National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge lies in Gulf County, Florida, with about 12,180 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 10,934 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
10.9Khuntable acres
12.2KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

St. Vincent 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 St. Vincent NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, small game, and feral & exotic here, 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.

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, located on a barrier island off the coast of Florida, offers one of the most interesting big game hunting opportunities on the continent.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsSmall 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 (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 10,934 (90%)Closed: 1,246 (10%)10.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations10,934 ac 90%
  • Closed1,246 ac 10%
Units by size (acres)
Open Unit
10,934 ac
Closed Unit
1,246 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 10,934 Required
Other		 ~Hunt permits issued via FWCC for all quota and non-quota hunts (Online: other than FWS website). Currently no…
Closed Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,246 Required
Other		 ~Hunt permits issued via FWCC for all quota and non-quota hunts (Online: other than FWS website). Currently no…

St. Vincent NWR by the numbers

With about 10,934 huntable acres, St. Vincent NWR ranks #8 of 10 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Florida and #179 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 90% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open Unit (10,934 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 1,246 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 12,180 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 0.7 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt St. Vincent 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, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

~Hunt permits issued via FWCC for all quota and non-quota hunts (Online: other than FWS website). Currently no signature block on St. Vincent NWR brochure.

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

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 St. Vincent NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

Refuge waters include Oyster Pond (100 acres) and lakes 1-5 (total 156 acres). Fishing season is May 15-September 30. Available species include largemouth bass, redear sunfish and catfish.

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

How to get to St. Vincent NWR

Navigate

Destination: St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
29.64889, -85.11140
DMS
29°38′56.0″N 85°06′41.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Panama City, FL48 mi SE of town
  • Tallahassee, FL74 mi SW of town
  • Dothan, AL110 mi S of town
  • Valdosta, GA136 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • TLH Tallahassee Intl69 mi
  • PNS Pensacola Intl137 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 St. Vincent NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:47 AM6:17 AM7:04 PM12h 47m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM6:47 PM12h 23m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM6:27 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM6:11 PM11h 30m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:23 AM5:53 AM4:54 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:34 AM6:04 AM4:45 PM10h 41m
Tue, Dec 1, 20265:47 AM6:17 AM4:41 PM10h 24m
Tue, Dec 15, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM4:43 PM10h 16m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:05 AM6:35 AM4:51 PM10h 16m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:06 AM6:36 AM5:02 PM10h 26m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:00 AM6:30 AM5:16 PM10h 46m

Computed for 29.649, -85.111 (CDT / 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 St. Vincent 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…

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…

Feral Hog Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

Why many refuges allow — and encourage — feral hog hunting, how refuge rules handle hogs, safe shot placement, disease…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

St. Vincent NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at St. Vincent NWR?

Yes. St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (10,934 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, 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 St. Vincent NWR?

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

Can you fish at St. Vincent NWR?

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

Where is St. Vincent NWR located?

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge is in Gulf County, Florida, about 48 miles SE of Panama City, FL (straight-line). GPS: 29.64889, -85.11140.

What are legal shooting hours at St. Vincent 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

St. Marks NWR

Wakulla County, FL · 68 mi NE

1 open5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

50K huntable acres

Lower Suwannee NWR

Dixie County, FL · 125 mi E

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

49.6K huntable acres

Cedar Keys NWR

FL · 129 mi E

1 closed
🎣

Banks Lake NWR

Lanier County, GA · 152 mi NE

1 closed
🎣

Chassahowitzka NWR

Citrus County, FL · 160 mi SE

2 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

21.8K huntable acres

Eufaula NWR

Barbour County, AL · 160 mi N

9 special3 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗🎣

10.6K huntable acres

All refuges in Florida →

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