The 30,700-acre (124 km2) refuge protects mixed habitat types including oak savanna, Big Woods, and wetlands.

Native American village sites dating back to 1300 CE have been found within the refuge, although the area is assumed to have been inhabited for much longer.

The mixture of habitats and abundance of water bodies produced a large and diverse wildlife population.

This was formally approved on May 18, 1965,[1] and purchase of refuge lands was begun with revenue from the sale of duck stamps.

From March 1 to August 31 visitor access is restricted to the following areas so that wildlife can breed without disturbance.