Apalachicola River WEA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Apalachicola River WEA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-November 22. The area is 77,492 acres of public hunting land in Franklin and Gulf counties, a wildlife and environmental area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 18,958 deer were taken in DMU D1 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.
Apalachicola River WEAOther FWC WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 77,492 acres, measured on FWC's boundary (FWC's regional summary gives 108,865) |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin, Gulf |
| Deer management unit | DMU D1 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun |
| Archery | October 24-November 22 |
| General gun | November 26-29, December 12-February 3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Legal deer | Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn) |
| Deer dogs | Allowed in a dog season or area (rules below) |
| Also on the area | Small game, released quail, hog hunting, hog dogs, deer dogs, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing and night raccoon hunting |
| Nearest towns | Apalachicola (next to it), Wewahitchka (3 mi) and Port St. Joe (7 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Apalachicola River WEA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 24-November 22 |
| General Gun Season | November 26-29, December 12-February 3 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | December 5-7 |
| Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season | February 4-14 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Fox, Raccoon, Opossum and Bobcat Season | Allowed year round. |
| Wild Hog-Dog Season | 2026 hunt dates: May 15-21, June 19-25, July 17-23, August 21-27, September 18-24 2027 hunt dates: May 21-27, June 18-24 |
| Small Game Season | November 14-March 7 (except rabbits may be hunted year round) |
| Trapping | December 1-March 1 |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).
Source: FWC Apalachicola River 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 Apalachicola River WEA need?
- Quota permits are not required for this area.
What rules apply on Apalachicola River WEA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited in that portion of the area posted as Northwest Florida Water Management District land (except those lands lying south of the Chipola River and east of the St. Joe Canal and during wild hog-dog season in the wild hog-dog area) and on those lands lying east of East Bay and Cash Bayou (except during wild hog-dog season in the wild hog-dog area).
- The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox, or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
- The use of dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, on posted dove fields is prohibited during the first phase of dove 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.
- Deer dog training is prohibited except during the general gun season.
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.
- Hunters must physically attach the provided bear harvest tag to their harvested bear prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report the bear they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See the Florida Bear Hunting Guidebook or MyFWC.com for bear harvest reporting instructions.
Guns
- Taking wildlife at night with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device is prohibited.
- Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer or bear must be .30 caliber or larger if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls.
- Hunting deer or bear with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
- Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with airguns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round.
- Vehicles 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.
- Named or numbered roads may be closed to motorized vehicles by yellow gates in areas with established wildlife plantings beginning 2 days after the end of small game season through the last day of the first phase of dove season. A red gate designates a service road and is closed to motorized vehicles throughout the year.
- 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
- Camping is allowed throughout the area, except within the Tate’s Hell State Forest portion of the area. Camping within designated campgrounds (see map) is allowed by permit only and subject to permit provisions.
- Permits may be obtained through the online reservation system at myfwc.com/viewing/recreation/camping/ or by calling the Northwest Regional Office at (850) 265-3676 during regular business hours (Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. CST).
- Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days and prohibited where posted as “no camping”.
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - See statewide limits below. B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 2 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.
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Daily limit 1. B. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
From FWC Apalachicola River regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Apalachicola River WEA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Apalachicola River WEA lies in DMU D1. FWC estimates 18,958 deer (12,789 bucks, 6,169 does) in DMU D1 in the 2023-24 season, 4,694 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 Apalachicola River WEA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Franklin County | 39,869 |
| Gulf County | 37,586 |
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 Apalachicola River WEA?
Highways through the area: FL 65. Nearest towns: Apalachicola (next to it), Wewahitchka (3 miles), Port St. Joe (7 miles) and Carrabelle (11 miles). FWC's page for the area: Apalachicola River.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Apalachicola WMA (next to it), Tate's Hell WMA (next to it), Box-R WMA (next to it) and Tate's Hell WMA (Womack Creek Unit) (15.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Apalachicola River WEA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 24-November 22; General Gun Season: November 26-29, December 12-February 3; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: February 4-14. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Apalachicola River WEA?
Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length, 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 Apalachicola River WEA?
The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox, or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
Do you need a quota permit for Apalachicola River WEA?
Quota permits are not required for this area.
What county is Apalachicola River WEA in?
Franklin County (39,869 acres) and Gulf County (37,586 acres), measured on FWC's boundary.
Get a Florida hunt plan when they open
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Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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.