U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
St. Vincent
National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Regulations
2019-2020
General Provisions
St. Vincent NWR is one of over 500
national wildlife refuges. The primary
objective of the refuge is to provide
habitat for conservation and protection
of all species of wildlife. The harvest
of surplus animals is one tool used to
maintain wildlife populations at a level
compatible with habitat.
Hunters must check out with refuge staff
before leaving the island. Campers must
remove all personal equipment from the
island by 11 am on Sunday after each
hunt.
Each adult may supervise only one youth.
The successful hunter must check out
game at designated check stations. No live
game may be checked out.
The regulations below supplement the
general regulations which govern hunting
on wildlife refuges as set forth in Title
50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part
32. Hunting will be in accordance with
applicable State regulations.
Hunters must field dress game in the
woods prior to collection during game
pick up runs. Game pick up will only
occur on open roads south of Big Bayou.
Hunters who have a state mobilityimpaired person permit number, and
require help during the hunts, must
contact the St. Marks NWR office
at 850/925 6121 to request a Hunter
Assistance Form.
Specific Hunting Regulations
Public hunting of white-tailed deer,
sambar deer, feral hogs, and raccoons is
permitted on 11,400 acres of St. Vincent
Island as shown on the map on the
reverse side of this brochure.
Access onto St. Vincent Island is
restricted to the Indian Pass and West
Pass campsites.
Hunters may not leave hunt gear nor
stage equipment nor access island before
check-in time which is 8 am Eastern
Time (ET) on the Wednesday before the
hunt begins. Strictly enforced. Hunters
arriving after Wednesday must sign in at
the check station, if the check station is
unstaffed they may hunt. Hunters must
complete check-in later that same day of
arrival with staff. The check stations will
be staffed beginning at 9 am ET each day
of the hunt.
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 447
Apalachicola, FL 32329
Website: http://www.fws.gov/saintvincent
No entry allowed in closed areas on
Refuge.
The following may ride during the game
pick up runs: successful hunter of game
retrieved. If a successful minor (18 years
or younger), one adult may accompany. If
a successful adult, accompanying minor
hunter (18 years or younger) may ride.
Primitive weapon hunts (sambar and
white-tailed deer): All hunters, when
outside campsite area, must wear a
minimum of 500 square inches of solid,
unbroken fluorescent orange-colored
material above the waistline, including
while in stand.
Archery hunters are encouraged to wear
a fluorescent orange outer garment while
hunting on the ground or walking to and
from stands.
All hunters, regardless of age must
possess a refuge permit. Youth hunters
(younger than 16 years) must be
supervised by a permitted adult at least
21 years of age, and must remain in sight
and normal voice contact of the adult.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 68
St. Marks, FL 32355
Website: http://www.fws.gov/saintmarks
850/925 6121
Non-quota white-tailed deer hunters,
regardless of age, must possess a refuge
hunt permit.
Stand hours will be enforced from 1/2
hour before sunrise to 9 am ET for all
hunts. Courtesy evening stand hours will
be observed from two hours before sunset
until sunset.
A hunter safety orientation meeting will
be held Wednesday evening before each
hunt at 5 pm ET at each check station.
Hunters may set up tree stands only after
check-in and stands must be removed
from the island at the end of each hunt.
Camping and fires are restricted to the
two designated camping areas. Refuge
manager may suspend campfires if
drought conditions exist. Campsites are
unimproved.
Only non-potable water will be available
at the campsites.
Hunters must observe quiet time in the
campground(s) between 9 pm – 5 am ET.
No loud or boisterous activity permitted.
Weapons may be discharged at the
designated discharge area(s) between 5
am to 9 pm ET.
1800/334 WILD
U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service
July 2019
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The use or possession of alcoholic
beverages while on the island during
refuge hunts is prohibited.
n
No motorized equipment, generators,
vehicles or electric bicycles allowed.
n
Littering and cutting of live or standing
dead trees are prohibited. Only dead
and downed wood may be cut.
n
No baiting
n
Use of flagging tape and reflective
materials prohibited. Painting or
defacing plants or trees prohibited.
Target practice is prohibited.
n
Discharging of weapons (including
cap firing) in campgrounds is
prohibited.
Hunt Permits
The Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWCC)
will be handling all hunt permits for
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge.
Applications may be submitted at any
license agent or tax collector or on-line at
http://myfwc.com/license/limited-entryhunts/ beginning at 10 am (Eastern Time)
May 15, 2020 ending June 15, 2020.
License: possess identification, a Florida
hunting license, state deer permit,
Florida archery stamp, and a valid refuge
hunt permit. No state management area
stamp required.
White-tailed Deer (Archery) 250 permits
maximum
White-tailed Deer (Muzzleloader)
Season: January 16-18, 2020
(Thursday – Saturday)
1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour
after sunset.
Species: White-tailed Deer (buck having
antlers with 2 or more points on one side
greater than 1 inch in length). A limited
number of antlerless permits will be
issued on site. Antlerless deer are defined
as doe, or deer with antlers less than 5
inches. Youth 15 or younger can harvest
any deer except spotted fawn.
Quota Hunt
Sambar Deer (Muzzleloader) – 200
permits
Bag Limit: one white-tailed deer;
unlimited hogs and raccoons. (state
annual bag limit applies).
Season: November 21-23, 2019 (Thursday
– Saturday) 1/2 hour before sunrise until
3 pm each day.
Weapons: State regulations for primitive
weapons.
Species: sambar deer (either sex), feral
hogs, raccoons.
Bag limit: one sambar; unlimited hogs
and raccoons.
Weapons: state regulations for primitive
weapons.
License: possess identification, a Florida
hunting license and a valid refuge hunt
permit. No management area stamp,
archery stamp or muzzleloader stamp
required.
License: possess identification, Florida
hunting license, state deer permit and
valid refuge hunt permit. No state
management area stamp, archery stamp
or muzzleloader stamp required.
Primitive Weapons Hunt- 250 permits
maximum
T
M
R
n
Weapons: state regulations for archery
equipment. Crossbows permitted.
U.S.
FISH & WILDLIFE
SERVICE
PA
Only still and stalk hunting permitted.
Intentional driving of game animals
(game drives) is prohibited.
Bag Limit: one white-tailed deer;
unlimited hogs and raccoons. (state
annual bag limit applies).
AREA
BEYOND
THIS
SIGN
CLOSED
DE
n
It is unlawful to insert a nail, spike
or other metal object into any tree or
to hunt from any tree in which a nail,
spike, or other metal object has been
inserted.
Species: White-tailed Deer (Buck having
antlers with 2 or more points on one
side greater than 1 inch in length) or
antlerless deer (defined as a doe, or deer
with antlers less than 5 inches). Youth 15
or younger can harvest any deer except
spotted fawn.
Signs Protect Visitors and Resources
Millions of people visit national wildlife
refuges every year. In order to both
protect wildllands and wildlife and
provide visitors with an enjoyable
experience on refuges, certain
regulations are necessary. Please respect
the following signs and help us take care
of your refuge.
R
n
White-tailed Deer (Archery)
Season: October 31- November 2, 2019
(Thursday– Saturday) 1/2 hour before
sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset.
IO
Prohibited Activities
n Domestic animals are not permitted on
the refuge.
EN
T
T OF THE IN
E
R
This area closed to
all public entry.
All public entry prohibited
NATIONAL
WILDLIFE
REFUGE
This sign delineates
the refuge boundary.
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY
PROHIBITED
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Eagle
Nesting Area
This area closed to
all public entry.
Closed To All Entry
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Pack It In
Pack It Out
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Closed Areas
Roads
West Pass South
West Pass
Indian Pass
2
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Gulf of Mexico
3
Pickalene Rd
A
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Closed areas are subject to
change. Contact the Refuge
Office for current information.
Lakes/Saltmarshes/Ponds
St. Vincent Boundary
Closed to Vehicles
Hunt Camps
1
Game Pick Up Routes:
Ú
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0
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Indian
Pass Camp
Cabin
Indian Pass Rd
14 Mile
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5
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5 Rd
Big Bayo
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Dune Rd
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Apalachicola Bay
Kilometers
1
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1
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H Rd
I Rd
J Rd
6R
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30A Rd
0
West Pass
Camp
West Pass Rd
Dune Rd
Ú
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6 Rd
7R
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Refuge Office
Apalachicola
7R
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St. Vincent
National Wildlife
Refuge
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