Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Complex

Boating 
There are six improved and several unimproved boat launching facilities located on the
Refuge. Improved facilities are those with pad-ed parking and concrete launch ramps. Unimproved facilities are those with dirt or graveled small parking areas and dirt or gravel launch ramps. 

Improved Ramps 
Arrowhead Landing: Located in Limestone County on the west central portion of Limestone Bay. 

Triana: Located south of the town of Triana in Madison County where Indian Creek flows into the Tennessee River. This is the easternmost boat ramp. 

Hickory Hills: Located in Morgan County on the northern portion of Flint Creek. 
Bluff City: Located in Morgan County on the southern bank of the Tennessee River approximately nine miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 

Sharp’s Ford/Cotaco Creek: Located in Morgan County on the western bank of Cotaco Creek at Sharp’s Ford Road. 

Tallulah/Sunnyside Landing: Located in Morgan County on the southern bank of the Tennessee River approximately twelve miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 


Unimproved Ramps
Arrowhead Landing:# 1 & #2 
Located in Limestone County on the west central portion of Limestone Bay.

Rockhouse: Located in Limestone County on the north bank of the Tennessee River approximately six miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 

Flint Creek: Located in Morgan County on Flint Creek near Alabama Highway 67. 
Duncan Hill: 
Located in Morgan County at the Flint Creek/Garth Slough confluence. 

Susie Hole: Located in Morgan County on the south side of Garth Slough. 
Cave Springs Mussel Camp: Located in Morgan County on the south bank of the Tennessee River approximately five miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 

Madden Branch: Located in Morgan County at the Madden Branch/Cataco Creek confluences S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hunting 
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 500 national wildlife refugees. The primary objective of a national wildlife refuge is to provide a habitat for the conservation and protection of all species of wildlife.
Carefully managed hunts are one tool used to manage wildlife 
populations.

Small and large game hunting with bows and flintlocks provides high-quality recreation for many people. Wheeler NWR offers public hunting on approximately 18,000 acres and hunting regulations are published each year
in the WNWR hunting permit brochure. Hunters are allowed to hunt white-tailed deer, feral hogs, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, and quail. 
Waterfowl hunting is not permitted on the refuge.

500+ acres between HGH Road and the Tennessee River are designated as a special access hunting area for disabled hunters. 
Special access permits are available at Refuge Headquarters.

Fishing is a very popular activity at Wheeler NWR, with an estimated 274,000 anglers trying their luck each year in the 18,000 acres of refuge waters.
Many creeks and sloughs adjoin the main channel of the Tennessee River throughout the refuge. Old river channels, open blackwater embayments, and
miles of tree-lined creeks and streams provide excellent fishing opportunities for largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, stripped, and hybrid bass, bluegill and redear sunfish, crappie, sauger, several species of catfish, and a few yellow perch. 

A universally accessible fishing pier is available on Flint Creek across Highway 67 from the Visitor Center. 

A three-acre catfish pond is available for organized events. 
Each year, groups ranging from special needs children and adults to summer
day campers and cub scouts, enjoy fishing at the pond. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Water Level Management
Wheeler NWR staff manages impoundment water levels on the refuge to provide habitat for wintering waterfowl. Impoundments are enclosed bodies of water such as a reservoir. The management of these areas creates moist soil and flooded cropland conditions that produce natural desirable vegetation and high-calorie food for waterfowl. Impoundments last benefit colonial water birds, marsh birds, and shorebirds. 

To grow moist-soil plants, water levels in the impoundments must be lowered in the spring for the germination of wetland plants. The areas are then flooded in the fall just before waterfowl begin to arrive. A lack of water management limits food and plant options for the birds. This management objective is difficult to accomplish when TVA raises and lowers Wheeler Reservoir with a schedule that is opposite to what is needed for sustaining waterfowl. 

Farming 
3.500 - 4,000 acres are cooperatively farmed on the refuge. Cooperative farming is a mutually beneficial arrangement where the farmer is allowed to farm refuge land under certain guidelines and restrictions, including that a certain share of the crop (18-20%) be left for waterfowl and wildlife. It provides food, browses, cover, and nesting areas for waterfowl and other wildlife species. 

Crops grown include soybeans, corn, winter wheat, milo, and millet. Various waterfowl, such as Canada geese, Snow Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and Mallards, feed in the fields during fall and winter. Deer enjoy feeding on corn, soybeans, and winter wheat while raccoons and squirrels drag ears of corn into the woods and feed on it there. Various species of songbirds feed on these crops also.

Alphabet, Benefit, Idiot

Hunting I must go, shot the turkey with my bow,

What idiot covered him with butter?

Now the alphabet tablecloth is a clutter,

Turkey is baking and it is beginning to snow.

It is not a benefit to being alone,

During this festive time of the year,

Even the best dog is given a big bone,

Sit back, be of good cheer, and treat yourself to a mug of beer.