Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1996,

is located in Terrebonne Parish in southeast Louisiana.

The 4,212 acre refuge is composed of freshwater marsh

and cypress-tupelo swamp. The refuge provides excellent

habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, and neotropical

songbirds. The refuge is open year round to the public

from legal sunrise to legal sunset. No night time use of

the Refuge is allowed. Most of the Refuge access is by

boat only and foot travel is extremely difficult due to the

soft marsh environment. The Mandalay Refuge Nature

Trail provides a glimpse into three different habitat types

within a 45-minute hike. Hunting is only permitted on the

refuge in specific areas, under date and time restrictions.

All open hunting seasons are listed in this brochure.

Fishing is allowed on the refuge year round except in

areas closed to public access.

General Regulations

Hunting, fishing, and public use regulations are designed to

provide safe recreational opportunities through wise use of

renewable wildlife resources. Hunting and fishing are

permitted in accordance with Federal regulations governing

public use on National Wildlife Refuges as set forth in Title

50 of The Code of Federal Regulations. Hunting and fishing

will be in accordance with applicable State of Louisiana

regulations subject to the conditions stated below.

Permits

Refuge permits are not required for activities described

in this brochure except for lottery waterfowl hunting. All

visitors, including hunters, fishermen, boaters,

birdwatchers, etc., are required to abide by all terms and

conditions in the refuge hunting, fishing and public use

brochure (this document) as well as all other applicable

State of Louisiana and Federal regulations.

Hunters and anglers 16 years of age and older are

required to have a valid State of Louisiana hunting and/or

fishing license.

Brochures may be obtained by mail, at the refuge

headquarters, or from the internet. To help save tax

dollars, hunters and anglers are encouraged to retain and

use the same brochure throughout the entire season.

Archery Hunting

Deer and Hog

Deer and Hog (archery only) hunting will be conducted in

accordance to the State of Louisiana season dates.

Bowhunters may enter the hunting area no earlier than

4 am and may remain no later than one hour after sunset.

All archery hunters must sign in and out at designated

check stations daily. All game taken (including deer and

hogs) on the refuge must be checked daily at one of the

self-clearing check stations indicated on the map within the

brochure. Feral hogs may be taken during the archery

hunt. State of Louisiana bag limits apply.

Bowhunters must possess proof of completion of the

International Bowhunters Education Program. Each adult

of age 21 years or older can supervise no more than one

youth age 15 years or younger for archery hunting.

Bows are permitted only during the State of Louisiana

archery season. State of Louisiana regulations governing

drug tipped arrows, pods, broadhead size, etc., are

applicable. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

regulations governing crossbow use will apply to refuge

hunters. No firearms are allowed on the archery hunt.

We allow the use of portable deer stands according to State

of Louisiana Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

regulations. Only portable stands or blinds may be used. A

stand or blind left on the refuge overnight may be used by

any hunter on a first-come, first-serve basis. Stands or

blinds left on the refuge must be placed in a non-hunting

position as per State WMA regulations. Hunting from old

stands or blinds erected in the past, or using old structures

or camps is strictly prohibited; old structures and stands

are unsafe for any use. Live vegetation can not be cut or

moved to create blinds.

Waterfowl Hunting

Youth and Adult Lottery Waterfowl Hunts are conducted

during State of Louisiana waterfowl season but only on

specifically designated days. Teal season is closed on the

refuge.

Youth hunters under age 16 must successfully complete a

State-approved hunter education course. While hunting,

each youth must possess and carry a card or certificate of

completion. Each youth hunter 17 and under must remain

within sight and normal voice contact of an adult age 21 or

older. Each adult can supervise no more than two refugepermitted youth hunters. We require all adult supervisors

and all hunters of migratory waterfowl to possess and

carry a State Hunter Safety Course Certificate.

Youth ages 8 to 15 only (with adult supervisors) are eligible

to apply for the State Youth Waterfowl Days.

Youth ages 8 to 17 and their adult co-applicant supervisors

are given preference in the Mandalay NWR waterfowl hunt

lottery. Once selected for a Lottery Youth Waterfowl Hunt

the youth co-applicant must be present on the day of the

hunt for the permit to be valid. In the event that no youth

applications are received for a given hunting date, blinds will

be filled with adult applicants for that date.

We allow hunting of migratory game birds on Wednesdays

and Saturdays until 12 noon. Permitted Hunters may only

enter the refuge after 4 am.

Only one adult may occupy a blind with up to two youth (a

youth-co-applicant and a youth guest) during a designated

Lottery Youth Waterfowl Hunt. We allow no more than

three hunters to hunt from a blind at one time during any

waterfowl hunt.

Waterfowl hunters must submit applications for lottery

permits by October 15th. Lottery Waterfowl Hunt

applications are usually available at the refuge office, and

on the refuge web site (http://www.fws.gov/mandalay) by

August 15.

All waterfowl taken on the refuge must be checked daily at

one of the self-clearing check stations indicated on the map

within this brochure.

Fishing

State of Louisiana creel limits apply. Fishing is permitted

year round daily from legal sunrise to legal sunset. Lines

must be attended at all times. Recreational crabbing is

allowed. Commercial fishing is not allowed. The use of nets,

traps, or unattended lines (trot, jog, bush, etc) is not

allowed.

Physically Challenged or Disabled Users

Physically challenged or disabled public users are

encouraged to inquire at Mandalay refuge headquarters for

available options and alternatives that may make their visit

more enjoyable.

Public Use

Fishing is open all year. Recreational boating is open all

year. Wildlife observation is open all year.

Access to Refuge

Most access to Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge is by

boat only. All boating access is limited to existing canals,

ditches, and trenasses. No airboats or marsh buggies are

allowed on the refuge.

Access to the Mandalay Nature Trail parking area is by

vehicle. All visitors to the Nature Trail must remain in their

vehicles until arriving at the designated parking area.

Beyond the parking area, the Nature Trail is foot access

only. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the Nature

Trail.

All State of Louisiana boating regulations apply

including, but not limited to running lights,

registration, and personal floatation devices. Boating

regulations are strictly enforced.

The following activities are prohibited on the refuge:

■ The use or possession of alcoholic beverages while

hunting

■ The possession or distribution of bait or hunting with

the aid of bait, including any grain, salt, minerals, or

other feed or any non-naturally occurring attractant on

the refuge

■ Taking, collecting or disturbing any plant or wildlife

other than those specified by refuge rules

■ Target shooting

■ Feeding wildlife, including alligators

■ Night time use of the refuge

■ Frogging

■ Taking of turtles

■ Climbing trees by driving nails, spikes or other

objects: using a tree that has existing nails, spikes or

permanent steps; or using climbing spikes

■ Using areas designated “Area Closed”

■ Marking with flagging, paper, paint, trash, etc.

■ Camping, building fires or overnight anchoring

■ Cutting firewood or trimming vegetation

■ Searching for or removing any object of antiquity

including arrowheads and pottery shards

■ Littering

■ Unrestrained pets

■ Spot-lighting wildlife or using man-drives for deer or

hogs

■ Unregulated trapping

■ Fishing with unattended jug, bush lines or trot lines

Activity Season Dates Hunting Hours Bag Limits Hunt Areas Refuge Permit

Requirements

Deer Archery Oct. 1 - 15 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 1 per day Entire Refuge Daily Self-clearing Permit

Bucks Only hour after sunset. Allowed State Bow Hunter

to enter refuge after 4 am and Education Certification

must exit 1 hour after sunset

Deer Archery Oct.16 - Feb. 15 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 1 per day Entire Refuge except Hanson Daily Self-clearing Permit

Either Sex hour after sunset. Allowed (either 1 buck Unit closed (north of GIWW) State Bow Hunter

to enter refuge after 4 am and or 1 doe per until noon on Wednesdays Education Certification

must exit 1 hour after sunset day) and Saturdays during

State Waterfowl Season

Hog Archery Oct.1 - Feb. 15 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 No limit Entire Refuge except Hanson Daily Self-clearing Permit

hour after sunset. Allowed Unit closed (north of GIWW) State Bow Hunter

to enter refuge after 4 am until noon on Wednesdays Education Certification

and must exit 1 hour after and Saturdays during

sunset State Waterfowl Season

Waterfowl State Youth 1/2 hour before sunrise to State of Hanson Unit Lottery Permit. Youth and

Youth Waterfowl Days noon-all equipment, boats, Louisiana Assigned waterfowl blind Supervisor must possess

8 to 15 years decoys, etc. must be removed Waterfowl Bag State Hunter Education

old by 1 pm. Allowed to enter Limit applies Certification

refuge after 4 am

Waterfowl Wednesdays 1/2 hour before sunrise to State of Hanson Unit Lottery Permit. All must

Youth and and Saturdays noon-all equipment, boats, Louisiana Assigned waterfowl blind possess State Hunter

Adult of State decoys, etc. must be removed Waterfowl Bag Education Certification

(see Waterfowl Waterfowl by 1 pm. Allowed to enter Limit applies

Hunting section) Season. Teal refuge after 4 am

season closed
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Mandalay

National Wildlife Refuge

Hunting and Fishing

Regulations

Mandalay

National Wildlife Refuge

3599 Bayou Black Drive

Houma, LA 70360

985/853 1078

http://ww.fws.gov/mandalay

email: mandalay@fws.gov

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

May 2008

U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AREA

BEYOND

THIS

SIGN

CLOSED All public entry prohibited

NATIONAL

WILDLIFE

REFUGE

UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY

PROHIBITED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Signs and Boundaries

Entry

permitted in

accordance

with refuge

regulations.

Area closed to

all public entry.

Exceptions are

stated on sign.

Legend

Refuge Boundary

Refuge Headquarters Waterways

Self-Clearing Check 

Station

Plugs

Nature Trail

N

Nature Trail

Parking

Area

To Houma

Lake 

Hatch

Hanson

Canal Cannon's

Landing

Minor's

Canal

Gulf Intracoastal

Waterway

Sunrise

Canal

Amy

Canal

North 

Trapper 

Ditch

Jay

Canal

East Trapper Ditch

Minor's

Canal

Ridge

Canal

Hog

Canal

Speckle

Belly

Canal

Stub

Canal

Eli Canal

Yak

Canal

DU

Canal

Bart

Canal

Teal

Canal

Hatch

Canal

South Trapper 

Ditch

182

Louisiana’s black bears are protected! The Louisiana

black bear is listed as a threatened species under

provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. It is

unlawful for anyone to take harass, disturb, etc. any

Louisiana black bear. Criminal penalty of up to $50,000

and one year imprisonment.