Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit): 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit) sets 5 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun mobility-impaired and family hunt); archery is on October 24-27, October 28-November 1. The area is 7,726 acres of public hunting land in Santa Rosa County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 19,321 deer were taken in DMU D2 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit)?

Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 4 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 14 inches or more, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).

Source: FWC Blackwater - Hutton 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 Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit) need?

• Dove - 40, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Archery - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Quail - 8, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Mobility-impaired General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Family Hunt - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit)?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited, except any dog may be used to take wild hog during wild hog-dog season. The take of deer and furbearers with dogs is prohibited.
• 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.
• Bird dogs may be trained Monday through Friday in October (except during 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.
• Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• When the check station is staffed during the dove, archery, muzzleloading gun, quail, general gun, mobility-impaired general gun, and family hunt seasons, hunters must check in at the check station upon entering the area and check out upon leaving the area and check all harvested wildlife. Check station hours are from 5 a.m. through 1 hour after sunset.
• See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.
• Access to the area for wild hog-dog hunts is through Entrances A and B on Deaton Bridge Road (see map).

Guns

• Hunting with firearms other than centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns is prohibited during quail season.
• Taking wildlife at night with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device 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.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round, except during hunting seasons only individuals participating in a hunt are allowed vehicular access.
• Motor vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map (except as provided below for mobility-impaired and quail hunts) and shall enter and exit only at designated entrances (see map), except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are prohibited, except mobility-impaired hunters may operate ATVs on established roads, trails and firebreaks only during the mobility-impaired general gun season.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
• No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.

Camping

• Camping equipment may be taken onto the WMA after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the season.
• Camping is allowed only at designated campsites.

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 - 2 deer per day, but only 1 antlered deer per quota permit. Muzzleloading and general gun seasons - 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but only 1 per person. One antlerless deer may also be taken per antlerless deer permit. Mobility-impaired general gun season - 2 deer per quota permit (antlerless deer harvest is limited to 1 per day and only by mobility-impaired hunters). Family hunt - 3 deer per quota permit, but no more than 1 antlered deer per person and no more than 1 antlerless deer per quota permit. B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 3 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 Blackwater - Hutton Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit)?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit) lies in DMU D2. FWC estimates 19,321 deer (11,545 bucks, 7,776 does) in DMU D2 in the 2023-24 season, 3,151 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 Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit) in?

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 Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit)?

Highways within 5 miles: I-10 and FL 87. Nearest towns: Milton (7 miles), Crestview (18 miles), Pensacola (21 miles) and Jay (21 miles). FWC's page for the area: Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit).

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Blackwater WMA (next to it), Yellow River WMA (next to it) and Escribano Point WMA (6.7 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit) in 2026-27?

Archery Season: October 24-27, October 28-November 1; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7; General Gun Season: January 16-19, 20-24; General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season: January 29-31, February 5-7; Family Hunt: February 13-14. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit)?

Deer with at least 1 antler having 4 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 14 inches or more, 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 Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit)?

Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited, except any dog may be used to take wild hog during wild hog-dog season. The take of deer and furbearers with dogs is prohibited.

Do you need a quota permit for Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit)?

Dove - 40, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Archery - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Quail - 8, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Mobility-impaired General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Family Hunt - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit) in?

Santa Rosa County, measured on FWC's boundary.

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.

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