DMU C5 deer harvest: Florida estimates, 2019-20 to 2023-24
FWC's harvest survey estimates hunters took 7,315 deer in DMU C5 in the 2023-24 season: 4,762 bucks and 2,553 does, 269 on public land and 7,047 on private land. That is 8.3% of the deer FWC assigns to its 10 units, 5th of the 10, about 2.5 per square mile of the unit. From 2019-20 to 2023-24 the estimate has run from 4,952 (2020-21) to 10,989 (2022-23), 7,416 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 C5Other FWC WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
How many deer are killed in DMU C5 each season?
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Does | Public land | Private land | Share of all units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 7,315 | 4,762 | 2,553 | 269 | 7,047 | 8.3% |
| 2022-23 | 10,989 | 7,418 | 3,571 | 418 | 10,263 | 12.4% |
| 2021-22 | 6,327 | 4,372 | 1,955 | 519 | 5,809 | 8.6% |
| 2020-21 | 4,952 | 3,264 | 1,688 | not given | not given | 7.7% |
| 2019-20 | 7,497 | 5,108 | 2,389 | 592 | 6,902 | 10.9% |
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 C5?
DMU C5 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 C5?
| WMA | Acres in DMU C5 |
|---|---|
| Twin Rivers WMA | 9,762 |
| Holton Creek WMA | 2,567 |
| Little River WMA | 2,199 |
| L. Kirk Edwards WEA | 1,761 |
| Suwannee Ridge WEA | 1,438 |
Measured by FilledTag on FWC White-tailed Deer Management Unit Areas and FWC Wildlife Management Areas Florida (open data).
Which counties are in DMU C5?
| County | Acres in the unit |
|---|---|
| Madison County | 453,038 |
| Suwannee County | 426,296 |
| Jefferson County | 239,149 |
| Leon County | 204,828 |
| Columbia County | 146,790 |
| Taylor County | 143,337 |
| Hamilton County | 117,212 |
| Lafayette County | 73,492 |
| Gadsden County | 27,051 |
| Alachua County | 16,720 |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Florida's DMU C5?
About 7,315 in the 2023-24 season by FWC's harvest survey: 4,762 bucks and 2,553 does. It is a survey estimate, not a count.
How much of the DMU C5 harvest comes from public land?
269 of the 7,316 deer FWC split by land type in 2023-24, or 4%.
What counties are in DMU C5?
Madison (453,038 acres), Suwannee (426,296 acres), Jefferson (239,149 acres), Leon (204,828 acres), Columbia (146,790 acres), Taylor (143,337 acres), Hamilton (117,212 acres) and Lafayette (73,492 acres) and others, measured on FWC's DMU map.
When is deer season in DMU C5?
DMU C5 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.