Welcome to Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge - the oldest national wildlife refuge in the State of Mississippi. This refuge was established in 1936 as one of the links in a chain of refuges that provide for the wintering needs of ducks and geese in the Mississippi Flyway. Yazoo NWR is also known as one of the premier hunting refuges in the southeastern U.S. For years, hunters have traditionally scheduled their vacations to hunt Yazoo NWR's white-tailed deer. You can learn more about Yazoo NWR's hunting programs in the Hunting Regulations for the Complex. Yazoo NWR is also home-sweet-home to a healthy population of American alligators, a reptile species whose ancestry can be traced back to the age of the dinosaur. In early June the mama 'gators build nest mounds of dirt and vegetation in which they lay their eggs. Often these are in locations easily observed by the public. The mother alligator remains close to the nest, until the eggs hatch in late August or early September, to guard it from predators. During this period her protective instincts are heightened. None of our visitors has ever been hurt by an aggressive alligator, but if you should come across a nest, please keep your distance!