Facility Activities

Many activities are available to the public at Tensas River NWR.  While hunting is the most popular, we encourage you to get out and explore other opportunities like hiking, wildlife photography and observation, and paddling.

Hunting

Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge consists of extensive bottomland hardwood forests intermingled with sloughs, swamps and lakes that support a tremendous diversity of wildlife. The refuge has 77,868 acres open to hunting, with white-tailed deer and squirrel hunting being the most popular...

Fishing

Fishing season is year-round on Africa Lake (27 acres), Judd Lake (40 acres) Buck Lake (60 acres), Rainey Lake (16 acres) and Tensas River (30 river miles). Fishing season is March 1-October 31 on all other lakes. Available species include largemouth bass, white and black crappie, catfish, gar,...

Wildlife watching
Many refuges champion wildlife viewing as a key recreational activity.
Boating - non-motorized
Many Fish and Wildlife Service sites make great destinations for flatwater canoeing or kayaking. Some sites have concessions that rent canoes or kayaks. Some sites offer scheduled paddle tours. See individual refuge websites for details.
Photography
Whether you wield a smartphone or a zoom lens, you’ll find photo-worthy subjects at national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. Wildlife photography is a priority public use on national wildlife refuges, so you’ll find wildlife drives and blinds and overlooks to help you get the images you’re after.