Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge is managed for the conservation, enhancement, and restoration of bottomland hardwood forests and important, associated upland habitats as an integral component of the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
Hunting and Fishing Permits, Regulations, & Maps

You can access current hunting and fishing regulations brochures online or at Refuge kiosks.  Hunters must also fill out and/or use all parts of the daily self-clearing permits with check-in, check-out, harvest report, and vehicle tag.

You can also access and download a geo-referenced PDF map online that is compatible with smartphone apps such as Avenza.

Visit Us

Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge offers a wide variety of free wildlife dependent recreational opportunities. Thousands of people visit the refuge to fish and hunt while others traverse the refuge to bird watch, see wildlife, and take pictures. There are no visitor facilities available on the refuge. Because the refuge is subject to deep flooding, you may encounter some roads with water over them at different times of the year. Do not attempt to drive through water. You may want to contact the Refuge Complex Headquarters at 318-726-4222 for current conditions.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Upper Ouachita NWR, located north of Sterlington, Louisiana, lies on the western edge of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.  It was established in 1978 to provide habitat for migratory birds.  Additionally, the refuge provides habitat for alligators, forest interior songbirds, bald eagles, Louisiana black bear, the little known Rafinesque's big-eared bat, migrating shorebirds and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. 

      What We Do

      Staff at Upper Ouachita NWR manage habitat for native wildlife species using tools including forest management, prescribed burning, hydrological restoration projects, and invasive species invasive species
      An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

      Learn more about invasive species
      management.