National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located in Florida, with about 5,452 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
5.5KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

J.N. 'Ding' Darling 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 J.N. 'Ding' Darling 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, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 6,573 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed6,573 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 6,573 —

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 J.N. 'Ding' Darling NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Refuge waters include Tarpon Bay and mangrove estuary on the north side of Sanibel and the Sanibel River at the Bailey Tract. The estuary provides excellent boat fishing year-round.

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

How to get to J.N. 'Ding' Darling NWR

Navigate

Destination: J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
26.45427, -82.10607
DMS
26°27′15.4″N 82°06′21.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Fort Myers, FL19 mi SW of town
  • Naples, FL29 mi NW of town
  • Sarasota, FL67 mi SE of town
  • Tampa, FL106 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • RSW Southwest Florida Intl22 mi
  • TPA Tampa Intl109 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 J.N. 'Ding' Darling 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 AM7:49 PM12h 42m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM7:34 PM12h 21m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM7:15 PM11h 56m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:56 AM7:26 AM7:01 PM11h 35m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM5:47 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM5:39 PM10h 52m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM5:36 PM10h 37m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:38 PM10h 30m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:46 PM10h 30m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:56 PM10h 39m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM6:09 PM10h 56m

Computed for 26.454, -82.106 (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.

J.N. 'Ding' Darling NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at J.N. 'Ding' Darling NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt J.N. 'Ding' Darling NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for J.N. 'Ding' Darling 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 J.N. 'Ding' Darling NWR?

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

Where is J.N. 'Ding' Darling NWR located?

J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge is in Florida, about 19 miles SW of Fort Myers, FL (straight-line). GPS: 26.45427, -82.10607.

What are legal shooting hours at J.N. 'Ding' Darling 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

Matlacha Pass NWR

FL · 8.0 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pine Island NWR

FL · 17 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Island Bay NWR

FL · 23 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Caloosahatchee NWR

Lee County, FL · 26 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Florida Panther NWR

Collier County, FL · 47 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🦃

25.6K huntable acres

Ten Thousand Islands NWR

Collier County, FL · 49 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🦆🎣

5.6K huntable acres

All refuges in Florida →

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