1. Home
  2. National Wildlife Refuges
  3. Mississippi

National Wildlife Refuges in Mississippi

14 national wildlife refuges in Mississippi with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Jackson County has the most (2). The darkest skies are at Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge (Bortle 2).

Top national wildlife refuges

Grand Bay National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Grand Bay National Wildlife RefugeJackson County
Tallahatchie National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Tallahatchie National Wildlife RefugeTallahatchie County
Panther Swamp National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Panther Swamp National Wildlife RefugeYazoo County
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife RefugeOktibbeha County
National Wildlife Refuge
Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife RefugeJackson County
National Wildlife Refuge
Dahomey National Wildlife RefugeBolivar County
National Wildlife Refuge
Yazoo National Wildlife RefugeWashington County
National Wildlife Refuge
Mathews Brake National Wildlife RefugeLeflore County
National Wildlife Refuge
St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife RefugeAdams County
National Wildlife Refuge
Hillside National Wildlife RefugeHolmes County
National Wildlife Refuge
Holt Collier National Wildlife RefugeWashington County
National Wildlife Refuge
Morgan Brake National Wildlife RefugeHolmes County

All national wildlife refuges (14)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Grand Bay National Wildlife RefugeJackson County—Grand Bay4
Tallahatchie National Wildlife RefugeTallahatchie County—Charleston2
Panther Swamp National Wildlife RefugeYazoo County—Yazoo City2
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife RefugeOktibbeha County—Starkville3
Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife RefugeJackson County—Gulf Hills5
Dahomey National Wildlife RefugeBolivar County—Rosedale2
Yazoo National Wildlife RefugeWashington County—Hollandale2
Mathews Brake National Wildlife RefugeLeflore County—Itta Bena2
St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife RefugeAdams County—Natchez2
Hillside National Wildlife RefugeHolmes County—Tchula2
Holt Collier National Wildlife RefugeWashington County—Hollandale3
Morgan Brake National Wildlife RefugeHolmes County—Tchula2
Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife RefugeSharkey County—Rolling Fork2
Coldwater River National Wildlife RefugeQuitman County—Charleston2

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.