Illustration
State guide
When to catch Mississippithrough the year
We follow 4 places in Mississippi for spring migration, wildflowers, fall foliage and wildlife by season: fall at Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi and Noxubee Refuge, winter at Noxubee Refuge and spring at Dahomey Refuge and Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi. Each timing below is the place's own source, in its words; none is a forecast.
When are you going?
Winter in Mississippi
Good in winter
- Dahomey RefugeWaterfowl feed in flooded fields and roost in flooded forest
- Noxubee RefugeDecember is the refuge's peak hunting month: hunter orange recommended on trails in hunt areas
- Yazoo RefugeOpen to visitors year round; roads, parking and boat ramps close 1½ hours after sunset until 4 am
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Spring in Mississippi
- SEASON · SPRING MIGRATIONMarch – JuneDahomey Refuge · Mississippi
- SEASON · WILDFLOWERSEarly March through May, section by sectionNatchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi · Mississippi
- SEASON · WILDLIFE BY SEASONFrom March through MayYazoo Refuge · Mississippi
- SEASON · WILDFLOWERSAprilDahomey Refuge · Mississippi
- PHASE · WILDLIFE BY SEASONMay, then 2 moreNoxubee Refuge · Mississippi
Good in spring
- Dahomey RefugeMississippi kites return, soaring over the treetops
- Dahomey RefugeCopper iris blooms along forested creeks
- Natchez Trace Parkway, MississippiEarly spring wildflowers (middle section)
- Natchez Trace Parkway, MississippiMid-spring wildflowers (middle section)
- Noxubee RefugeLake fishing season, March 1 through October (bank fishing in set areas all year)
- Noxubee RefugeRed-cockaded woodpeckers start to nest
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Summer in Mississippi
Good in summer
- Noxubee RefugeLake fishing season, March 1 through October (bank fishing in set areas all year)
- Noxubee RefugeQueen Anne's lace and maypops bloom
- Noxubee RefugeBlack-eyed Susans and purple coneflowers bloom
- Noxubee RefugeIronweeds bloom
- Noxubee RefugeWhite-tailed deer fawns are born
- Noxubee RefugeAlligators very visible
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Places in Mississippi
Pin color: each place's season now or next
- Spring
- Fall
Places on this map, as a list
Planning a Mississippi trip
Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · National Park Service · checked Sep 29 · How we know