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A white-tailed buck stands in marsh grasses with it's mouth open
Managed Deer Hunt Orientations

For the youth hunt number 123 during November 9th - 10th: Click Here 

For the muzzleloader or cap-and-ball hunt number 87 during December 7th - 8th: click here 

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Fall Hours and Programs

Starting on October 5th, 2024 the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge visitor center will be open on Saturdays through November 9th, 2024. The revised operating hours are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10am-4pm. 

There are programs planned for every Saturday during these hours. Visit the events page here  or the Friends of Mingo Facebook page for more information.

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge provides a number of great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The mixture of bottomland forests, wetlands and swamps creates great waterways for canoeing and kayaking, and has miles of wildlife drives, a variety of hiking trails, and prime locations for hunting and fishing.
Visitor Center Hours

As of 5/15/2024 the Visitor Center is open on Wednesdays and Fridays 10am to 4pm. Closed on Federal Holidays.

Visit Us

Find the Refuge Bird Count Here

National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Visiting Mingo National Wildlife Refuge is an opportunity to see how much of southeast Missouri appeared before development, when 2.5 million acres were bottomland hardwood forest and cypress-tupelo swamp. This rich habitat supports many species of wildlife and provides us the chance to appreciate them in a variety of ways.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Mingo National Wildlife Refuge consists of 21,592 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, cypress-tupelo swamp, marsh and upland forest ecosystems. The refuge is managed for wildlife habitat and people. The primary purpose of the refuge is to provide food and shelter for migratory waterfowl and to protect the bottomland hardwood forest.

      What We Do

      The National Wildlife Refuge System is a series of lands and waters owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the refuge system. It drives everything we do from the purpose a refuge is established, to the recreational activities offered there, to the resource management tools we use. Selecting the right tools helps us ensure the survival of local plants and animals and helps fulfill the purpose of the refuge.

      Our Organization

      A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 570 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.

      Our Species

      The habitat at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge provides resources for a large variety of common and rare animals and has served as a site for supporting threatened and endangered species. A total of 279 resident and migratory bird species, 38 mammal species, 30 species of amphibian and reptiles and nearly 50 species of fish use the refuge throughout the year.

      Our Library

      Visitor Center Hours News Release Oct 2022

      Temporary Visitor Center Hours Changes.