Apalachee WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Apalachee WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, general gun and muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-November 22. The area is 7,869 acres of public hunting land in Jackson County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 19,321 deer were taken in DMU D2 in the 2023-24 season.

Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: FWC's 2026-27 regulations summary for the area. Harvest: FWC's statewide deer harvest survey by DMU, 2023-24.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Apalachee WMA?

Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).

Source: FWC Apalachee regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, read October 2026. The brochure and FWC's rules are the final word.

What quota permits does Apalachee WMA need?

• General Gun (Zone A; if hunting before Dec. 22) - 200, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Spring Turkey (Zones A, B and C) - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 6 hunts.

What rules apply on Apalachee WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited, except any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds) and non-protected birds in zones B and C, for hunting gray squirrel during quail season in Zone A, and for hunting raccoon and opossum during the raccoon season. The take of deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited. Taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited, except during the raccoon season.
• No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the taking of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited.
• Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
• Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
• The take of deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• Hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report any deer or turkey they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.
• Entrance gates will be open for scouting during daylight hours 1 week prior to the archery season and 1 day prior to the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons.

Guns

• Hunting with centerfire and rimfire rifles is prohibited. Hunting with muzzleloading rifles is only allowed during the muzzleloading gun season.
• Hunting on or from the rights-of-way of C.R. 271 is prohibited.
• Taking wildlife at night with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device is prohibited.
• Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer must be .30 caliber or larger if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round. During periods when the area is closed to hunting, public access other than by foot, bicycle or horse is prohibited, except as provided below.
• Vehicle access is only allowed: during periods open to hunting; during daylight hours only 1 week prior to archery season, and 1 day prior to muzzleloading gun, general gun, and spring turkey seasons; and year round on Rock Pond Road.
• Vehicles (including ATVs) may be operated only on named or numbered roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
• No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.

Camping

• Prohibited.

Bag limits

• A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, and quail, except when these bag limits are specified as per person. The host is responsible for violations that exceed the bag limit.
• Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Unless noted here, see statewide limits below. General gun - 1 antlerless deer may be taken per antlerless deer permit. Muzzleloading gun - The take of antlerless deer is prohibited. B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 3 of which may be antlerless), daily limit 2, possession limit 4. C. As part of the statewide annual deer limit, youth less than 16 years of age may harvest 1 deer annually not meeting antler point requirements but having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.
• Wild hog - No size or bag limit.

From FWC Apalachee regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Apalachee WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Apalachee WMA lies in DMU D2. FWC estimates 19,321 deer (11,545 bucks, 7,776 does) in DMU D2 in the 2023-24 season, 3,151 of them on public land.

Source: FWC 2023-24 Harvest Survey Results. FWC's per-area harvest figures are in its WMA harvest reports tool.

Which county is Apalachee WMA in?

Measured by FilledTag on FWC Wildlife Management Areas Florida (open data) and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries.

How do you get to Apalachee WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 10, US 90, FL 69 and FL 2. Nearest towns: Sneads (3 miles), Grand Ridge (5 miles), Chattahoochee (7 miles) and Bascom (7 miles). FWC's page for the area: Apalachee.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Chipola River WMA (13.9 miles), Beaverdam Creek WMA (15.9 miles), Telogia Creek WMA (22.8 miles) and Econfina Creek WMA (24 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Apalachee WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: October 24-November 22 (Zones A, B, and C); General Gun Season: November 26-29 (Zones A, B, and C) December 12-February 14 (Zone C) December 12-February 14 (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only; Zones A and B); Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7 (Zones A, B, and C). From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Apalachee WMA?

Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn), by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Apalachee WMA?

Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited, except any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds) and non-protected birds in zones B and C, for hunting gray squirrel during quail season in Zone A, and for hunting raccoon and opossum during the raccoon season. The take of deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited. Taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited, except during the raccoon season.

Do you need a quota permit for Apalachee WMA?

General Gun (Zone A; if hunting before Dec. 22) - 200, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Spring Turkey (Zones A, B and C) - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 6 hunts.

What county is Apalachee WMA in?

Jackson County, measured on FWC's boundary.

You need a hunting license, a management area permit and any quota permit the area lists, plus deer and turkey permits as FWC requires. Statewide WMA basics. FilledTag is not part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; seasons and rules are copied from FWC's brochure, maps from FWC's WMA layer, each with its source above.

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