Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge

• Bicycling and hiking are allowed on refuge roads unless otherwise posted
• ATVs and UTVs or any off-road vehicle are not allowed on the refuge
• Pets must be on a leash, except when used for the purpose of hunting where hunting is allowed
• Berry and mushroom gathering are permitted for personal consumption only
• Camping or fires are not allowed
• Target practice or any non-hunting discharge of firearms is prohibited
• Trapping and the taking of turtles or frogs are prohibited on the refuge

The refuge is open for public use from legal sunrise to legal sunset. 

Refuge hunting and fishing regulations generally follow Missouri and Illinois state seasons and regulations.

No general permit is required for access on to the refuge.

Special use permits are issued for compatible secondary uses, research, commercial photography, nuisance trapping and other short term related activities. For questions and more information about special use permits, please call the refuge headquarters at 573-847-2333.

Printable hunt brohcure

Hours of Public Use

Where applicable, refuge lands are open for fishing and general use from ½ hour before legal sunrise to ½ hour after legal sunset. For authorized hunting activities, the refuge is open to access two hours before legal sunrise until one hour after legal sunset and in accordance with state seasons and regulations.

Public Use Information

• Hiking allowed on refuge roads and trails, unless otherwise posted. Biking allowed only on refuge roads. ATVs/UTVs not allowed on the refuge.
• Dogs must be on a leash except for hunting purposes (where hunting allowed).
• Berry and mushroom gathering allowed for personal consumption only, not for resale or other commercial use.
• Collecting shed deer antlers not allowed.
• Beaver, Horse, or Crains Islands recommend testing for CWD. CWD information is available at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov

Firearms

• Allowed only during authorized hunting activities. Must be unloaded & either dismantled or cased when transporting on refuge roads or waters, unless in compliance with state concealed/carry regulations.
• When using a shotgun, hunters must only possess and use nontoxic shot.
• Target shooting or any non-hunting discharge of firearms prohibited.

Fishing

Allowed according to state seasons and regulations subject to the following conditions:

• Must remove all fishing devices at the end of the day’s fishing activity.
• Fishing is allowed from legal sunrise to legal sunset.

• The taking of any mussel, clam, crayfsh, leach, frog, and turtle species is prohibited

Tree Stands

Construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, scaffolds or platforms is prohibited.

• Portable tree stands and blinds are allowed from September 1st though January 31st. The hunter’s state generated hunter ID number must be permanently attached in a visible location on the stand or blind. Limit one stand or blind per hunter.
• Placing tree stands in dead trees is prohibited.
• Trees or limbs greater than 1” in diameter may not be trimmed.
• Deer drives are prohibited.

Blinds

• Construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, scaffolds, or platforms prohibited.
• Boats, blinds, blind materials, decoys, and other hunting equipment must be removed from the refuge at the end of each day.

Prohibited Activities

• By law, recreational activities on national wildlife refuges are prohibited unless expressly permitted.
• Possession of alcoholic beverages
• Camping and Fires
• Searching for or removal of any natural items such as antlers, plants, historic, and archaeological features, are protected by Federal law.
• Gas boat motors prohibited on refuges.
• Marking or fagging any tree or other Refuge feature with reflectors, paint, or other substance.
• Permanent tree stands, nails, screw-in steps, or other items that penetrate the outer bark of a tree.
• Construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, scaffolds, or platforms prohibited.
• Target shooting or any non-hunting discharge of firearms prohibited.
• Hunting is prohibited within 200 yards of any public use facility