National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge is located in Volusia County, Florida, with about 19,258 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 12,535 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
12.5Khuntable acres
19.3KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Lake Woodruff 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 Woodruff NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, wild turkey, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Located along the St. Johns River, Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge offers a quality public hunt for hunters who wish to get away from the crowds. Some hunt areas are accessible only by boat, and others are best reached on foot.

Youth hunting

Youth are allowed to hunt under the supervision of a permitted adult hunter.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyFeral & 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 (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 12,535 (59%)Closed: 8,662 (41%)12.5Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations12,535 ac 59%
  • Closed8,662 ac 41%
Units by size (acres)
Western Unit
9,486 ac
Closed Unit
8,662 ac
Volusia Unit
1,982 ac
Eastside Unit
1,067 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Eastside Unit Special regs 1,067 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed Deer and Feral Hog
🧒 Youth are allowed to hunt under the supervision of a permitted adult hunter.
Volusia Unit Special regs 1,982 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed Deer and Feral Hog
🧒 Youth are allowed to hunt under the supervision of a permitted adult hunter.
Western Unit Special regs 9,486 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed Deer and Feral Hog
🧒 Youth are allowed to hunt under the supervision of a permitted adult hunter.
Closed Unit Closed 8,662 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 White-tailed Deer and Feral Hog
🧒 Youth are allowed to hunt under the supervision of a permitted adult hunter.

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

White-tailed Deer and Feral Hog

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

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 Woodruff NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include Pool 1 (50 acres), Pool 2 (150 acres), Pool 3 (245 acres), Lake Woodruff (2,200 acres) and Lake Dexter (1,400 acres).

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

How to get to Lake Woodruff NWR

Navigate

Destination: Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
29.06795, -81.42851
DMS
29°04′04.6″N 81°25′42.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Daytona Beach, FL27 mi W of town
  • Orlando, FL37 mi N of town
  • Ocala, FL44 mi E of town
  • Titusville, FL49 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • MCO Orlando Intl45 mi
  • JAX Jacksonville Intl99 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 Woodruff 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, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM7:49 PM12h 46m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM7:32 PM12h 23m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM7:12 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM6:56 PM11h 31m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM5:40 PM11h 03m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM5:32 PM10h 43m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM5:28 PM10h 26m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM5:29 PM10h 18m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:49 AM7:19 AM5:38 PM10h 19m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:50 AM7:20 AM5:48 PM10h 28m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM6:02 PM10h 48m

Computed for 29.068, -81.429 (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 Woodruff NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lake Woodruff NWR?

Yes. Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (12,535 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Lake Woodruff NWR?

Yes — Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, mail, online through fws, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Lake Woodruff NWR?

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

Where is Lake Woodruff NWR located?

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge is in Volusia County, Florida, about 27 miles W of Daytona Beach, FL (straight-line). GPS: 29.06795, -81.42851.

What are legal shooting hours at Lake Woodruff 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

Welaka NFH

Putnam County, FL · 29 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

St. Johns NWR

Brevard County, FL · 48 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Merritt Island NWR

Brevard County, FL · 56 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐗🎣

40K huntable acres

Crystal River NWR

Citrus County, FL · 75 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Chassahowitzka NWR

Citrus County, FL · 79 mi W

2 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

21.8K huntable acres

Archie Carr NWR

FL · 92 mi SE

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.