Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
​Special Access for Alternative Mobility Hunters
updated 6 September 2024

Special access is considered but not assured.

​To legally use a motorized vehicle (other than an off-road wheelchair or a bike) to go behind the locked yellow Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) gates, you must:
  1. be legal to hunt in the State of Florida,
  2. buy a Refuge Quota Permit,
  3. provide a Physician Qualification Letter- AMP filled out by a qualifying physician,
  4. obtain an Alternative Mobility Permit from the State of Florida, and
  5. get a separate Special Use Permit (SUP) from the Refuge.
Refuge alternative mobility access will be provided to qualified hunters with a State of Florida "Alternative Mobility Permit (AMP)". These must be secured through the Florida FWC’s AMP program, not through the Refuge.
​The Refuge issues a limited numbers of such permits (first come, first served) for limited access to Refuge lands behind the locked, yellow-numbered gates off the public driving roads. These are issued on a hunt calendar year basis (September to April), so you must apply each year. While we follow the State of Florida’s standards we issue permits with our own special conditions for access.

Once an AMP is received from the state, Applicants submit a written request to the Refuge (via a Special Use Permit (SUP) application, download the application and instructions here), and provide a copy of their issued AMP Permit.

We reference the State of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission standard for persons who cannot walk, or cannot walk without assistance due to severe and permanent physical disabilities, as applied to special access needs on our Refuge. Following is the link relevant to the Refuge hunts:   For assistance with general questions or a renewal, please call 850-488-3641.
For questions regarding an ADA accommodation, please call 850-488-6411.
​The Refuge has limited areas where such a special access need can be accommodated, and we only allow one AMP per gate. These requests are for gates we designate for special access. That, however, does not preclude other hunters from accessing these same areas.

There are 8 Refuge side roads off Dixie County Highway 349 opened before the hunt season and provide vehicle access for all hunters. Also, on the Levy County side the 9-mile Nature Drive/Loop Road has many access points right off this road as does Gate 10 Road’s Gate 43 (the first grass road to the left which goes in 1.5 miles). Special needs hunters should feel free to use these access points without an AMP permit.

​The SUP is issued for such access and must be carried by the individual on that permit.
 Alternative Mobility Permit Hunter Access Special Conditions, once a Refuge SUP is issued, are as follows:
  • With this SUP, access will be provided to hunters with State Alternative Mobility Permit (AMP) to have authorization to access specific gates with approved electric vehicles (golf cart, medical scooter, wheelchair, lawn mower, or another electric vehicle) only. You may request access around a gate not listed above but not all gates have clearance for such access, so make sure you can access a certain gate before you request access.
  • You must specify which form of transportation you would like to access the area behind the gate.
  • AMP permitted hunters must use the gate and not drive around the gate. Driving around a gate is a violation that will result in an AMP SUP to be rescinded for the remainder of the hunt season.
  • Driving off the designated road or trail is a violation.
  • Access is allowed only for purposes of hunting and only during legal hunting season as described in the annual Refuge hunt regulations brochure.
  • Speed limit is 5 mph, fast walking speed, for all AMP vehicles.
  • All other Refuge regulations apply; Refuge hunting and general regulations and conditions in the hunt brochure must be met and adhered to.
  • Shooting must be from greater than 150 feet from all Refuge public driving roads; lime rock roads such as, but not limited to Main Loop Rd., Barnett Creek Rd., Cabin Rd., Dixie Mainline, and Yellowjacket Loop Rd.
  • One escort may accompany hunter to assist with mobility concerns. If the escort hunts, they must be State of Florida and Refuge legal. See the annual Refuge Regulations Hunt Brochure.
  • This permit and all other applicable permits and licenses must be carried on person at all times while hunting.
  • The Refuge reserves the right to prevent access around these gates without prior notice due to weather events, management actions, or damage to roads caused by permit holders.
  • This permit can be revoked by Refuge staff at any time for any reason if any of these special conditions or Refuge regulation is violated.
​Questions for the Refuge: call/text Andrew 703.622.3896, [email protected] (signal and activity dependent).