Acting Refuge Manager John Stark can be reached at 850.527.8535 or [email protected]

Hunting

Our Refuge has 200+ days across 11 different hunts
from September to April

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
​          Quota Hunt Permit Process
updated for 2026-2027

The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge’s Quota Hunt Permits are available for purchase from August 13, 2026 to April 25, 2027 through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s (FWC) “Go Outdoors Florida” website. There are 2,500 permits available on a first-come, first-served basis at 10:00 AM on August 13, 2026.

Once a permit is purchased you are legal to hunt any scheduled Refuge hunt for the 2026-2027 season. You do not need a separate permit for each hunt. 

Hunters must:

• Be legal with the State of Florida
• Carry a license and relevant permits, or be exempt
• Buy and carry a current Refuge Quota Hunt Permit.
• Have a current Refuge Hunt Regulations Brochure on their person, hard copy or electronic, and
• Know the material in the brochure.

The Refuge Hunt Regulations Brochure is posted below.

Here is a pdf version of the brochure

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Here is a webpage of the brochure with links

Alternative Mobility Permits

How to Apply for an Alternative Mobility Permit

Overview Document
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge Special Use Permit for Mobility Impaired Hunters

Instructions
State of Florida FWC Alternative Mobility Mobility Permit Application Process

FWC's
Physician's Qualification
Letter for Alternative Mobility Permit

Refuge's Special Use Permit Application Form

Other Helpful Links

Maps

Hunt Permits

GoOutdoors Florida

Step-by-step instructions​ for Hunt Permits

Report deer and turkey taken with one of these FWC harvest report options within 24 hours of harvest

Sign Up for the Hunters Group email-newsletter.

Season Summary
see Hunting Regulations brochure for more information

Season Name	Season Dates	Permit Release Date
Archery and crossbow	September 12 - October 11, 2026	August 13, 2026
Waterfowl	consistent with State of Florida seasons	August 13, 2026
Muzzleloader	October 15-18, 2026	August 13, 2026
General Gun No 1	November 1-30, 2026	August 13, 2026
General Gun No 2	December 6-19, 2026	August 13, 2026
General Gun No 3	January 3-17, 2026	August 13, 2026
Small Game	September 13, 2026 - April 25, 2027	August 13, 2026
Youth Spring Gobbler Hunt	March 12-14, 2027	August 13, 2026
Spring Turkey	March 20-April 25, 2027	August 13, 2026

Maps

OVERVIEW MAPS

• Lower Suwannee NWR Map
• Cedar Keys NWR map

GEOSPATIAL MAPS
Import these into the Avenza app for offline use on your mobile phone. Instructions

• Levy County side
• Dixie County side
  

Special Hunt Events

Operation Outdoor Freedom 
​Supported by the FL Forest Service and the Dept. of Agriculture, OOF provides recreational and rehabilitative opportunities to wounded veterans at no cost.

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NonTypical Outdoorsman
In January 2022, N.onT.ypical Outdoorsman brought a group of hunters to the Lower Suwannee NWR to help increase the racial diversity of hunters that visit the refuge.

Stories

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Greg Lang with a nice-sized hog. Photo by Paul Ramey.

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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Redfishing, Hog and Deer Hunting in a Day

'A great way to spend an 18 hour day.'

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's
"Find Your Hunt" Map