National Wildlife Refuge · Florida · FWS Region 4

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge is located in Collier County, Florida, with about 21,155 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 5,632 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
5.6Khuntable acres
21.2KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Ten Thousand Islands 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 Ten Thousand Islands NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

Permitted hunting categories are waterfowl, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing, tidal / saltwater fishing, and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge conserves habitat for some of the most distinctive species on the continent, including endangered manatees, wood storks and sea turtles.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

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: 5,632 (27%)Closed: 15,571 (73%)5.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations5,632 ac 27%
  • Closed15,571 ac 73%
Units by size (acres)
Unit Closed
15,571 ac
Unit Open
5,632 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Unit Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,632 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar, Special Use Permit		 ~Hunting requires a signed hunt permit, but not for fishing.~Commercial guides are required to have a SUP
Unit Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 15,571 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar, Special Use Permit		 ~Hunting requires a signed hunt permit, but not for fishing.~Commercial guides are required to have a SUP

Ten Thousand Islands NWR by the numbers

With about 5,632 huntable acres, Ten Thousand Islands NWR ranks #10 of 10 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Florida and #253 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 27% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Unit Open (5,632 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 15,571 acres is closed to hunting (Unit Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 21,155 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 13,457 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Ten Thousand Islands 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 — Waterfowl
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

~Hunting requires a signed hunt permit, but not for fishing.~Commercial guides are required to have a SUP

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar, Special Use Permit

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

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 Ten Thousand Islands NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing
  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

The fresh and brackish marshes are open during daylight hours. Available species include redfish, snook, gray snapper, spotted seatrout and sheepshead. Freshwater fishing is accessible from U.S. Route 41, 2.5 miles east of intersection of Florida Hwy.

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

How to get to Ten Thousand Islands NWR

Navigate

Destination: Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
25.93348, -81.57456
DMS
25°56′00.5″N 81°34′28.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Naples, FL20 mi SE of town
  • Fort Myers, FL52 mi S of town
  • Miami, FL87 mi W of town
  • Key West, FL96 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • RSW Southwest Florida Intl43 mi
  • MIA Miami Intl80 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 Ten Thousand Islands 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, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM7:47 PM12h 41m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM7:31 PM12h 20m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM7:13 PM11h 56m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM6:59 PM11h 35m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM5:45 PM11h 11m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM5:38 PM10h 54m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM5:35 PM10h 39m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM5:37 PM10h 32m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:45 PM10h 33m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:55 PM10h 41m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM6:08 PM10h 58m

Computed for 25.933, -81.575 (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 Ten Thousand Islands NWR

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

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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…

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…

Ten Thousand Islands NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Ten Thousand Islands NWR?

Yes. Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (5,632 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Ten Thousand Islands NWR?

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

Can you fish at Ten Thousand Islands NWR?

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

Where is Ten Thousand Islands NWR located?

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge is in Collier County, Florida, about 20 miles SE of Naples, FL (straight-line). GPS: 25.93348, -81.57456.

What are legal shooting hours at Ten Thousand Islands 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

Florida Panther NWR

Collier County, FL · 21 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦃

25.6K huntable acres

Matlacha Pass NWR

FL · 46 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

J.N. 'Ding' Darling NWR

FL · 49 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

Caloosahatchee NWR

Lee County, FL · 55 mi N

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pine Island NWR

FL · 65 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Island Bay NWR

FL · 70 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Florida →

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