Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge protects important mangrove, marsh, and tropical hardwood hammock habitats in Southwest Florida.
Two hunters in green shirts standing on the edge of the marsh holding blue-wing teal.
TTI Waterfowl Hunters Post-Season Meeting

Upwards of 50% of the historical marshes that once occurred in the Ten Thousand Islands Region have been lost in the last 75 years (mainly due to mangrove forest expansion) and hunter numbers have significantly increased since the Refuge was first established. We are interested in hearing about your personal hunting experiences on the Refuge and what you think can be done to improve your safety and the quality of your hunting experience.

Please join us at the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center (33000 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee FL) on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 6:30pm. Tickets are FREE, but seats are limited, please register at https://TTI-Waterfowl-Hunters-Meeting.eventbrite.com

For more information visit the event page and follow us on Facebook .

Visit Us

A visit to Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge changes with each season! During the summer, thousands of water birds roost on the coastal islands. On summer nights loggerhead sea turtles drag themselves onto refuge beaches to nest. Mangrove cuckoos and black-whiskered vireos can be heard calling from the mangroves as they mark their home territory on the refuge in a flurry of spring activity. Manatees feed within the estuary and find shelter from the cold winter months at nearby Port-of-the-Islands. Wintering waterfowl forage in the drying northern marshes as bald eagles soar over the open water searching for a meal.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      The refuge is part of the largest expanse of mangrove forest in North America. Approximately two thirds of the refuge is mangrove forest, which dominates most tidal fringes and the numerous islands, or keys. The northern third of the refuge consists of brackish marsh and interspersed ponds, small coastal hammocks of oak, cabbage palms, and tropical hardwoods such as gumbo limbo. 

      What We Do

      Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It drives everything on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and waters managed within the Refuge System, from the purposes for which a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
      A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

      Learn more about national wildlife refuge
      is established to the recreational activities offered to the resource management tools used. Using conservation best practices, the Refuge System manages Service lands and waters to help ensure the survival of native wildlife species.  

      Our Species

      The rich estuarine, mangrove, and marsh habitats of Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge attract hundreds of species of wildlife. The abundance and diversity of wildlife on Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge is directly related to the health and diversity of the habitats on the refuge.

      Our Library

      Visit our digital library for a one stop shop to see refuge documents and brochures.

      Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge Hunting and Fishing Regulations 2022 - 2023

       

      The Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1996 to develop, advance, manage, conserve, and protect the refuge’s estuarine ecosystem and its fish and wildlife resources. With a variety of coastal habitats, including freshwater and saltwater marsh systems...

      Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge Hunting and No Hunting Zones 2022-2023

      This map displays the hunting and no hunting zones for the 2022-2023 hunting season.

      Get Involved

      From its start in 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge System has owed its very existence to concerned citizens eager to protect America's natural resources.