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Drone Rules for Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
Puxico, Missouri (MO)
• United States
24279 MO-51, Puxico, MO 63960, USA
Lat: 36.9695 • Lng: -90.1507
Rules Edit History: Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
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May 30, 2026 8:05 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for Mingo NWR with 200,000-Canada-goose wintering, northernmost alligator population, and hunter conflict context.
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Approved
Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge has been approved. This aligns with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations prohibiting drone operations within national wildlife refuges. The added context regarding the refuge's significance as a primary wintering site for Canada geese and its status as the northernmost alligator population enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | USFWS prohibits drones on Mingo NWR. The Bootheel wetland complex is a remnant of the original Big Swamp of southeastern Missouri and a primary wintering site for Canada geese on the Mississippi Flyway. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 71f80576-ce96-4bb6-a316-f167f93d9403 |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Mingo NWR, Missouri **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210. ### Airspace / Site Context - 21,676-acre bottomland hardwood swamp; up to 200,000 Canada geese winter here in November-December - American alligator reaches its northern range limit in the Missouri Bootheel; refuge alligator population is managed as a heritage species - Cape Girardeau Regional (CGI) Class D is ~50 NM north; Sikeston Memorial (SIK) Class G is ~20 NM west ### Key Rules - Canada goose hunting season (adjacent lands): drone use near the refuge during open season has caused conflicts with waterfowl hunters on adjacent Conservation lands - Alligator sunning areas (May-September) on dike levees: USFWS recommends no approaches closer than 100 yards - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research applications go to USFWS Missouri Prairie Wetlands Complex ### Source - USFWS Mingo: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/mingo
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+ ## Drone Rules - Mingo NWR, Missouri + + **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - 21,676-acre bottomland hardwood swamp; up to 200,000 Canada geese winter here in November-December + - American alligator reaches its northern range limit in the Missouri Bootheel; refuge alligator population is managed as a heritage species + - Cape Girardeau Regional (CGI) Class D is ~50 NM north; Sikeston Memorial (SIK) Class G is ~20 NM west + + ### Key Rules + - Canada goose hunting season (adjacent lands): drone use near the refuge during open season has caused conflicts with waterfowl hunters on adjacent Conservation lands + - Alligator sunning areas (May-September) on dike levees: USFWS recommends no approaches closer than 100 yards + - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research applications go to USFWS Missouri Prairie Wetlands Complex + + ### Source + - USFWS Mingo: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/mingo +