Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit): 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit) sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 26-October 25. The area is 17,587 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 (Spring Creek Unit)Other FWC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 17,587 acres, measured on FWC's boundary (FWC's regional summary gives 14,600) |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor |
| Deer management unit | DMU C3 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 26-October 25 |
| General gun | November 7-15, November 16-January 3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; 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 | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, horseback riding, fishing and night raccoon hunting |
| Nearest towns | Perry (10 mi), St. Marks (28 mi) and Mayo (29 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit)?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-October 25 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 30-November 1 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-15, November 16-January 3 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; 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, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).
Source: FWC Big Bend - Spring Creek 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 (Spring Creek Unit) need?
- Muzzleloading Gun - 150, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (first 9 days) - 150, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed).
What rules apply on Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit)?
27 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 or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs other than bird dogs or retrievers is prohibited, except during small game season (see small game section for details).
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 at night with a gun is prohibited (see exception for small game season).
Access and vehicles
- Persons must enter and exit the area only at designated entrances (see brochure map).
- Motorized 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, motorized vehicles may be operated only on Spring Creek Road, Rock Road, Swamp Spur, Mule Wallow Spur and Road Spurs 1, 2 and 3.
Camping
- Camping is prohibited, except primitive overnight camping shall be allowed at designated campsites at Spring Warrior Creek, by permit only from the Commission, for those individuals using the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail from September 11 through June 30 only. The 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 at 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.
- Non-protected birds (African and Eurasian collared-doves, common pigeon, Egyptian goose, house sparrow, and common starling) - No bag limits.
- Non-native game species – No bag limits.
From FWC Big Bend - Spring Creek Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit)?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek 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 (Spring Creek Unit) in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Taylor County | 17,585 |
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 (Spring Creek Unit)?
Nearest towns: Perry (10 miles), St. Marks (28 miles) and Mayo (29 miles). FWC's page for the area: Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit).
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Big Bend WMA (Hickory Mound Unit) (next to it), Big Bend WMA (Tide Swamp Unit) (7.2 miles), Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit) (9.3 miles) and Lower Econfina River WMA (9.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit) in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-October 25; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 30-November 1; 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 (Spring Creek 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 (Spring Creek Unit)?
Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit)?
Muzzleloading Gun - 150, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (first 9 days) - 150, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed).
What county is Big Bend WMA (Spring Creek Unit) in?
Taylor County, measured on FWC's boundary.
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Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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.