Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1993 to protect and provide feeding and resting areas for migrating waterfowl. Acquired as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, this refuge provides a winter home for large concentrations of a number of species of ducks and geese, although it was purchased specifically for pintail management due to its identification as a major staging and wintering area for this prairie species.

Bald Knob NWR encompasses approximately 15,000 acres of forested wetlands and croplands. Lying along the Little Red River and adjacent to the Henry Gray/ Hurricane Lake State Wildlife Management Area this refuge is an important link in protecting wildlife and its habitat.

Since its establishment, management opportunities based on the water management capability on this refuge have been seized upon for species other than waterfowl including shore and wading birds. For example, this refuge provides significant migrating shorebird habitat by creating mud flats. With the diversified management and resulting increases in migratory bird species and concentrations, Bald Knob refuge is becoming renown for its birding opportunities.

The farm unit of this refuge consisting of 12,900 acres was cleared during the 1960's. One of the primary management objectives is to restore bottomland hardwood on all the acres not required for other management activities for waterfowl, shore and wading birds, and other migratory birds.