National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge lies in Dixie County, Florida, with about 51,317 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 49,638 huntable acres.

4 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
49.6Khuntable acres
51.3KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Lower Suwannee 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 Lower Suwannee NWR

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

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest river delta and estuary systems in the eastern United States.

Youth hunting

A quota deer hunt for youth is offered.

All refuges with youth hunts →
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 turkeySmall 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: 49,638 (96%)Closed: 2,233 (4%)49.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations49,638 ac 96%
  • Closed2,233 ac 4%
Units by size (acres)
Open Unit
48,105 ac
Closed Unit
2,233 ac
Salt Creek Unit
933 ac
St. Pete Unit
430 ac
HQ Unit
170 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
HQ Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 170 Required
Other		 Service issued permit is required for all species open to hunting on the station.
🧒 A quota deer hunt for youth is offered.
Open Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 48,105 Required
Other		 Service issued permit is required for all species open to hunting on the station.
🧒 A quota deer hunt for youth is offered.
Salt Creek Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 933 Required
Other		 Service issued permit is required for all species open to hunting on the station.
🧒 A quota deer hunt for youth is offered.
St. Pete Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 430 Required
Other		 Service issued permit is required for all species open to hunting on the station.
🧒 A quota deer hunt for youth is offered.
Closed Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,233 Required
Other		 Service issued permit is required for all species open to hunting on the station.
🧒 A quota deer hunt for youth is offered.

Lower Suwannee NWR by the numbers

With about 49,638 huntable acres, Lower Suwannee NWR ranks #3 of 10 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Florida and #51 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 96% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open Unit (48,105 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, HQ Unit, covers 170 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 2,233 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Lower Suwannee NWR

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, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Service issued permit is required for all species open to hunting on the station.

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

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 Lower Suwannee NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

Refuge waters include approximately a dozen ponds ranging in size from less than 1 acre to several acres. Bank fishing and boat ramps are available to access the Suwannee River and its tributaries or the Gulf of Mexico and its tidal creeks.

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

How to get to Lower Suwannee NWR

Navigate

Destination: Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
29.39230, -83.05405
DMS
29°23′32.3″N 83°03′14.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Crystal River, FL44 mi NW of town
  • Gainesville, FL48 mi W of town
  • Ocala, FL57 mi W of town
  • Valdosta, GA100 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • TPA Tampa Intl103 mi
  • TLH Tallahassee Intl104 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 Lower Suwannee 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, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM7:55 PM12h 47m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM7:38 PM12h 23m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM7:19 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:02 AM7:32 AM7:03 PM11h 30m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM5:47 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM5:38 PM10h 42m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM5:33 PM10h 25m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:48 AM7:18 AM5:35 PM10h 17m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM5:43 PM10h 18m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:57 AM7:27 AM5:54 PM10h 27m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM6:08 PM10h 47m

Computed for 29.392, -83.054 (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 Lower Suwannee NWR

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…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Lower Suwannee NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lower Suwannee NWR?

Yes. Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (49,638 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Lower Suwannee NWR?

Yes — Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov). You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Lower Suwannee NWR?

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

Where is Lower Suwannee NWR located?

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is in Dixie County, Florida, about 44 miles NW of Crystal River, FL (straight-line). GPS: 29.39230, -83.05405.

What are legal shooting hours at Lower Suwannee 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

Cedar Keys NWR

FL · 20 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Crystal River NWR

Citrus County, FL · 50 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Chassahowitzka NWR

Citrus County, FL · 51 mi SE

2 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

21.8K huntable acres

St. Marks NWR

Wakulla County, FL · 81 mi NW

1 open5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

50K huntable acres

Welaka NFH

Putnam County, FL · 85 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Lake Woodruff NWR

Volusia County, FL · 101 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐗🎣

12.5K huntable acres

All refuges in Florida →

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