Apalachicola WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Apalachicola WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-November 22. The area is 586,071 acres of public hunting land in Liberty, Wakulla, Leon, Franklin and Gulf counties, a wildlife management 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Apalachicola WMA?

Legal deer: Antlered deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 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 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 WMA need?

• Quota permits are not required for this area.

What rules apply on Apalachicola WMA?

Dogs

• The taking or pursuing of deer, bear, 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.
• During the deer and bear dog training season, deer and bear dogs may be allowed to run free for training purposes, but the take of wildlife with a gun (including archery equipment) while training deer and bear dogs is prohibited. Deer and bear dogs may be trained beginning 1/2 hour before sunrise on October 31 through 11:59 p.m. on November 19 (including during non-daylight hours), but only in the designated Fox Hunt Area (see map).
• Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs and retrievers, is prohibited in the Still Hunt Areas (see map), except as allowed in # 4 under "Small Game Season".
• Bird dogs may be trained June 1 through March 7, except in the Quail Enhancement Area where bird dogs may be trained November 1 through December 31 only.
• 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.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• Quail hunting is prohibited in the Quail Enhancement Area (QEA) except during the quail season. Other wildlife may be hunted in the QEA as described in this brochure. For more information on hunting quail in the QEA, see myfwc.com/hunting/quail/.
• 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 the 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

• Hunting with a gun or archery equipment is prohibited on or from the rights-of-way of U.S. Highway 319, State Roads 12, 65, 263, 267, 373, 379, County Roads 67, 260, 299, 368, 375, or that portion of County Road 22 east of the Ochlockonee River.
• Hunting deer is prohibited within 50 yards of the rights-of-way of County Road 375.
• 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.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round.
• Motorized vehicles are allowed only on designated, named or numbered roads and mixed-use roads, except all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and unlicensed and unregistered vehicles (including motorcycles) are allowed only on designated motorized trails and mixed-use roads. The use of ATVs is prohibited on Northwest Florida Water Management District (WMD) lands (see map).
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
• No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
• A marked footpath called the Florida National Scenic Trail (Florida Trail) traverses the area. This trail is open to hikers throughout the year.

Camping

• Camping in the National Forest is allowed year round but is limited to a 14-day stay, except during the general gun season. During the general gun season, camping is allowed only in designated campsites indicated on the hunt map and is limited to tents, trailers or self-propelled camping vehicles. Campers may stay in the campsites from 14 days before to 14 days after the general gun season. Hickory, Whitehead and Mack Landings have restrooms and water and require camping fees. All other hunt camps are free of charge and have no permanent restrooms or water. For additional information on camping in the Apalachicola National Forest, contact the U.S. Forest Service at 850-926-3561 or 850-643-2282.
• Within the portion of the area posted as Northwest Florida Water Management District land, camping is allowed throughout the area (except where posted as “no camping”), but shall not exceed 14 days within any consecutive 30-day period. Camping within designated campgrounds (see map) is allowed by permit only and subject to permit provisions. To make a camping reservation, please visit www.nwfwater.com. Camping is limited to tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles only. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers are prohibited, unless contained in mobile campers. Lumber, sheet metal or other building materials are prohibited.

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 regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Apalachicola WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Apalachicola WMA lies in DMU D1 and DMU C3. 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 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 Apalachicola WMA?

Highways through the area: FL 65, FL 267, FL 260 and FL 373. Nearest towns: Sopchoppy (next to it), Wewahitchka (3 miles), Midway (4 miles) and Tallahassee (6 miles). FWC's page for the area: Apalachicola.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Apalachicola River WEA (next to it), Tate's Hell WMA (next to it), Tate's Hell WMA (Womack Creek Unit) (next to it) and Apalachicola WMA (Bradwell Unit) (next to it).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Apalachicola WMA 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 WMA?

Antlered deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 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 WMA?

The taking or pursuing of deer, bear, 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 WMA?

Quota permits are not required for this area.

What county is Apalachicola WMA in?

Liberty County (292,394 acres), Wakulla County (167,552 acres), Leon County (102,797 acres), Franklin County (22,741 acres) and Gulf County (575 acres), 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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