Belmore WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Belmore WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and general gun); archery is on September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11. The area is 8,763 acres of public hunting land in Clay County, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 8,975 deer were taken in DMU C6 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 Belmore 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 fawns).

Source: FWC Belmore 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 Belmore WMA need?

• Archery - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Belmore WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel, migratory birds, and non-protected birds) during small game season and waterfowl retrievers may be used during duck, geese and coot seasons.
• 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, including bear.
• Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
• Taking bear with the aid of 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.
• 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 at night with a gun 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 nonexpanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
• Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset.
• Persons must enter and exit at a designated entrance.
• Motor vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• Airboats, all-terrain vehicles, tracked vehicles and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles are prohibited.
• Horses and bicycles are allowed only on named roads or designated trails.

Camping

• Prohibited.

Bag limits

• A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, bear, 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 - Archery season - 1 antlered or 1 antlerless deer per quota permit. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 1 antlered deer per quota permit. Family Hunts – 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit. 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 bag or size limit.

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

How many deer are taken around Belmore WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Belmore WMA lies in DMU C6. FWC estimates 8,975 deer (5,636 bucks, 3,339 does) in DMU C6 in the 2023-24 season, 1,298 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 Belmore 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 Belmore WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 21. Nearest towns: Penney Farms (6 miles), Keystone Heights (10 miles), Green Cove Springs (12 miles) and Interlachen (12 miles). FWC's page for the area: Belmore.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Etoniah Creek WMA (next to it), Camp Blanding WMA (1.4 miles), J.P. Hall Bayard Point WMA (9.9 miles) and Santa Fe Swamp WEA (10.7 miles).

Questions hunters ask

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

Archery Season: September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26; Family Hunt: November 7-8, 21-22; General Gun Season: November 12-15, 25-29. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Belmore 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 fawns), by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Belmore WMA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Belmore WMA.

Do you need a quota permit for Belmore WMA?

Archery - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Belmore WMA in?

Clay 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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