Named after the Choctaw tribe, it was established to provide a wood duck brood habitat and serve as a protected wintering area for waterfowl.

The refuge also manages an additional 236 acres (0.96 km2) in perpetual conservation easements in eight parcels in Monroe, Sumter and Conecuh counties.

Choctaw NWR was established in 1964 on lands acquired by the Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the Coffeeville Lock and Dam project.

In addition to the moist soil, crops such as millet, milo, wheat, and clover are grown in fields for the benefit of both waterfowl and resident wildlife.

Other wildlife include white-tailed deer, gray squirrels, turkey, raccoons, opossum, alligator, and beaver.