Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge

Squirrel hunters know that some of the best hunting in the Mississippi River Delta can be found at Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge. That’s because the refuge offers 10,000 acres of forested habitat, one of the largest remaining bottomland hardwood forest tracts in the Delta, an area largely...

All waters on the refuge are open to fishing year-round during daylight hours. Happy Hollow Lake provides opportunities to harvest bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. Small boats, including john boats, kayaks and canoes, may be launched from the lake dam, but there is no improved boat ramp....

The refuge features a butterfly garden at its headquarters building. The garden provides a wonderful opportunity for viewing a variety of pollinators. The best time to visit the garden is mid-morning and late afternoon. The wildflowers that attract the pollinators bloom throughout the spring and...

The observation tower and photography blind at Dahomey NWR provide great opportunities for photographers of all skill levels. With the refuge open from sunrise to sunset, photographers can capture beautiful landscapes with towering cottonwoods along the Pawpaw trail, bald cypresses...

The refuge offers two maintained hiking trails (mowed) and 11 un-maintained trails.  Trails may be subject to flooding during certain times of the year. 

Herbert Nature Trail, open year-round is a one-mile loop, with a viewing tower overlooking...

Dahomey offers birding opportunities throughout the year.  Visitors can expect to see painted buntings, yellow-billed cuckoos, and other neotropical migrants during the summer months.  Shorebirds, warblers, and other species migrate through the refuge in spring and fall. ...

National wildlife refuges serve many purposes, and one of our most important roles is as an outdoor classroom to teach about wildlife and natural resources.  Many refuges offer environmental education programs for a variety of audiences.  Refuges provide unique and exciting...