Located in southeast Arkansas in Ashley County, Overflow National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1980 to protect one of the last remaining bottomland hardwood forests considered vital for maintaining mallard, wood duck, and other waterfowl populations in the Mississippi Flyway.

Moon and sun in a total eclipse
Solar Eclipse Viewing: Need to Know

Overflow NWR will experience nearly 90% coverage of the sun during the April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse event. However, the refuge is densely forested, and viewing will not be desirable. We encourage those seeking locations to attend one of the many opportunities nearby.

https://www.arkansas.com/natural-state/eclipse 

In order to ensure visitor and wildlife/habitat safety and well-being, please note the following:

  • All motor vehicles are restricted to normal passenger vehicle roads. Blocking gates, boat ramps or roadways with any vehicles is prohibited. 
  • The gravel waterfowl sanctuary road will open April 1. Vehicles must remain on this established road and may be parked alongside the open road in a manner that will not interfere with the normal flow of traffic or park no more than 20 feet off the graveled road.
  • The Youth (Modern Gun) Turkey Hunt will occur refuge-wide on April 6-7, 2024. It is recommended that all Refuge users wear applicable hunter orange while on the Refuge during the gun hunts.

Our Public Use Regulation Brochure provides a comprehensive list of Refuge regulations.

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Hunting Information

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      This 13,000-acre wetland complex is comprised of bottomland hardwood forests, impoundments, and croplands. During the winter, a 4,000 acre green tree reservoir is created when the bottomland hardwood forests are allowed to flood. This seasonally flooded area provides excellent habitat for mallards, wood ducks, and other waterfowl species. 
       

      Our Species

      Home to a vast array of birds and other wildlife, the bottomland hardwood forests in Overflow National Wildlife Refuge is considered vital for mallard, wood duck, and other waterfowl populations along the Mississippi Flyway. 

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      Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It drives everything on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and waters managed within the Refuge System, from the purposes for which a National Wildlife Refuge is established, to the recreational activities offered, to the resource management tools used. Using conservation best practices, the Refuge System manages Service lands and waters to help ensure the survival of our native wildlife species.