Blackwater WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Blackwater WMA sets 6 deer seasons (archery, general gun still, general gun dog, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-November 22. The area is 191,470 acres of public hunting land in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, 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?

Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn) from October 24 through November 22 only.

Source: FWC Blackwater 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 need?

• General Gun Still (first 13 days and last 17 days) - 1,800, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun Dog - 450, no-cost, quota permits for each of 2 hunts (first 20 days and last 24 days)(exemptions allowed). Note: the Blackwater general gun dog hunt quota permits are transferable. Family Hunt - 150, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Archery/Muzzleloading Gun (Field Trial Area) - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed).

What rules apply on Blackwater WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited in the Still Hunt and Field Trial areas, except any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds in season) and non-protected birds during the small game and general gun seasons and to hunt wild hog during the wild hog-dog season. Hunting wild hog with dogs during the small game season is prohibited, except in the Dog Hunt Area (including the Fox Hunt Area).
• Bird dogs may be trained throughout the year, except during the spring turkey season and in the Field Trial and Quail Enhancement Areas. Bird dogs may be trained in the Quail Enhancement Area only during the bird dog training season (November 1 through December 31); a general gun quota permit is required if training during the general gun quota period. Dogs are prohibited in the Field Trial Area, except as specifically authorized by permit, during the bird dog training season (October 1-15 and November 14-30), and throughout the dove, quail, waterfowl, and wild hog-dog hunting seasons.
• 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

• Hunting quail in the Field Trial and Quail Enhancement areas (see map) is allowed only during the quail season dates specified in this brochure.
• During the family hunt only, all hunt participants must check in at the designated check station prior to hunting and check all harvested wildlife when the check station is staffed.
• Hunting is prohibited on Bear, Karick, and Krul lakes, and the eastern portion of Hurricane Lake (see map).
• In addition to checking all game at an area check station (during the family hunt), 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 is prohibited on or from the rights-of-way of State Road 4 and 189; U.S. 90; County Road 2, 180 and 191; Beaver Creek Highway, Bryant Bridge, Norman Riley, Sandy Forest, Pleasant Home, Bob Pitts, Deaton Bridge, Indian Ford, Red Rock, Shockley Springs, State Line, Sherman Kennedy, Hurricane Lake, Belandville and Sellersville roads; paved portions of Camp Lowery Road and Green Road; and Carpenter Road from County Road 191 to Juniper Creek.
• Taking wildlife with a gun or archery equipment within 300 yards of any public campsite is prohibited.
• 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.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round.
• A marked footpath called the Florida National Scenic Trail (Florida Trail) traverses the area. This trail is open to hikers throughout the year.
• Only street-legal vehicles are allowed. The use of airboats, tracked vehicles, swamp buggies or other off-highway vehicles (including all-terrain vehicles, side-by-sides, and off-highway motorcycles) is prohibited, except by permit from the Florida Forest Service. Find more information for permits to use off-highway vehicles at the Clear Creek OHV Riding Area on the Recreation Areas at Blackwater River State Forest Webpage.
• Street-legal motor vehicles may be operated only on named and numbered roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• The Florida Gas Transmission Line is closed to public vehicular traffic.

Camping

• Camping is allowed at the following sites: Bear, Hurricane, Karick and Krul Lakes, Coldwater, Clear Creek OHV Riding Area, Blackwater River State Park and other designated campsites. Most overnight camps require a fee.

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 - Unless noted here, see statewide limits below. Family hunt - 3 deer per quota permit (only 1 antlerless deer may be taken per person per day). General gun - 1 antlerless deer may be taken per antlerless deer permit. Archery/muzzleloading gun season, Field Trial Area - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per day. Muzzleloading gun and outside the Field Trial Area during archery/muzzleloading gun - The take of antlerless deer is prohibited. 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 limits.

From FWC Blackwater regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Blackwater WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Blackwater WMA 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 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?

Highways through the area: FL 4 and FL 189. Nearest towns: Springhill (next to it), Milton (7 miles), Jay (7 miles), Laurel Hill (7 miles) and Crestview (8 miles). FWC's page for the area: Blackwater.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit) (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 in 2026-27?

Archery Season: October 24-November 22 (throughout the area) November 26-29, December 19-January 14, January 18-February 10 (Field Trial Area only); General Gun Still Season: November 26-29, December 19-February 10 (Still Hunt Area only) January 4-17 (Dog Hunt Area only); General Gun Dog Season: Hunt 1: November 26-29, December 19-January 3 (Dog Hunt Area only, which includes Fox Hunt Area); Hunt 2: January 18-February 10 (Dog Hunt Area only, which includes Fox Hunt Area); Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7 (except in the Field Trial Area); Family Hunt: December 12-13; the rest are in the table above. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Blackwater WMA?

Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn) from October 24 through November 22 only, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Blackwater WMA?

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.

Do you need a quota permit for Blackwater WMA?

General Gun Still (first 13 days and last 17 days) - 1,800, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun Dog - 450, no-cost, quota permits for each of 2 hunts (first 20 days and last 24 days)(exemptions allowed). Note: the Blackwater general gun dog hunt quota permits are transferable. Family Hunt - 150, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Archery/Muzzleloading Gun (Field Trial Area) - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed).

What county is Blackwater WMA in?

Santa Rosa County (132,715 acres) and Okaloosa County (58,629 acres), 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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