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Refuge Manager
P.O. Box 217
Sibley, MS 39165
(601) 442-6696
Fax: (601) 446-8990
E-mail: catisland@fws.gov
Refuge
Map
Fact
Sheet
General
Brochure
06
Quota Deer Hunt Statistics
Hunting/Fishing
Regulations
Audubon Country BirdFest
Louisiana
Waterfowl Issues
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Public Announcement:
Effective July 1, 2007, the management and administrative oversight
of Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge will be transferred from the
Central LA NWR Complex in Marksville, LA, over to St. Catherine's
Creek NWR Complex, located in Natchez, MS. After July 1, 2007,
please contact Refuge Manager Bob Strader at 601-442-6696 with
all questions regarding Cat Island
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REFUGE PERMITS FOR 2008-09
HUNTING SEASON WILL BE SOLD BEGINNING JULY 1, 2008
Refuge Facts
Cat Island National Wildlife
Refuge was established on October 27, 2000 as the 526th refuge in the
National Wildlife Refuge System. It is located near the town of St.
Francisville, Louisiana, which is 30 miles north of Baton Rouge. The
refuge was established to conserve, restore, and manage native forested
wetland habitats for migratory birds, aquatic resources, and endangered
and threatened plants and animals. Additionally, it was created to encourage
the use of volunteers and facilitate partnerships among the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, local communities, and conservation organizations
to promote public awareness of resources of the refuge and the National
Wildlife Refuge System.
In 2000, The Nature Conservancy
of Louisiana purchased the land that would become Cat Island NWR.
The land was acquired by the Fish and Wildlife Service in stages.
In 2003, the refuge size increased to its current size of 9,623
acres. The Congressionally- approved acquisition boundary is 36,500
acres.
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Natural
History:
Cat Island National Wildlife
Refuge is along the southern-most unleveed portion of the lower Mississippi
River and floods in most years. The refuge is home to many fish, wildlife
and plant resources. The forested wetlands of the refuge are home to
the Federally listed Louisiana black bear. The Mississippi River is
a major bird migration corridor and the refuge is located within an
area of high importance for neotropical migratory birds, including the
swallow-tailed kite, which is a species of special concern. Other wildlife
found in the area include white-tailed deer, bobcat, mink, river otter,
wild turkey, black-crowned night-heron, wood duck, blue-winged teal,
woodcock, solitary sandpiper, greater yellowlegs, prothonotary warbler,
northern parula, pileated woodpecker, green treefrog, and red-eared
slider.
Several habitat types including
overcup oak-bitter pecan, hackberry-elm-ash, nuttall oak-ash- sweetgum,
and shrub-scrub swamp occur on the refuge. The most unique type, however,
is old growth baldcypress-tupelo. Many of the baldcypress trees are
estimated to be 500 to 1,000 years old. In fact, the National Champion
baldcypress, which is also the largest tree of any species east of the
Sierra Nevada mountain range, is found in the refuge. The National Champion baldcypress tree is located 4.8 miles from the entrance gate of the refuge.
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Access:
The refuge is inundated
by the river to varying degrees, generally between January and June.
The refuge is accessible by vehicle when the Mississippi River gauge
reading in Baton Rouge is less than about 26'. A series of gates
have been installed along the road, which allow access as the Mississippi
River rises and falls. No access to the National Champion baldcypress
tree is available once the Mississippi River gauge in Baton Rouge
reaches 26'. All vehicular access to the refuge ends at 31'.
**Please
note: For gauge data, refer to http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/rva.shtml.
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Public
Use Opportunities:
The refuge is open everyday during daylight hours.
**Exceptions: The refuge will be closed November 1-2 and December
6-7, 2008 for the quota deer hunts.**
Aerial photographs
of the refuge are for sale at the Tourist Information Center, located
on Ferdinand Street in downtown St. Francisville.
Hiking:
There are currently about 4 miles of hiking trails on the refuge. Wildlife
watching and photography may be enjoyed while hiking on the refuge.
All designated hiking trails are located in "no hunting
zones".
- The Blackfork Trail is
a 2 1/2 to 3-mile hike (depending on which trails you take). The trail
follows along the meandering Blackfork Bayou and has picturesque views
of cypress trees. The hike is graded as “easy.” It is
advised that proper hiking foot wear or rubber boots be worn on hikes
most of the year, due to potentially muddy conditions. The trailhead
is an approximately 1 ¾-mile drive from the refuge entrance.
Future plans will extend this hike for several miles.
- The Big Cypress Trail
hike leads to the National Champion cypress tree. The trail is covered
with gravel and is graded as “easy.” The tree is located
about ½-mile from the parking area (for a total hike of 1 ½-mile).
The trailhead is a 5-mile drive from the refuge entrance.
Refuge Permits for 2008-09
hunting season will be sold beginning July 1, 2008. They will be valid July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
Special Recreational Activity
Permit: An annual Special Recreational
Activity Permit is now required for all hunters and fishermen 16-years
of age and older.
Permits are available for purchase everyday
between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the West Feliciana Historical
Society Museum and Tourist Information Center , located at 11757 Ferdinand
Street, St. Francisville , LA.
Hunting:
The refuge is open for hunting. Please
see the refuge hunting and fishing regulations brochure for complete
information. Hunters are required to sign in and out of the refuge
and to record their harvest. Two "no hunting zones"
are located on the refuge in the vicinity of the Blackfork Trail and
Big Cypress Trail.
Two quota deer hunts will be conducted this year:
November
1-2, 2008 Muzzleloader
December 6-7, 2008 Gun
Bowhunters: Archery
hunters (regardless of age) must possess proof of completion of the
International Bowhunter Education Course to hunt on the refuge. Bowhunter
education classes are scheduled by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. Please call 225-765-2920 or 225-763-5448 for dates and more information.
Fishing:
The refuge is open for fishing throughout the year. Crawfishing season
is March 15-July 31. Please
see the refuge hunting and fishing regulations brochure for complete
information. Fishing is permitted throughout the refuge.
Friends
of Cat Island NWR
Help support Cat
Island NWR by joining the Friends of Cat Island NWR, Inc. This organization
has adopted the area in the vicinity of the National Champion baldcypress
tree to improve access for visitors. Friends t-shirts featuring
the tree are for sale at the refuge office. For more information
call the refuge office (601/442-6696).
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Directions to the Refuge:
Short Route (only accessible if the low water bridge
is open):
Take LA Hwy 10 ( Ferdinand St. ) through the historic
district and head west toward the ferry landing. Turn right onto
Tunica St./Mahoney Road and follow that over the low water bridge.
(If bridge is out, then have to take route below). At fork, veer
left onto Creek Road and follow the signs to the refuge from there (1.4 miles).
Longer Route (must take this route if low water bridge is out):
Go west on Highway 66 from Highway 61 (north of St. Francisville). After
1.5 miles, turn left on Solitude Rd. At the fork, veer right onto Creek Road and follow the signs to the refuge from there (1.4
miles).
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