St. Tammany Wildlife Refuge

Beginning June 1, 2022, visitors must have a WMA Access Permit, Senior Hunting/Fishing License, Louisiana Sportsman's Paradise License, or a Lifetime Hunting/Fishing License to visit an LDWF WMA, Refuge, or Conservation Area, including Shooting Ranges, for any reason—boating, hiking, bird watching, berry picking, fishing, hunting, shooting, etc. The WMA Access Permit only covers access onto the property—it does NOT convey hunting or fishing privileges. Beginning July 1, 2022, all visitors must also comply with self-clearing permit guidelines.

Beginning July 1, 2022, all visitors must comply with self-clearing permit guidelines.

For more information, contact Vaughan McDonald at vmcdonald@wlf.la.gov or 337.735.8667.

Located on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, St. Tammany Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to Fontainebleau State Park and Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge. The property extends about 10 miles along the lakeshore and stretches inland 100 to 1,300 feet. The St. Tammany tract was part of a larger acquisition purchased by the state from the Great Southern Lumber Company in 1938. About 1,310 acres of the original purchase remains a wildlife refuge owned by LDWF. Erosion caused by wave action from Lake Pontchartrain has reduced the original acreage of this property. St. Tammany Wildlife Refuge is currently managed as part of Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge through a cooperative agreement between LDWF and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The dominant vegetation on St. Tammany Wildlife Refuge is wiregrass and three-corner grass. LDWF has conducted many research projects on the ecology and management of three-corner grass on the refuge.

A variety of wildlife species, including furbearers (mink, otter, raccoon, muskrat, and nutria) and alligators, inhabit St. Tammany Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is home to wading birds and shorebirds and also serves as a nesting and feeding area for wintering waterfowl.

Activities and Amenities

Hunting, fishing, birding, and wildlife viewing

Parish

St. Tammany

Acreage

1,310

Owner/Manager

Owned by LDWF; cooperatively managed by LDWF and USFWS

Directions

St. Tammany Wildlife Refuge is located approximately 6 miles southeast of Mandeville and can only be accessed via watercraft.