Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
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Hunting and Fishing

Refuge Manager Andrew Gude can be reached by text or phone at 703.622.3896

Hunting

FWS Find Your Hunt Map
Our Refuge has 200+ days across 10 different hunts from September to April.
Former Friends president Greg Lang hunting
Greg Lang, photo by Fish and Wildlife Service staff

The Fish and Wildlife Service featured the Lower Suwannee Refuge and former Friends president Greg Lang in a recent story about hunting on national wildlife refuges:

"Not even Swamp Ape legend deters hunters from flocking to Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge"

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Lower Suwannee NWR Hunting Regulations 2020-21
  • Hunt Season 2020-21 Summary
  • Hunt Permit Application.
  • The Permit Vendor Code is 7800.
  • Hunting permits can only be purchased through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) licensing website, myfwc.com, a county tax office, or other outlets that sell State licenses. 
  • Report deer taken to FWC’s Harvest Reporting System within 24 hours of harvest.

Fishing

Fishing on FWS Waters Map
The Refuge is open to fishing and falls entirely under the State of Florida's fishing regulations.

Fishing Success in Refuge Backwaters
As Friend’s former president Bob Hudson discovered, fishing the tidal creeks in the refuges can be a great way to spend a late fall day, as evidenced by the photos below.
​Flats and backwater fishing areas are typically reached by boat. A small flats boat or fishing boat can be used, or even a kayak.
​Some information and tips that may improve your fishing success include using tides and water currents to your advantage. Experienced anglers know that water movement allows game fish such as drum, flounder, snook, and trout to position into the flow and wait for food. At low tide, fish can be plentiful as they pool in areas in backwater creeks.
​Anglers choose different gear to attract and land their favorite catches in the backwaters. They'll use both sinking and topwater lures, live shrimp with a popping cork, or baits without the cork on jigheads.
Access the detailed maps below for some of the refuge’s best fishing spots and tidal creeks including Atsena Otie, Cedar Key Airport, McCormick and Barnett Creeks, Shell Mound, Suwannee River, and Shired Island.
Whether you’re a catch-and-release angler, or you long to get some catches in the cooler, enjoy your day on the water!
Man holding a Red Fish
Red fish
Man holding a Spotted Trout
Spotted Trout
The detailed guides below include tips, bait recommendations and more.

Atsena Otie

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McCormick and Barnett Creeks

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Suwannee River

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Cedar Key Airport

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Shell Mound

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Shired Island

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Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
P. O. Box 532
Cedar Key, FL 32625
friends@friendsofrefuges.org

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.


  • Home
    • Actions & Interests Blog
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • How We Operate
    • Our Refuges
    • Places of Interest
  • Join
  • Maps
    • Paddling Guides
    • Refuge Maps
    • Trail Brochures
  • Wildlife
    • Wild Critters
    • Hunting and Fishing
  • Search
  • Store
    • Womens Shirts
    • Hats
    • Mens Shirts