Big Cypress WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Big Cypress WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, general gun and muzzleloading gun); archery is on September 5-October 4. The area is 713,154 acres of public hunting land in Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Hendry counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's south region. Around it, FWC estimates 2,403 deer were taken in Zone A 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 Cypress WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 713,154 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Hendry |
| Deer management unit | Zone A |
| Deer seasons | Archery, general gun and muzzleloading gun |
| Archery | September 5-October 4 |
| General gun | November 14-January 3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: February 26-March 1; Spring Turkey: March 6-April 11 |
| Legal deer | Antlered deer having at least one antler measuring five inches or more in length with two or more points with each point being one inch or more in length (except in the Corn Dance unit where only antlered deer with at least one antler having four or more points with each point being one inch or more in length may be harvested) |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Everglades (next to it), Marco Island (21 mi) and Florida City (27 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Big Cypress WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 5-October 4 (all units except Loop and Stairsteps) October 10-25, November 14-January 3 (in the Deep Lake Unit only) |
| General Gun Season | November 14-January 3 (except in the Deep Lake, Loop, and Stairsteps units) |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 10-25 (except in the Deep Lake, Loop, and Stairsteps units) |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: February 26-March 1; Spring Turkey: March 6-April 11 |
| Small Game Season | November 9-February 1 (Loop and Stairsteps units) January 4-February 1 (Addition, Bear Island, Corn Dance, Deep Lake, and Turner River units) |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
| Non-Native Reptiles | Allowed year round. |
Legal deer: Antlered deer having at least one antler measuring five inches or more in length with two or more points with each point being one inch or more in length (except in the Corn Dance unit where only antlered deer with at least one antler having four or more points with each point being one inch or more in length may be harvested).
Source: FWC Big Cypress 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 Cypress WMA need?
- Archery (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun (Bear Island Unit, first 9 days) - 200, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun (Bear Island Unit, first 9 days) - 200, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (Turner River Unit, first 9 days) - 250, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (Corn Dance Unit, first 9 days) - 250, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Youth Turkey (Addition Unit) - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey (Bear Island Unit) - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey (Bear Island Unit, first 9 days) - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts (one 4-day hunt followed by one 5-day hunt).
What rules apply on Big Cypress WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- The possession of dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used for hunting migratory birds and non-protected birds during their respective statewide seasons. Any dog may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, non-protected birds, quail, and rabbits 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 may not be used for trailing wounded game.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Hunting deer in the Loop and Stairsteps units is prohibited.
- Hunters in the Jetport Property must follow the Big Cypress WMA season dates, bag limits, and methods of take as applicable to the Corn Dance Unit.
- When check stations are staffed, hunters must check in at a designated check station upon entering the area, check out at the same check station when exiting the area, and check all harvested game.
- In addition to checking all game at an area check station, hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey on the FWC Fish/Hunt Florida app 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.
- Deer, wild hog, and turkey may be divided or consumed in the field, but each portion shall be identified with the license number of the person who took the game and be readily traceable to the portion of the animal bearing sex identification.
Guns
- Hunting on or from the rights-of-way of Burns Road; County Roads 839, 841, 837; State Roads 84 (I-75) or 94; U.S. 41; or L-28 Interceptor Canal levees is prohibited.
- Hunting with centerfire rifles is prohibited in the Loop and Stairsteps units. Only muzzleloading guns and bows may be used to hunt in the Deep Lake Unit.
- 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.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year-round.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane.
- No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
- All vehicles and airboats used on primary designated trails within the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area shall have a National Park Service ORV permit.
- To access the Bear Island Unit, all persons shall enter and exit the area at the Bear Island check station on the north end of Turner River Road or at the I-75 walk-in only access check station, located north of I-75 in the southeast portion of the Bear Island Unit.
Camping
- Camping is allowed in accordance with the regulations of the National Park Service. See the National Park Service Rules and Information section for additional camping rules.
- Camping is prohibited on the L-28 Interceptor Canal levees.
- Primitive camping is allowed throughout the area except in Bear Island Unit, and in Zone 4 when the campsite is accessed by airboat.
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 - Annual limit 1 deer. 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 (except in Corn Dance Unit).
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area Limits - Daily limit 1, season limit 2, possession limit 2. B. Statewide limits - Daily limit 2, season limit 2, possession limit 2.
From FWC Big Cypress regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Big Cypress WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Big Cypress WMA lies in Zone A. FWC estimates 2,403 deer (2,069 bucks, 334 does) in Zone A in the 2023-24 season, 1,270 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 Cypress WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Collier County | 558,582 |
| Monroe County | 129,179 |
| Miami-Dade County | 24,981 |
| Broward County | 309 |
| Hendry County | 102 |
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 Cypress WMA?
Highways through the area: FL 84, FL 93, I-75 and US 41. Nearest towns: Everglades (next to it), Marco Island (21 miles), Florida City (27 miles) and Sweetwater (28 miles). FWC's page for the area: Big Cypress.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA (next to it), Rotenberger WMA (4.8 miles), Picayune Strand WMA (7.7 miles) and Holey Land WMA (8.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Big Cypress WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 5-October 4 (all units except Loop and Stairsteps) October 10-25, November 14-January 3 (in the Deep Lake Unit only); General Gun Season: November 14-January 3 (except in the Deep Lake, Loop, and Stairsteps units); Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 10-25 (except in the Deep Lake, Loop, and Stairsteps units). From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Big Cypress WMA?
Antlered deer having at least one antler measuring five inches or more in length with two or more points with each point being one inch or more in length (except in the Corn Dance unit where only antlered deer with at least one antler having four or more points with each point being one inch or more in length may be harvested), by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Big Cypress WMA?
Hunting deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Big Cypress WMA?
Archery (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun (Bear Island Unit, first 9 days) - 200, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun (Bear Island Unit, first 9 days) - 200, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (Turner River Unit, first 9 days) - 250, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (Corn Dance Unit, first 9 days) - 250, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Youth Turkey (Addition Unit) - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey (Bear Island Unit) - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey (Bear Island Unit, first 9 days) - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts (one 4-day hunt followed by one 5-day hunt).
What county is Big Cypress WMA in?
Collier County (558,582 acres), Monroe County (129,179 acres), Miami-Dade County (24,981 acres), Broward County (309 acres) and Hendry County (102 acres), 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.