McFaddin Refuge Keeps Tens of Thousands of Marsh Acres Public

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service runs McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge along the Gulf in southern Jefferson County, 58,861 acres of coastal marsh near Sabine Pass. FWS says it holds the largest remaining freshwater marsh on the Texas coast, along with thousands of acres of intermediate-to-brackish marsh behind the beach.

For this county, McFaddin is more than scenery. It is where the Gulf edge, the duck country, the fishing culture, and the open marsh all meet in one public place, a big block of the coast that didn't get drained, diked, or paved.

FWS says McFaddin is open free of charge during daylight hours for fishing, crabbing, wildlife watching, photography, and waterfowl hunting. Check the refuge page for access points, current rules, and hunt dates before you go.