St. Vincent NWR, located on a barrier island off the coast of Florida, offers one of the most interesting big game hunting opportunities on the continent. Each fall, lucky hunters drawn by lottery hire boats to take them to the island, where they camp at the location of the hunt. Hunters must bring all supplies, including fresh water, with them. Seasons are offered for archery-only and primitive-weapons (including bow and muzzleloader) hunters. Hunters may pursue white-tailed deer and may also take unlimited feral hogs and raccoons. A skinning rack is available for hunters to use at game check stations. Another opportunity on the Refuge allows hunters to pursue the introduced sambar deer, a 300- to 400-pound Asian deer that roams the island. This is one of the few places in the world to pursue this exotic species, but the hunts are extremely difficult. The deer prefer thick habitat and are extremely wary of human presence. Of the 200 hunters chosen by lottery, only about six or seven will bag a sambar. Hunters on sambar hunts may also take feral hogs and raccoons. Hunters will find an enchanting island with many interesting wildlife species, including a pack of red wolves, bald eagles and sea turtles.
St. Vincent Island offers some of the most unique hunting opportunities found on any wildlife refuge. For hunters wanting to rough it and go after “big game” there is the primitive weapon (muzzle and bow) Sambar deer hunt. This elusive deer which is native to Southeast Asia can measure up to 6 ft. tall and can weigh up to 700 lbs. The 200 permits for this hunt are issued through a lottery that attracts between 1200 and 1400 applicants. Permits for the two other hunts, white-tailed deer archery hunt and white-tailed deer primitive weapon hunt, are issued to the first 250 applicants. ($35 fee). The application process is done through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Permitting System. Camping is primitive and all supplies must be carried to the island and transported on foot to designated camping areas. Unlimited hogs and raccoons may be taken during all three public hunts.
