Box-R WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Box-R WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and family hunt); archery is on October 24-30, October 31-November 8. The area is 18,462 acres of public hunting land in Franklin and Gulf counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 18,958 deer were taken in DMU D1 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.
Box-R WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 18,462 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin, Gulf |
| Deer management unit | DMU D1 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and family hunt |
| Archery | October 24-30, October 31-November 8 |
| General gun | November 26-29, January 14-17, 21-24, 28-31 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-23, 26-29, April 1-4, 9-12, 15-18 |
| Legal deer | Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1 inch 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, hog hunting, hog dogs, horseback riding, fishing and family hunts |
| Nearest towns | Apalachicola (3 mi), Port St. Joe (7 mi) and Mexico Beach (16 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Box-R WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 24-30, October 31-November 8 |
| General Gun Season | November 26-29, January 14-17, 21-24, 28-31 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | December 5-7 |
| Family Hunt | February 6-7 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-23, 26-29, April 1-4, 9-12, 15-18 |
| Wild Hog-Dog Season | 2026 hunt dates: May 13-18, June 10-15, July 8-13, August 12-17, September 9-14 2027 hunt dates: May 12-17, June 9-14 |
| Dove Season | September 26-27, October 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 |
| Small Game Season | November 14-22, December 12-18, February 13-March 7 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1 inch 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 Box - R 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 Box-R WMA need?
- 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 4 hunts. Family Hunt - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Dog - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts. Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts.
What rules apply on Box-R WMA?
32 of the area's rules on dogs, guns, check stations, access, camping and bag limits are word for word the same as on Apalachicola WMA (Bradwell Unit), and are listed there. The rules below are the ones that differ.
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited, except any dog may be used to take wild hog during the wild hog-dog season and to take small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds in season) and non-protected birds during the small game season.
- The take of deer and furbearers with dogs is prohibited. The take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except during the wild hog-dog season.
Guns
- Hunting with a gun or archery equipment is prohibited on or from the rights-of-way of County Roads 384 or 385, Moses Road, Teat Road or Pine Log Road.
- Hunting turkey with airguns is prohibited, except PCP airguns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round. During periods when the area is closed to hunting, public access other than on foot, horseback or by bicycle is prohibited except that motorized vehicles may be used on Pine Log Road year round and on all named roads 1 day immediately prior to and 1 day immediately after each hunt.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
- Vehicles may enter and exit only at designated entrances (see map), except during the small game season.
- The possession or use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles, tracked vehicles or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Archery - 2 deer per quota permit (only 1 of which may be antlerless), but only 1 per person (the second deer must be harvested by a guest hunter). Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but only 1 per person (the second deer must be harvested by a guest hunter). Family Hunt - 3 antlered deer per quota permit, but only 1 per person. 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.
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Daily limit 1. Youth turkey hunt - 1 gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit. Spring turkey season - 2 gobblers or bearded turkeys per quota permit, but only 1 per person (the second bird must be harvested by a guest hunter). B. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
From FWC Box - R regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Box-R WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Box-R WMA lies in DMU D1. FWC estimates 18,958 deer (12,789 bucks, 6,169 does) in DMU D1 in the 2023-24 season, 4,694 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 Box-R WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Franklin County | 10,983 |
| Gulf County | 7,479 |
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 Box-R WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 30, US 98, US 319 and FL 71. Nearest towns: Apalachicola (3 miles), Port St. Joe (7 miles), Mexico Beach (16 miles) and Wewahitchka (21 miles). FWC's page for the area: Box-R.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Apalachicola River WEA (next to it), Tate's Hell WMA (7.3 miles) and Apalachicola WMA (8.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Box-R WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 24-30, October 31-November 8; General Gun Season: November 26-29, January 14-17, 21-24, 28-31; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7; Family Hunt: February 6-7. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Box-R WMA?
Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1 inch 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 Box-R WMA?
The take of deer and furbearers with dogs is prohibited. The take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except during the wild hog-dog season.
Do you need a quota permit for Box-R WMA?
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 4 hunts. Family Hunt - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Dog - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts. Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts.
What county is Box-R WMA in?
Franklin County (10,983 acres) and Gulf County (7,479 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.