National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

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

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is located in Indian River County, Florida, with about 396 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
396FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Pelican Island 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 Pelican Island 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 — tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 396 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed396 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 396 —

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 Pelican Island NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Fishing is permitted in the open water areas of the refuge, with good fishing opportunities for redfish, snook, sea trout, flounder, mangrove snapper, Jack Crevalle and other popular sportfish.

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

How to get to Pelican Island NWR

Navigate

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

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
27.80625, -80.44355
DMS
27°48′22.5″N 80°26′36.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Vero Beach, FL12 mi N of town
  • Melbourne, FL21 mi SE of town
  • Titusville, FL60 mi S of town
  • Orlando, FL76 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • MCO Orlando Intl68 mi
  • PBI Palm Beach Intl81 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 Pelican Island 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, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM7:44 PM12h 44m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM7:27 PM12h 22m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM7:09 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM6:53 PM11h 33m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM5:38 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM5:30 PM10h 48m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM5:26 PM10h 31m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM5:28 PM10h 24m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:36 PM10h 25m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM5:47 PM10h 33m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM6:01 PM10h 52m

Computed for 27.806, -80.444 (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.

Pelican Island NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Pelican Island NWR?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Pelican Island NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Pelican Island 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 Pelican Island NWR?

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

Where is Pelican Island NWR located?

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Indian River County, Florida, about 12 miles N of Vero Beach, FL (straight-line). GPS: 27.80625, -80.44355.

What are legal shooting hours at Pelican Island 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

Archie Carr NWR

FL · 14 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Everglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area

Okeechobee County, FL · 34 mi W

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

7K huntable acres

Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound NWR

Martin County, FL · 52 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Merritt Island NWR

Brevard County, FL · 56 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐗🎣

40K huntable acres

St. Johns NWR

Brevard County, FL · 59 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Lake Wales Ridge NWR

Highlands County, FL · 62 mi W

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.