National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Florida, Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 28 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
28FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Island Bay 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 Island Bay 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.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 28 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed28 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 28 —

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 Island Bay NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Island Bay NWR.

How to get to Island Bay NWR

Navigate

Destination: Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
26.77142, -82.20531
DMS
26°46′17.1″N 82°12′19.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Fort Myers, FL23 mi NW of town
  • Sarasota, FL44 mi SE of town
  • Naples, FL51 mi NW of town
  • Tampa, FL83 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • RSW Southwest Florida Intl32 mi
  • TPA Tampa 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 Island Bay 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, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM7:50 PM12h 42m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM7:34 PM12h 21m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM7:16 PM11h 56m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM7:01 PM11h 34m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM5:47 PM11h 09m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM5:39 PM10h 51m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM5:35 PM10h 36m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM5:38 PM10h 28m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:46 PM10h 29m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:48 AM7:18 AM5:56 PM10h 38m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM6:09 PM10h 55m

Computed for 26.771, -82.205 (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.

Island Bay NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Island Bay NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Island Bay NWR?

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

Where is Island Bay NWR located?

Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge is in Florida, about 23 miles NW of Fort Myers, FL (straight-line). GPS: 26.77142, -82.20531.

What are legal shooting hours at Island Bay 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

Pine Island NWR

FL · 6.2 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

J.N. 'Ding' Darling NWR

FL · 23 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Matlacha Pass NWR

FL · 24 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Caloosahatchee NWR

Lee County, FL · 26 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Passage Key NWR

FL · 63 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Florida Panther NWR

Collier County, FL · 64 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🦃

25.6K huntable acres

All refuges in Florida →

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