Choctaw

National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Refuge Facts

■ Established: 1964.

■ Acres: 4,218 acres plus 236 acres

in perpetual conservation

easements in eight parcels in

Monroe, Sumter and Conecuh

counties.

■ The refuge is located 10 miles

northwest of Coffeeville, AL,

across the Tombigbee River and

north of Highway 84, in

Southwest Alabama,

approximately 80 miles north of

Mobile.

Natural History

■ Refuge borders Tombigbee River

(Tenn-Tom Waterway) for 6.5

miles.

■ Two creeks (Okatuppa & Turkey)

divide the refuge into three

separate units.

■ Approximately one-half of the

refuge is creeks, sloughs, lakes,

and backwaters of the Tombigbee

River.

■ Approximately one-half of the

refuge is typical bottomland

hardwoods associated with the

Tombigbee River basins.

■ Habitat open areas

(approximately 150 acres) are

utilized for waterfowl cropland

and moist soil units.

■ Wildlife includes: herons, raptors,

otters, beavers, deer, turkeys,

raccoons, squirrels, wood ducks,

wintering waterfowl, and

endangered/threatened species

(American alligators, bald eagles

and wood storks).

Financial Impact of Refuge

■ Four-person staff.

■ 30,000 visitors annually, mostly

fishermen and hunters.

■ FY 99 budget: $284,225.

Refuge Objectives

■ Manage habitat for wintering

waterfowl.

■ Maintain habitat and provide

protection for threatened and

endangered species.

■ Manage wood duck nest boxes

and brood rearing habitat.

■ Maintain wildlife diversity.

■ Manage forest to be productive

bottomland hardwoods.

■ Provide wildlife-dependent

recreation.

Management Tools

■ Water level management (moist

soil units).

■ Forest management (planting

and selective harvest).

■ Crops for wintering waterfowl.

■ Deer management through

recreational hunting.

■ Community partnerships.

■ Law enforcement.

■ Wood duck artificial nest boxes

and banding.

■ Exotic aquatic plant

management.

Public Use Opportunities

■ Big game archery hunts (deer

and hogs).

■ Small game gun hunts (squirrels,

rabbits, raccoons).

■ Fishing (sport and commercial).

■ Boating (ramps and parking).

■ Hiking, photography, wildlife

observation.

■ Information kiosk and cypress

swamp overlook.

Robert Dailey, Refuge Manager

Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge

P.O. Box 808

Jackson, AL 36545

Phone: 334/246 3583

Fax: 334/246 5414

E-mail: FW4RWChoctaw@fws.gov

photo: USFWS photo: USFWS photo: USFWS photo: USFWS
Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge

Questions and Answers

Can I camp on the refuge?

Camping is available at the Corps’ of

Engineers Primitive Campground at

Lenoir Landing—one-half-mile north.

Modern camping is available at

Corps’ of Engineers Service Area off

Highway Number 84, about 20 miles

south. Camping on the refuge is not

permitted.

Can I gun-hunt for deer and hogs?

Hunting for big game on the refuge is

by bow and arrow only, from

October 15-November 30 each year.

Gun hunting for small game is

permitted November 8-November 30.

Can I fish with jugs and/or trot

lines?

No. Sport fishing is permitted only

with poles and lines or rods and reels.

A refuge permit is required for

commercial fishing on the refuge.

Can I visit the refuge this weekend?

Access to this bottomland hardwood

refuge is sometimes only possible by

boat in the spring. Road access is

limited, and frequent flooding and

storms make it impassable; therefore,

call first.

Where can I launch my boat?

Large boats may use the refuge boat

ramp or either of the Corps’ of

Engineers campground launch areas:

north at Lenoir’s or south at the

Service Area.