State Parks and National Parks

The Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1964 as a protected wintering area for waterfowl, including the wood duck, skirts the Tombigbee River in southwestern Alabama.

The resident wildlife changes with the seasons. Bird-watching and other wildlife observation and photography are enjoyed throughout the year, but particularly during fall and winter.

The 4,218-acre refuge has stands of mixed hardwoods, including sweet gum and oak. Tupelo gum and cypress that grow in the wet sloughs, rich farmland, and moist soil impoundments add to the ecological diversity. The rich river bottomland with numerous lakes and sloughs is ideal waterfowl habitat.

Public access is limited primarily to boats; only a few hundred acres on the north end can be reached by a county road. A cypress swamp "overlook area" is accessible by vehicle at the Womack Hill entrance. The drive to the mouth of Okatuppa Creek is good for wildlife viewing and photographing in early morning or late afternoon.

There's good fishing in the refuge backwaters and creeks. Large boats may be launched from a ramp, while small jon-boats or canoes may be launched at the mouth of Judy Slough or Okatuppa Creek from unimproved bank areas. An accessible refuge fishing dock, bank fishing and several artificial fishing reefs are located within easy access of the boat ramp.

Archery hunting for deer and feral hogs and gun hunting for squirrels and rabbits are permitted by permit in the fall.

Photo credits in order: Photo by Luther Goldman, courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo by Bill Wagner, courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.