National Wildlife Refuge · Georgia · FWS Region 4

Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in Lanier County, Georgia, with about 2,981 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
3KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Banks Lake NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Banks Lake NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 2,981 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed2,981 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Banks Lake Refuge Closed 2,981 —

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Georgia hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Georgia Wildlife Resources Division
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Banks Lake NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include 1,000 acres of flooded cypress swamp. Fishing season is year-round. Available species include largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Banks Lake NWR

Navigate

Destination: Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
31.02000, -83.11772
DMS
31°01′12.0″N 83°07′03.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Valdosta, GA16 mi NE of town
  • Waycross, GA47 mi W of town
  • Folkston, GA67 mi W of town
  • Albany, GA73 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • TLH Tallahassee Intl85 mi
  • JAX Jacksonville Intl92 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Banks Lake NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in New York local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM7:57 PM12h 50m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM7:39 PM12h 24m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM7:18 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM7:02 PM11h 28m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM5:45 PM10h 58m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM5:35 PM10h 37m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM5:30 PM10h 18m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM5:32 PM10h 09m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:00 AM7:30 AM5:40 PM10h 10m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:00 AM7:30 AM5:51 PM10h 20m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:54 AM7:24 AM6:06 PM10h 42m

Computed for 31.020, -83.118 (EDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Banks Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Banks Lake NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Banks Lake NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Banks Lake NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Banks Lake NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Banks Lake NWR located?

Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Lanier County, Georgia, about 16 miles NE of Valdosta, GA (straight-line). GPS: 31.02000, -83.11772.

What are legal shooting hours at Banks Lake NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Okefenokee NWR

Charlton County, GA · 51 mi E

4 special2 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

3.8K huntable acres

St. Marks NWR

Wakulla County, FL · 86 mi SW

1 open5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

50K huntable acres

Wolf Island NWR

McIntosh County, GA · 108 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Lower Suwannee NWR

Dixie County, FL · 113 mi S

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

49.6K huntable acres

Harris Neck NWR

McIntosh County, GA · 117 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🐗🎣

2.5K huntable acres

Blackbeard Island NWR

McIntosh County, GA · 118 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🐗🎣

4.6K huntable acres

All refuges in Georgia →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.