Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit): 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit) sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 26-October 4, October 5-25. The area is 11,565 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 (Snipe Island Unit)Other FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 11,565 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor |
| Deer management unit | DMU C3 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 26-October 4, October 5-25 |
| General gun | November 7-15, 16-29 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-28, March 29-April 4, April 5-11 |
| 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 | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, horseback riding, hiking trails and fishing |
| Nearest towns | St. Marks (14 mi), Perry (18 mi) and Tallahassee (27 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit)?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-October 4, October 5-25 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 30-November 1 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-15, 16-29 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-28, March 29-April 4, April 5-11 |
| Small Game Season | November 16-March 7 |
| Trapping | January 9-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 - Snipe Island 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 (Snipe Island Unit) need?
- Archery (first 9 days) - 100, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 100, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun (first 9 days) - 100, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey (first 16 days) - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit)?
Dogs
- Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs other than bird dogs or waterfowl retrievers is prohibited, except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during small game 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.
- Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
- Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, 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 form 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 at night with a gun is prohibited.
- Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer 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 with rimfire or non-expanding, 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.
- During archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun and spring turkey seasons, no person shall enter or exit the area except through designated entrances.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads from September 1 through April 30, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page. From May 1 through August 31, vehicles may be operated only on Mandalay Road and Snipe Island Grade.
- The use of airboats, ATVs, tracked vehicles or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.
- Horses are allowed year round.
Camping
- Prohibited.
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 - Archery season - 1 antlered or antlerless deer per person per day. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 1 antlered deer per person per day. 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 - Snipe Island Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit)?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island 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 (Snipe Island Unit) in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Taylor County | 11,564 |
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 (Snipe Island Unit)?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 30 and US 98. Nearest towns: St. Marks (14 miles), Perry (18 miles), Tallahassee (27 miles) and Monticello (28 miles). FWC's page for the area: Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit).
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Aucilla WMA (next to it), Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit) (1.7 miles), Lower Econfina River WMA (2 miles) and Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit) (9.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit) in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-October 4, October 5-25; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 30-November 1; General Gun Season: November 7-15, 16-29. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island 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 (Snipe Island Unit)?
Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit)?
Archery (first 9 days) - 100, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 100, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun (first 9 days) - 100, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey (first 16 days) - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island 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.