Kelly Purkey
Refuge Manager

   Directions to Refuge

   Fact Sheet

   Hunting/Fishing Regulations

   Hunting Map

   Louisiana Waterfowl Issues

Refuge Facts:

• Established: 1980.Acres: 64,012.Located in Madison, Tensas and Franklin parishes, LA.Other management: conservation easements--11 in three parishes totaling 1066 acres; fee title tracts--four in three parishes totaling 1,656 acres.
• Location: the refuge is located 7 miles west of Tallulah, LA on U.S. Hwy. 80, then 8 miles south on the Quebec Road.

Natural History:

• Refuge is in the upper basin of the Tensas River in northeast Louisiana which was the last documented home of the ivory-billed woodpecker.Home to one of the last concentrations of the threatened Louisiana black bear.In 1907, Teddy Roosevelt hunted bear just north of the refuge boundary and the "Teddy Bear" was introduced as a result of an incident during the hunt.Concentrations of ducks, geese, raptors, wading birds and shorebirds.Several rookeries present.
• Open water 1,514 acres, woodlands 54,808 acres, croplands 3,007 acres, reforested former agricultural fields 2,413 acres, moist soil management 1,000 acres..

Financial Impact of Refuge

• 12-person staff.
• 72,000 visitors annually.
• Current budget (FY 05) $1,169,000.

Refuge Objectives

• For preservation and development of environmental resources.Conserve diversity of fish and wildlife and their habitats.
• Development of outdoor recreation opportunities and interpretive education.

Management Tools:

• Water management for waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds.Cooperative farming to provide habitat for migratory birds and Louisiana black bears.Forest habitat management for bears, neo-tropical birds and other forest dwelling species.Education/interpretation.Deer management with public hunting.Outreach programs to get the message of the Service to the public and information to users.Law enforcement to provide safety for the using public and protection of the resources.
• Partnerships to make programs ecosystem in scope.

Public Use Opportunities

• Trails.Auto tour route.Fishing.Two observation towers.Wildlife observation.Photography.
• Hunting, including youth hunts.

Calender of Events

May: Migratory Bird Day.

June: Founders Day. September: National Hunting and Fishing Day. October: National Wildlife Refuge Week. October-February: squirrel/rabbit hunting. November: youth deer hunt. November-December: limited permit deer hunts. November-January: archery deer hunting. November-January: waterfowl hunting.

December-January: Christmas Bird Count.

Questions and AnswersHow many bears are on the refuge?

The current estimate of the number of black bears on the Tensas River NWR is 100-120. A study is currently underway to get a more accurate estimate of actual bear numbers on the refuge.

The Tensas River offers two interpreted hiking trails--the .25 mile-long Hollow Cypress Wildlife Trail and the 3.5 mile-long Rainey Lake Hiking Trail. The Hollow Cypress Wildlife Trail and the first .25 mile of the Rainey Lake Hiking Trail are fully accessible. In addition to the designated hiking trails, approximately 30 miles of ATV trails are open to hikers, as are many abandoned logging roads.

Yes. The refuge has a large environmental education program open not only to school groups, but also to scout troops, church groups, and other groups and organizations. We ask that groups pre-register two to three weeks in advance to ensure availability of the refuge’s education facilities and instructors. We welcome requests for programs tailored to specific classroom related topics.

The Quebec Road (the gravel road between LA Highway 80 and the refuge boundary) is a parish road maintained by the Police Jury. The funds to pave the Quebec Road have been appropriated by Congress and the Madison Parish Police Jury assures us that construction will commence in the fall of 1998.

The only camping that is allowed on refuge lands is that associated with the environmental education program. The refuge, in cooperation with the Tensas River Refuge Association and other partners, offers environmental education mini-camps. Refuge staff and volunteers closely supervise these programs which are generally held in spring and fall on the grounds of the refuge visitor center. General camping is not allowed on the refuge in an effort to avoid direct competition with the private campgrounds located nearby.

| Home | Privacy Information | Site Map | Contact Site Administration | Got Fish & Wildlife Questions?