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National Wildlife Refuges in Louisiana

24 national wildlife refuges in Louisiana with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Cameron Parish has the most (4). The darkest skies are at Delta National Wildlife Refuge (Bortle 2).

Top national wildlife refuges

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife RefugeConcordia Parish
Atchafalaya National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Atchafalaya National Wildlife RefugeIberville Parish
Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife RefugeOrleans Parish
Breton National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Breton National Wildlife RefugePlaquemines Parish
Cat Island National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Cat Island National Wildlife RefugePointe Coupee Parish
Sabine National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Sabine National Wildlife RefugeCameron Parish
Lacassine National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Lacassine National Wildlife RefugeCameron Parish
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife RefugeSaint Tammany Parish
Cameron Prairie National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Cameron Prairie National Wildlife RefugeCameron Parish
D'Arbonne National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
D'Arbonne National Wildlife RefugeOuachita Parish
Grand Cote National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Grand Cote National Wildlife RefugeAvoyelles Parish
Mandalay National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Mandalay National Wildlife RefugeTerrebonne Parish

National Wildlife Refuges by county

All national wildlife refuges (24)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife RefugeConcordia Parish—West Ferriday2
Atchafalaya National Wildlife RefugeIberville Parish—Maringouin3
Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife RefugeOrleans Parish—Eden Isle4
Breton National Wildlife RefugePlaquemines Parish—Gulf Park Estates2
Cat Island National Wildlife RefugePointe Coupee Parish—New Roads3
Sabine National Wildlife RefugeCameron Parish—Hackberry3
Lacassine National Wildlife RefugeCameron Parish—Lake Arthur2
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife RefugeSaint Tammany Parish—Lacombe5
Cameron Prairie National Wildlife RefugeCameron Parish—Hackberry3
D'Arbonne National Wildlife RefugeOuachita Parish—Claiborne4
Grand Cote National Wildlife RefugeAvoyelles Parish—Marksville3
Mandalay National Wildlife RefugeTerrebonne Parish—Houma4
Delta National Wildlife RefugePlaquemines Parish—Port Sulphur2
Tensas River National Wildlife RefugeTensas Parish—Newellton2
Upper Ouachita National Wildlife RefugeUnion Parish—Bastrop2
Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife RefugeOuachita Parish—Swartz4
Handy Brake National Wildlife RefugeMorehouse Parish—Bastrop3
Lake Ophelia National Wildlife RefugeConcordia Parish—Marksville2
Bayou Teche National Wildlife RefugeSt. Mary Parish—Franklin4
Bogue Chitto National Wildlife RefugeSaint Tammany Parish—Picayune4
Catahoula National Wildlife RefugeCatahoula Parish—Jena2
Red River National Wildlife RefugeNatchitoches Parish—Campti2
Shell Keys National Wildlife RefugeSt. Mary Parish—Franklin2
East Cove National Wildlife RefugeCameron Parish—Hackberry3

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph national wildlife refuges

Wildlife is most active in the first and last two hours of daylight — exactly when the light is warmest.

  • Use auto-loop roads as mobile blinds; animals often tolerate vehicles more than people on foot.
  • Stay on designated routes and keep a respectful distance — if an animal changes behavior, you are too close.
  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Fast shutter speeds (1/2000 s+) freeze wingbeats; raise ISO rather than lose the shot.
  • Migration peaks bring the largest concentrations — see the birding calendar for this state.

Season: Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.