DMU C3 deer harvest: Florida estimates, 2019-20 to 2023-24
FWC's harvest survey estimates hunters took 14,293 deer in DMU C3 in the 2023-24 season: 9,798 bucks and 4,495 does, 2,268 on public land and 12,016 on private land. That is 16.3% of the deer FWC assigns to its 10 units, 3rd of the 10, about 2.9 per square mile of the unit. From 2019-20 to 2023-24 the estimate has run from 8,997 (2021-22) to 14,293 (2023-24), 11,086 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 C3Other FWC WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
How many deer are killed in DMU C3 each season?
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Does | Public land | Private land | Share of all units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 14,293 | 9,798 | 4,495 | 2,268 | 12,016 | 16.3% |
| 2022-23 | 11,563 | 8,263 | 3,300 | 2,162 | 8,617 | 13.1% |
| 2021-22 | 8,997 | 6,492 | 2,505 | 2,026 | 6,965 | 12.2% |
| 2020-21 | 9,031 | 6,249 | 2,782 | 1,688 | 7,348 | 14% |
| 2019-20 | 11,546 | 8,095 | 3,451 | 2,317 | 9,229 | 16.8% |
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 C3?
DMU C3 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 C3?
| WMA | Acres in DMU C3 |
|---|---|
| Aucilla WMA | 51,393 |
| Citrus WMA | 48,107 |
| Goethe WMA | 47,590 |
| Mallory Swamp WMA | 30,703 |
| Chassahowitzka WMA | 27,946 |
| Gulf Hammock WMA | 24,002 |
| Big Bend WMA (Tide Swamp Unit) | 22,438 |
| Steinhatchee Springs WMA | 21,113 |
| Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit) | 20,320 |
| Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit) | 18,914 |
| Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit) | 17,502 |
| Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit) | 11,557 |
| Plank Road WMA | 9,044 |
| Devil's Hammock WMA | 7,491 |
| Homosassa WMA | 6,047 |
| Apalachicola WMA | 4,896 |
| Cedar Key Scrub WMA | 4,526 |
| Wakulla WMA | 4,171 |
| Andrews WMA | 3,511 |
| Lower Econfina River WMA | 2,584 |
| Middle Aucilla WMA | 2,245 |
| Lafayette Forest WEA | 2,145 |
| Fort White WEA | 1,654 |
| Watermelon Pond WEA | 1,288 |
| Log Landing WMA | 1,149 |
Measured by FilledTag on FWC White-tailed Deer Management Unit Areas and FWC Wildlife Management Areas Florida (open data).
Which counties are in DMU C3?
| County | Acres in the unit |
|---|---|
| Levy County | 698,913 |
| Taylor County | 528,810 |
| Dixie County | 459,196 |
| Citrus County | 323,024 |
| Lafayette County | 277,102 |
| Gilchrist County | 227,300 |
| Jefferson County | 151,593 |
| Wakulla County | 127,556 |
| Hernando County | 122,301 |
| Leon County | 86,720 |
| Alachua County | 59,263 |
| Marion County | 40,310 |
| Columbia County | 23,051 |
| Suwannee County | 14,956 |
| Madison County | 4,080 |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Florida's DMU C3?
About 14,293 in the 2023-24 season by FWC's harvest survey: 9,798 bucks and 4,495 does. It is a survey estimate, not a count.
How much of the DMU C3 harvest comes from public land?
2,268 of the 14,284 deer FWC split by land type in 2023-24, or 16%.
What counties are in DMU C3?
Levy (698,913 acres), Taylor (528,810 acres), Dixie (459,196 acres), Citrus (323,024 acres), Lafayette (277,102 acres), Gilchrist (227,300 acres), Jefferson (151,593 acres) and Wakulla (127,556 acres) and others, measured on FWC's DMU map.
When is deer season in DMU C3?
DMU C3 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.