Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit): 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit) sets 2 deer seasons (archery and general gun); archery is on September 26-October 25. The area is 19,160 acres of public hunting land in Dixie 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 (Jena Unit)Other FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 19,160 acres, measured on FWC's boundary (FWC's regional summary gives 11,651) |
|---|---|
| County | Dixie |
| Deer management unit | DMU C3 |
| Deer seasons | Archery and general gun |
| Archery | September 26-October 25 |
| General gun | November 7-15, November 16-January 3 |
| Spring turkey | 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 |
| Deer dogs | Allowed in a dog season or area (rules below) |
| Also on the area | Small game, deer dogs, horseback riding, fishing, night raccoon hunting and hog dogs |
| Nearest towns | Horseshoe Beach (next to it), Cross City (13 mi) and Fanning Springs (20 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit)?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-October 25 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-15, November 16-January 3 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Spring Turkey: 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.
Source: FWC Big Bend - Jena 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 (Jena Unit) need?
- General Gun (first 9 days) - 135, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed).
What rules apply on Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit)?
28 of the area's rules on dogs, guns, check stations, access, camping and bag limits are word for word the same as on Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit), and are listed there. The rules below are the ones that differ.
Dogs
- Hunting deer with dogs is allowed during general gun season only.
- Hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except during the first 9 days of general gun season.
- Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
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.
Guns
- Hunting with a gun or archery equipment on or from the rights-of-way of CR 351 and CR 361 is prohibited.
Access and vehicles
- 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. Vehicles may not be operated on any road that has been gated or posted as closed to vehicular traffic.
Camping
- Only primitive camping is allowed and only at designated sites at the mouth of Sink Creek and south of Horseshoe Beach, by permit only from the Commission, for those individuals using the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail, from September 11 through June 30 only. This permit shall be valid for through paddlers only and shall be valid for 1 night only. To obtain a permit call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (850-488-5520).
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 - See statewide limits below. The take of antlerless deer is prohibited on this area. 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.
- Non-protected birds (African and Eurasian collared-doves, common pigeon, Egyptian goose, house sparrow, and common starling) - No bag limits.
From FWC Big Bend - Jena Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit)?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Big Bend WMA (Jena 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 (Jena Unit) in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Dixie County | 18,760 |
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 (Jena Unit)?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 51. Nearest towns: Horseshoe Beach (next to it), Cross City (13 miles), Fanning Springs (20 miles) and Chiefland (22 miles). FWC's page for the area: Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit).
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Big Bend WMA (Tide Swamp Unit) (next to it), Steinhatchee Springs WMA (8.1 miles), Andrews WMA (16.1 miles) and Mallory Swamp WMA (17.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit) in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-October 25; General Gun Season: November 7-15, November 16-January 3. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Big Bend WMA (Jena 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, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit)?
Hunting deer with dogs is allowed during general gun season only.
Do you need a quota permit for Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit)?
General Gun (first 9 days) - 135, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed).
What county is Big Bend WMA (Jena Unit) in?
Dixie 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.