Cary WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Cary WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and general gun); archery is on September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11. The area is 7,272 acres of public hunting land in Duval and Nassau counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 8,975 deer were taken in DMU C6 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 Cary 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).

Source: FWC Cary 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 Cary WMA need?

• Archery - 70, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 70, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Family - 65, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 70, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Wild Hog-Still - 70, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Cary WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during small game season and waterfowl retrievers are allowed during the duck, geese and coot 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.
• 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

• Hunters must enter and exit at designated entrances.
• Hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report their each 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.
• 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.
• Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except for persons in possession of a camping permit from the Florida Forest Service.
• Vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• The use of all-terrain vehicles is prohibited.
• Horses are allowed only on named roads or designated trails.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.

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 - 1 antlered or antlerless deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 1 antlered deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit. Family hunt - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit (not 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.
• Wild hog - No size or bag limit.

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

How many deer are taken around Cary WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Cary WMA lies in DMU C6. FWC estimates 8,975 deer (5,636 bucks, 3,339 does) in DMU C6 in the 2023-24 season, 1,298 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 Cary 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 Cary WMA?

Highways through the area: US 301. Nearest towns: Baldwin (6 miles), Callahan (11 miles), Jacksonville (12 miles) and Macclenny (14 miles). FWC's page for the area: Cary.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit) (5.9 miles), Jennings Forest WMA (9.7 miles), Four Creeks WMA (10.1 miles) and Osceola WMA (18.3 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Cary WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26, October 30-November 1; Family Hunt: November 7-8; General Gun Season: November 13-15, 20-22, 27-29. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Cary 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), by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Cary WMA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Cary WMA.

Do you need a quota permit for Cary WMA?

Archery - 70, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 70, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Family - 65, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 70, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Wild Hog-Still - 70, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Cary WMA in?

Duval County (5,012 acres) and Nassau County (2,260 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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