Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit): 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit) sets 2 deer seasons (archery and general gun); archery is on September 26-October 25. The area is 20,437 acres of public hunting land in Taylor County, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 14,293 deer were taken in DMU C3 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.
Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit)Other FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 20,437 acres, measured on FWC's boundary (FWC's regional summary gives 14,427) |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor |
| Deer management unit | DMU C3 |
| Deer seasons | Archery and general gun |
| Archery | September 26-October 25 |
| General gun | November 7-15, 16-22, November 23-January 3 |
| 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, hog dogs, deer dogs, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing and night raccoon hunting |
| Nearest towns | Perry (12 mi), St. Marks (19 mi) and Greenville (29 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit)?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-October 25 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-15, 16-22, November 23-January 3 |
| Spring Turkey Season | March 20-April 25 |
| Small Game Season | November 16-March 7 |
| Trapping | January 11-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 Big Bend - Hickory Mound Unit 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 Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit) need?
- General Gun (first 9 days) - 175, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). This permit is not needed for hunting ducks, geese and coot in the Hickory Mound Impoundment.
What rules apply on Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit)?
Dogs
- Hunting deer with dogs is allowed only during the general gun season.
- 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.
- Hunting with dogs is allowed during the general gun and small game seasons.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited [including deer dog training] during the archery 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.
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 within 24 hours of recovery. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.
- Hunting from permanent blinds or structures in the Hickory Mound Impoundment is prohibited.
Guns
- Only shotguns, bows or crossbows are allowed for hunting in the Hickory Mound Impoundment, but shotguns may be used for hunting only on days when waterfowl hunting is allowed and only for hunting migratory game birds.
- The take of wildlife with any firearm from the Hickory Mound Impoundment dikes is prohibited.
- Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (see exceptions for general gun and small game seasons).
- Taking wildlife at night with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device is prohibited.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round.
- Persons must enter and exit only at designated entrances.
- Motorized vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads from September 1 through April 30. From May 1 through August 31, motorized vehicles may be operated only on Cow Creek Grade, Coker Road, J. C. Franklin Grade and Swartz Tram west of J. C. Franklin Grade, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
- Airboats and vehicles are prohibited inside the Hickory Mound Impoundment.
- Gas-powered outboard motors are prohibited in the Hickory Mound Impoundment, except motors of 4 hp or less are allowed from April 1 through August 30.
Camping
- Camping is prohibited, except for primitive overnight camping at designated sites at Rock Island by through paddlers using the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail from September 11 through June 30, if in possession of a camping permit from the Commission (850-488-5520). The permit will be valid for 1 night only.
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. No person shall exceed statewide 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.
From FWC Big Bend - Hickory Mound Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit)?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit) lies in DMU C3. FWC estimates 14,293 deer (9,798 bucks, 4,495 does) in DMU C3 in the 2023-24 season, 2,268 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 Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit) in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Taylor County | 20,424 |
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 Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit)?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 30 and US 98. Nearest towns: Perry (12 miles), St. Marks (19 miles) and Greenville (29 miles). FWC's page for the area: Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit).
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit) (next to it), Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit) (1.7 miles), Lower Econfina River WMA (4.8 miles) and Aucilla WMA (7.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit) in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-October 25; General Gun Season: November 7-15, 16-22, November 23-January 3. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit)?
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 Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit)?
Hunting deer with dogs is allowed only during the general gun season.
Do you need a quota permit for Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit)?
General Gun (first 9 days) - 175, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). This permit is not needed for hunting ducks, geese and coot in the Hickory Mound Impoundment.
What county is Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit) in?
Taylor County, measured on FWC's boundary.
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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.