild turkey at Noxubee NWR, subject to federal and state rules. Federal conditions come first for each group of game, with state law applying alongside.
| Group | Rule text |
|---|---|
| Migratory birds | We allow hunting of duck, light and dark goose, merganser, woodcock, crow, gallinule (purple and common), snipe, and coot on designated areas of the refuge. Conditions include: (1) Hunters and anglers must purchase a North Mississippi Refuge Complex Hunting/Fishing Permit (#606), available from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). (2) Youth hunters age 15 and younger and hunters age 65 and older are not required to obtain a North Mississippi Refuge Complex Hunting/Fishing Permit (#606). |
| Upland game | We allow hunting of squirrel, rabbit, quail, opossum, and raccoon, and incidental take of coyote, fox, skunk, beaver, and nutria, on designated areas of the refuge. Conditions include: (1) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (j)(1)(i), (ii), (iv), (v), (vii), (ix), and (x) of this section apply. (2) We allow raccoon and opossum hunting between the hours of legal sunset and legal sunrise. |
| Big game | We allow hunting of white-tailed deer turkey, and incidental take of feral hog, on designated areas of the refuge. Conditions include: (1) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (j)(1)(i), (ii), (iv), (v), (vii), and (x) of this section apply. (2) We prohibit the use of buckshot on the refuge. |
From 50 CFR 32.43 as fetched November 14, 2026; refuge hunting page: refuge page, 50 CFR 32.43, refuge hunt regulations.
Of Noxubee NWR's 5 mapped units, 2 (44,706 acres) are huntable and 3 are off limits. In the table, special rules means the unit carries extra refuge conditions.
| Unit | Hunting | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Hunt Area | Special rules | 43,240 |
| Noxubee Wilderness | Special rules | 1,466 |
| Connecting People with Nature | Closed | 2,505 |
| Mobility Impaired Hunt Area | Closed | 667 |
| Closed Area | Closed | 461 |
From the FWS Public Hunt Units layer; acres are GIS area; checked November 14, 2026.
Plot Noxubee NWR at 33.2700, -88.8403, the point on the Fish and Wildlife Service hunt-unit layer. It touches Winston County, Oktibbeha County and Noxubee County. Longview is the closest town with a page here, 11 miles in a straight line.
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 Noxubee NWR match the rows for every other county.
| Species | Hunt | License or stamp | Area | Opening day | Final day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
The three CWD zones leave the 3 counties of Noxubee NWR out entirely. Samples tested for the 3 counties of Noxubee NWR: 1,845, with 0 positives, per the MDWFP county layer. The layer prints no season or date, so read the counts as running totals from the day we looked. Counties here are not on the North Central unit list; the Delta, Hills and Southeast units follow highways and rivers, so match your hunt to the unit map. Details are on the CWD zones page, the county results page and the deer units page.
| County | Region | MDWFP district | Zone | Supplemental feed | CWD positives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston | Central | 6 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 373 |
| Oktibbeha | North | 8 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 643 |
| Noxubee | Central | 6 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 829 |
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.
The sources print no separate spring turkey hours, so this Noxubee NWR table covers deer and waterfowl days only.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Deer day | Duck day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery, Delta and Hills | 6:48 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery, Southeast | 6:59 a.m. | 6:23 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:23 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun deer | 6:19 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 6:32 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Quail season opens | 6:36 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:37 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 2, 2026 | Primitive weapon deer | 6:42 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 6:55 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Mar 15, 2027 | Turkey season opens | 7:07 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:03 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 nearest five towns stretch from 11 miles out to 19 miles from Noxubee NWR. With 25,844 residents in 2024, Starkville is the largest nearby. Deer heads for CWD testing can go to Choctaw WMA, 17 miles from here in Ackerman.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longview | Oktibbeha | – | 11 miles | northwest |
| Crawford | Lowndes | 409 | 13 miles | east |
| Starkville | Oktibbeha | 25,844 | 13 miles | north |
| Louisville | Winston | 5,899 | 16 miles | southwest |
| Ackerman | Choctaw | 1,544 | 19 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.
Going north, John W. Starr WMA is 5 miles away and the next public land over. Around the point you will find 4 WMA, 1 national forest and 1 ranger district. Miles are measured as the crow flies from the Noxubee NWR point; roads add to them.
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Compass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John W. Starr WMA | WMA | 8,264 | Oktibbeha | 5 miles | north |
| Tombigbee National Forest | National forest | 67,449 | Winston | 11 miles | west |
| Tombigbee Ranger District | Ranger district | 67,449 | Winston | 11 miles | west |
| Choctaw WMA | WMA | 21,396 | Choctaw | 17 miles | west |
| Black Prairie WMA | WMA | 5,996 | Lowndes | 17 miles | east |
| Trim Cane WMA | WMA | 850 | Oktibbeha | 18 miles | north |
Point from the Fish and Wildlife Service hunt-unit layer; straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Great egret wading in shallow water at Noxubee National Wildlife RefugePhoto: David Wipf (CC BY 2.0)
Bald cypress in fall color beside a boardwalk at Noxubee National Wildlife RefugePhoto: Margaret McMullen (CC0 1.0)
Gravel refuge road through tall pines at Noxubee National Wildlife RefugePhoto: Margaret McMullen (CC0 1.0)
Noxubee NWR lies across 3 counties including Winston, Oktibbeha and Noxubee, as a national wildlife refuge under the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Longview is 11 miles away, the shortest hop to a town.
It is 44,706 acres of national wildlife refuge under the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The number is from the Fish and Wildlife Service hunt-unit layer.
Expect refuge terms beyond the license. The source says: FWS Public Hunt Units layer: permit required "yes" (Other). Waterfowl and deer hunters require a quota permit
Game on file: ducks, geese, merganser, woodcock, gallinule, snipe, coots, squirrel, rabbit, quail, opossum and raccoon, deer and turkey. Dates for every species are on the seasons page.
Dates follow the statewide MDWFP seasons, listed on the seasons page.
Deer and other resident game: half an hour before sunrise until half an hour past sunset. Ducks, geese and doves: until sunset. Spring turkey hours are not printed in the sources. Look up your date on the hours page.
For its 3 counties the layer lists 1,845 samples and 0 positives; 0 of 3 counties are in a zone. The CWD zones page has the rules.
The next public lands on the map are John W. Starr WMA (5 miles), Tombigbee National Forest (11 miles) and Tombigbee Ranger District (11 miles).
The three closest are Longview (11 miles), Crawford (13 miles) and Starkville (13 miles).
No. The federal layer marks 3 of 5 units closed: Connecting People with Nature, Mobility Impaired Hunt Area and Closed Area.
The rule opens the refuge under federal and state regulations, with the group conditions shown in the table above.
Look up weather, high water and road closures that affect Noxubee 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.