National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge is located in Citrus County, Florida, with about 28,265 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 21,837 huntable acres.

2 open units1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
21.8Khuntable acres
28.3KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Chassahowitzka 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 Chassahowitzka NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Twenty years ago, tens of thousands of ducks landed at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, making this one of the most important waterfowl refuges in Florida.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Florida regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Open: 21,837 (77%)Closed: 6,499 (23%)21.8Khuntable acres
  • Open21,837 ac 77%
  • Closed6,499 ac 23%
Units by size (acres)
Citrus
16,221 ac
Closed
6,499 ac
Hernando
5,616 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Citrus
Show on map · Directions		 Open 16,221 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting and sport fishing
Hernando
Show on map · Directions		 Open 5,616 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting and sport fishing
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 6,499 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting and sport fishing

Chassahowitzka NWR by the numbers

With about 21,837 huntable acres, Chassahowitzka NWR ranks #6 of 10 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Florida and #110 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 77% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Citrus (16,221 acres), while the smallest, Hernando, covers 5,616 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 6,499 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Chassahowitzka NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Florida sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunting and sport fishing

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

You'll also need

  • A valid Florida hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Chassahowitzka NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

The refuge is composed of approximately 30,500 acres of coastal wetlands, salt marsh and open Gulf of Mexico. Fishing season is year-round, with closed harvest seasons for certain species. Freshwater species include largemouth bass and sunfish.

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

How to get to Chassahowitzka NWR

Navigate

Destination: Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
28.73377, -82.68225
DMS
28°44′01.6″N 82°40′56.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Crystal River, FL13 mi SW of town
  • Ocala, FL45 mi SW of town
  • Tampa, FL56 mi N of town
  • Gainesville, FL67 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • TPA Tampa Intl53 mi
  • MCO Orlando Intl86 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 Chassahowitzka 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 AM7:53 PM12h 46m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM7:37 PM12h 22m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM7:17 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM7:02 PM11h 31m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM5:46 PM11h 04m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM5:37 PM10h 45m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM5:33 PM10h 28m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM5:35 PM10h 20m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM5:43 PM10h 21m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:54 AM7:24 AM5:54 PM10h 30m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM6:08 PM10h 49m

Computed for 28.734, -82.682 (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.

Guides for hunting Chassahowitzka NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Chassahowitzka NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Chassahowitzka NWR?

Yes. Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (21,837 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Chassahowitzka NWR?

Yes — Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained online through fws or online (e.g. recreation.gov). You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Chassahowitzka NWR?

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

Where is Chassahowitzka NWR located?

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge is in Citrus County, Florida, about 13 miles SW of Crystal River, FL (straight-line). GPS: 28.73377, -82.68225.

What are legal shooting hours at Chassahowitzka 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

Crystal River NWR

Citrus County, FL · 4.3 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Cedar Keys NWR

FL · 34 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

Lower Suwannee NWR

Dixie County, FL · 51 mi NW

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

49.6K huntable acres

Pinellas NWR

FL · 74 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Egmont Key NWR

FL · 79 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Lake Woodruff NWR

Volusia County, FL · 79 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 October 28, 2026.