National Fish Hatchery · Florida · FWS Region 4

Welaka National Fish Hatchery Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Welaka National Fish Hatchery lies in Putnam County, Florida, with about 405 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
405FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Welaka NFH 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 Welaka NFH

  • 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.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 405 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed405 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 405 —

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 Welaka NFH

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Welaka NFH.

How to get to Welaka NFH

Navigate

Destination: Welaka National Fish Hatchery (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
29.44117, -81.64601
DMS
29°26′28.2″N 81°38′45.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Ocala, FL34 mi NE of town
  • Daytona Beach, FL41 mi NW of town
  • Gainesville, FL43 mi E of town
  • Jacksonville, FL61 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • JAX Jacksonville Intl73 mi
  • MCO Orlando Intl73 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 Welaka NFH

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, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM7:50 PM12h 47m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM7:33 PM12h 23m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:48 AM7:18 AM7:13 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM6:57 PM11h 30m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM5:41 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM5:32 PM10h 42m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM5:28 PM10h 25m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM5:29 PM10h 16m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:50 AM7:20 AM5:38 PM10h 17m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM5:48 PM10h 27m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM6:03 PM10h 47m

Computed for 29.441, -81.646 (EDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Welaka NFH FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Welaka NFH?

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

Do I need a permit to hunt Welaka NFH?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Welaka NFH. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Welaka NFH located?

Welaka National Fish Hatchery is in Putnam County, Florida, about 34 miles NE of Ocala, FL (straight-line). GPS: 29.44117, -81.64601.

What are legal shooting hours at Welaka NFH?

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

Lake Woodruff NWR

Volusia County, FL · 29 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐗🎣

12.5K huntable acres

Crystal River NWR

Citrus County, FL · 75 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

St. Johns NWR

Brevard County, FL · 76 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Chassahowitzka NWR

Citrus County, FL · 79 mi SW

2 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

21.8K huntable acres

Merritt Island NWR

Brevard County, FL · 83 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐗🎣

40K huntable acres

Lower Suwannee NWR

Dixie County, FL · 85 mi W

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

49.6K huntable acres

All refuges in Florida →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.