National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge is located in Florida, with about 664 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
664FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Cedar Keys 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 Cedar Keys 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 — tidal / saltwater fishing.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 780 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed780 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 780 —

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 Florida hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Cedar Keys NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

The refuge is composed of 12 offshore islands that are accessible only by watercraft. The islands are surrounded by shallow water, mud flats and oyster bars.

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

How to get to Cedar Keys NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
29.09780, -83.06409
DMS
29°05′52.1″N 83°03′50.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Crystal River, FL32 mi NW of town
  • Ocala, FL56 mi W of town
  • Gainesville, FL59 mi SW of town
  • Tampa, FL87 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • TPA Tampa Intl84 mi
  • MCO Orlando Intl116 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 Cedar Keys 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, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM7:55 PM12h 46m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM7:38 PM12h 23m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM7:19 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:02 AM7:32 AM7:03 PM11h 31m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM5:47 PM11h 03m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM5:38 PM10h 43m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:34 PM10h 26m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:48 AM7:18 AM5:36 PM10h 18m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:55 AM7:25 AM5:44 PM10h 19m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM5:55 PM10h 28m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM6:09 PM10h 48m

Computed for 29.098, -83.064 (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.

Cedar Keys NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cedar Keys NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Cedar Keys NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Cedar Keys 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 Cedar Keys NWR?

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

Where is Cedar Keys NWR located?

Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge is in Florida, about 32 miles NW of Crystal River, FL (straight-line). GPS: 29.09780, -83.06409.

What are legal shooting hours at Cedar Keys 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

Lower Suwannee NWR

Dixie County, FL · 20 mi N

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

49.6K huntable acres

Chassahowitzka NWR

Citrus County, FL · 34 mi SE

2 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

21.8K huntable acres

Crystal River NWR

Citrus County, FL · 34 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Welaka NFH

Putnam County, FL · 89 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

St. Marks NWR

Wakulla County, FL · 95 mi NW

1 open5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

50K huntable acres

Lake Woodruff NWR

Volusia County, FL · 99 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐗🎣

12.5K huntable acres

All refuges in Florida →

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