DMU C1 deer harvest: Florida estimates, 2019-20 to 2023-24
FWC's harvest survey estimates hunters took 4,506 deer in DMU C1 in the 2023-24 season: 3,179 bucks and 1,327 does, 1,239 on public land and 3,261 on private land. That is 5.1% of the deer FWC assigns to its 10 units, 7th of the 10, about 0.7 per square mile of the unit. From 2019-20 to 2023-24 the estimate has run from 3,438 (2020-21) to 4,680 (2022-23), 4,037 on average. The unit is in hunting Zone C.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: FWC's statewide deer harvest survey, 2019-20 to 2023-24. Seasons: FWC's 2026-27 deer seasons.
DMU C1Other FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
How many deer are killed in DMU C1 each season?
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Does | Public land | Private land | Share of all units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 4,506 | 3,179 | 1,327 | 1,239 | 3,261 | 5.1% |
| 2022-23 | 4,680 | 3,365 | 1,315 | 1,209 | 3,266 | 5.3% |
| 2021-22 | 4,115 | 2,981 | 1,134 | 1,224 | 2,837 | 5.6% |
| 2020-21 | 3,438 | 2,483 | 955 | 757 | 2,642 | 5.3% |
| 2019-20 | 3,447 | 2,305 | 1,142 | 820 | 2,622 | 5% |
Source: FWC statewide deer harvest reports, Figures 1 and 2 of each year's results. Deer is bucks and does added together by FilledTag; FWC's public and private split can differ slightly from that sum, and is "not given" where FWC's figure could not be matched to that unit and season. Share of all units: the unit's deer as a share of the deer in all 10 units that season. FWC's harvest survey reports Zone A as one unit; FWC now splits Zone A into DMUs A1, A2 and A3, mapped here together. The figures are estimates from FWC's survey of hunters, not a count of deer checked.
When is deer season in DMU C1?
DMU C1 is in hunting Zone C. Its private land seasons for 2026-27:
| Archery | Sept. 19-Oct. 18 |
|---|---|
| Crossbow | Sept. 19-Oct. 23 |
| Muzzleloading gun | Oct. 24-Nov. 6 |
| Youth deer weekend | Oct. 31-Nov. 1 |
| General gun | Nov. 7-Jan. 24 |
| Antlerless deer, general gun | Nov. 21-29 (DMU C5: Nov. 7-Dec. 6) |
| Deer-dog training | Oct. 3-22 |
FWC's statewide deer limits are 2 a day, 4 in possession and 5 a year, of which only 2 may be antlerless (3 of the 5 in DMU D2). Antler point rules for antlered deer differ by deer management unit. These seasons and limits are for private land: wildlife management areas set their own, on each area's brochure. Every deer and turkey must be reported through FWC's harvest reporting.
Source: FWC 2026-27 deer seasons and bag limits; antler point rules by DMU: FWC hunting zone maps and deer management units.
Where is the public hunting land in DMU C1?
| WMA | Acres in DMU C1 |
|---|---|
| Arbuckle WMA | 13,734 |
| KICCO WMA | 7,315 |
| Kissimmee River PUA | 6,358 |
| Walk-in-the-Water WMA | 6,026 |
| Orange Hammock WMA | 5,778 |
| Hickory Hammock WMA | 3,692 |
| Weekiwachee WMA | 2,845 |
| Lake Wales Ridge WMA (Royce Unit) | 2,682 |
Measured by FilledTag on FWC White-tailed Deer Management Unit Areas and FWC Wildlife Management Areas Florida (open data).
Which counties are in DMU C1?
| County | Acres in the unit |
|---|---|
| Polk County | 559,094 |
| Highlands County | 534,171 |
| Manatee County | 507,580 |
| Hillsborough County | 499,921 |
| Hardee County | 408,464 |
| Sarasota County | 387,502 |
| Pasco County | 281,409 |
| DeSoto County | 224,630 |
| Pinellas County | 197,781 |
| Charlotte County | 133,187 |
| Hernando County | 110,485 |
| Okeechobee County | 344 |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Florida's DMU C1?
About 4,506 in the 2023-24 season by FWC's harvest survey: 3,179 bucks and 1,327 does. It is a survey estimate, not a count.
How much of the DMU C1 harvest comes from public land?
1,239 of the 4,500 deer FWC split by land type in 2023-24, or 28%.
What counties are in DMU C1?
Polk (559,094 acres), Highlands (534,171 acres), Manatee (507,580 acres), Hillsborough (499,921 acres), Hardee (408,464 acres), Sarasota (387,502 acres), Pasco (281,409 acres) and DeSoto (224,630 acres) and others, measured on FWC's DMU map.
When is deer season in DMU C1?
DMU C1 is in Zone C: archery Sept. 19-Oct. 18; crossbow Sept. 19-Oct. 23; muzzleloading gun Oct. 24-Nov. 6; youth deer weekend Oct. 31-Nov. 1; general gun Nov. 7-Jan. 24 on private land. WMAs set their own dates.
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Sources: FWC statewide deer harvest reports; FWC 2026-27 deer seasons and bag limits; FWC White-tailed Deer Management Unit Areas. FilledTag is not part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.