National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Highlands County, Florida, Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 1,894 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
1.9KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Lake Wales Ridge 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 Lake Wales Ridge 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: 1,894 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed1,894 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 1,894 —

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 Lake Wales Ridge NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Lake Wales Ridge NWR.

How to get to Lake Wales Ridge NWR

Navigate

Destination: Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
27.51493, -81.40838
DMS
27°30′53.7″N 81°24′30.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Vero Beach, FL62 mi W of town
  • Melbourne, FL62 mi SW of town
  • Fort Myers, FL67 mi NE of town
  • Sarasota, FL70 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • MCO Orlando Intl64 mi
  • RSW Southwest Florida Intl71 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 Lake Wales Ridge 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, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM7:47 PM12h 44m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM7:31 PM12h 21m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM7:12 PM11h 56m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM6:57 PM11h 33m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM5:42 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM5:34 PM10h 49m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM5:31 PM10h 33m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:33 PM10h 25m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:41 PM10h 26m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:51 PM10h 35m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM6:05 PM10h 53m

Computed for 27.515, -81.408 (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.

Lake Wales Ridge NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lake Wales Ridge NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Lake Wales Ridge NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Lake Wales Ridge 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 Lake Wales Ridge NWR located?

Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is in Highlands County, Florida, about 62 miles W of Vero Beach, FL (straight-line). GPS: 27.51493, -81.40838.

What are legal shooting hours at Lake Wales Ridge 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

Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area

Okeechobee County, FL · 28 mi E

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

7K huntable acres

Caloosahatchee NWR

Lee County, FL · 61 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pelican Island NWR

Indian River County, FL · 62 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Archie Carr NWR

FL · 63 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Island Bay NWR

FL · 71 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pine Island NWR

FL · 76 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Florida →

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