National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area lies in Okeechobee County, Florida, with about 7,040 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 7,040 huntable acres.

4 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
7Khuntable acres
7KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area 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 Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area

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 — freshwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing.

Through the support of many partners, Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge helps conserve one of the largest tracts of North American prairie and savanna ecosystems east of the Mississippi, as well as large parts of Florida’s well-known…

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 (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 7,040 (100%)Closed: 10 (0%)7Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations7,040 ac 100%
  • Closed10 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
Kissimmee Bend Unit
3,322 ac
Okeechobee Unit
1,863 ac
Hatchineha Unit
1,458 ac
Arbuckle Unit
397 ac
Closed Unit
10 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Arbuckle Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 397 —
Hatchineha Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,458 —
Kissimmee Bend Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,322 —
Okeechobee Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,863 —
Closed Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 10 —

Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area by the numbers

With about 7,040 huntable acres, Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area ranks #9 of 10 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Florida and #229 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Kissimmee Bend Unit (3,322 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Arbuckle Unit, covers 397 acres.

1 unit totaling 10 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 7,040 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 6,167 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area

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

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
  • 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 Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Through the support of many partners, Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge helps conserve one of the largest tracts of North American prairie and savanna ecosystems east of the Mississippi, as well as large parts of Florida’s well-known…

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

How to get to Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area

Navigate

Destination: Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
27.63340, -80.96337
DMS
27°38′00.2″N 80°57′48.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Vero Beach, FL34 mi W of town
  • Melbourne, FL38 mi SW of town
  • Orlando, FL68 mi S of town
  • Titusville, FL68 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • MCO Orlando Intl59 mi
  • PBI Palm Beach Intl85 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 Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area

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, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM7:46 PM12h 44m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM7:29 PM12h 22m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM7:11 PM11h 56m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM6:55 PM11h 33m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM5:40 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM5:32 PM10h 48m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM5:29 PM10h 32m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM5:31 PM10h 25m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:39 PM10h 25m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:49 PM10h 34m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM6:03 PM10h 53m

Computed for 27.633, -80.963 (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 Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area

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…

Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area?

Yes. Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area offers hunting in 4 units (7,040 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 Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area. 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 Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area?

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

Where is Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area located?

Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area is in Okeechobee County, Florida, about 34 miles W of Vero Beach, FL (straight-line). GPS: 27.63340, -80.96337.

What are legal shooting hours at Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area?

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

Lake Wales Ridge NWR

Highlands County, FL · 28 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pelican Island NWR

Indian River County, FL · 34 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Archie Carr NWR

FL · 37 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound NWR

Martin County, FL · 62 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

St. Johns NWR

Brevard County, FL · 64 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Merritt Island NWR

Brevard County, FL · 68 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐗🎣

40K huntable acres

All refuges in Florida →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.