Chipola River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Chipola River WMA sets 5 deer seasons (archery, family hunt, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-November 22. The area is 7,253 acres of public hunting land in Jackson 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.
Chipola River WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 7,253 acres, measured on FWC's boundary (FWC's regional summary gives 9,814) |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson |
| Deer management unit | DMU D2 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, family hunt, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun |
| Archery | October 24-November 22 |
| General gun | November 26-29, December 12-January 19 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; March 13-14, 27-28, April 10-11 (Dudley Road Area) |
| Legal deer | Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length in the Altha Tract, 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 in the remainder of the area, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn) throughout the area |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, camping, fishing, family hunts and hog hunting |
| Nearest towns | Greenwood (4 mi), Marianna (5 mi) and Campbellton (5 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Chipola River WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 24-November 22 (except in the Altha Tract and Dudley Road Area) October 24-30, October 31-November 8 (Altha tract) |
| Family Hunt | November 26-29 (Altha Tract) November 27-29, December 24-26, December 31-January 2, January 16-18 (Dudley Road Area) |
| General Gun Season | November 26-29, December 12-January 19 (except in the Altha Tract and Dudley Road Area) |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | December 5-7 |
| Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season | January 23-24, 30-31 (except in the Altha Tract and Dudley Road Area) |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; March 13-14, 27-28, April 10-11 (Dudley Road Area) |
| Wild Hog-Still Season | 2026 hunt dates: May 8-10, June 12-14, July 10-12, August 14-16, September 11-13 (except in the Altha Tract and Dudley Road Area) 2027 hunt dates: May 14-16, June 11-13 (except in the Altha Tract and Dudley Road Area) |
| Small Game Season | November 14-March 7 (except in the Altha Tract and Dudley Road Area) |
| Trapping | December 1-March 7 |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length in the Altha Tract, 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 in the remainder of the area, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn) throughout the area.
Source: FWC Chipola River 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 Chipola River WMA need?
- Archery (Altha Tract) - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Family Hunt (Altha Tract) - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Hunt (Dudley Road Area) - 3, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun (Altha Tract) - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun (Dudley Road Area) - 5 no-cost quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey (Altha Tract) - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey (Dudley Road Area) - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Spring Turkey (Altha Tract) - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Chipola River WMA?
30 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
- The take of deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Guns
- In the Hayes Spring Run and Waddell Mill Creek areas (see map), taking deer and wild hog with guns other than bows and crossbows is prohibited, and taking any wildlife with centerfire rifles or centerfire pistols is prohibited.
- Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
- 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 with the following exceptions: access to improved recreation areas from sunset to sunrise is only allowed for individuals participating in authorized hunting and fishing activities, actively launching/retrieving a boat, or authorized to camp within the area; nighttime access is prohibited in the Dudley Road Area, except individuals participating in quota hunts may access the area at any time during their permitted hunt; and access to the Dudley Road Area during quota hunts is limited to individuals participating in the hunt.
- Motorized vehicles may be operated only on named roads. In the Dudley Road Area, motorized vehicles are prohibited, except individuals participating in quota hunts or scouting for their hunt may operate street-legal vehicles on named roads from one week prior to the first day until one day after the last day of their permitted hunt.
- The use of all-terrain vehicles is prohibited.
Camping
- Camping is allowed only at designated campsites (see map). A permit from the Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) is required and camping is subject to permit provisions. To make a camping reservation, please visit www.nwfwater.com.
- Camping is limited to 14 days within any consecutive 30-day period and prohibited where posted as “no camping.”
- Camping is limited to tents, trailers or self-propelled camping vehicles only. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers are prohibited, unless contained in mobile campers. Lumber, sheet metal or other building materials are prohibited.
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - See statewide limits below. Archery season, Altha Tract - 2 deer per quota permit, but only 1 antlered or antlerless deer per person (the second deer must be harvested by a guest hunter). Family hunt, Altha Tract - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit. Family hunt, Dudley Road Area - 2 antlered deer and one antlereless deer per quota permit, but only 1 per person. Muzzleloading gun season, Altha Tract and Dudley Road Area - 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but only 1 per person (the second deer must be harvested by a guest hunter). B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 3 of which may be antlerless north of I-10 and only 2 of which may be antlerless south of I-10), 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 (throughout the area) - 1 per quota permit. Spring turkey, Altha Tract - 2 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 Chipola River regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Chipola River WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Chipola River 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 Chipola River WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Jackson County | 7,253 |
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 Chipola River WMA?
Highways through the area: FL 2. Nearest towns: Greenwood (4 miles), Marianna (5 miles), Campbellton (5 miles) and Malone (5 miles). FWC's page for the area: Chipola River.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Apalachee WMA (13.9 miles), Econfina Creek WMA (16.9 miles), Choctawhatchee River WMA (25.8 miles) and Beaverdam Creek WMA (25.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Chipola River WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 24-November 22 (except in the Altha Tract and Dudley Road Area) October 24-30, October 31-November 8 (Altha tract); Family Hunt: November 26-29 (Altha Tract) November 27-29, December 24-26, December 31-January 2, January 16-18 (Dudley Road Area); General Gun Season: November 26-29, December 12-January 19 (except in the Altha Tract and Dudley Road Area); Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: January 23-24, 30-31 (except in the Altha Tract and Dudley Road Area). From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Chipola River WMA?
Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length in the Altha Tract, 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 in the remainder of the area, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn) throughout the area, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Chipola River WMA?
The take of deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Chipola River WMA?
Archery (Altha Tract) - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Family Hunt (Altha Tract) - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Hunt (Dudley Road Area) - 3, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun (Altha Tract) - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun (Dudley Road Area) - 5 no-cost quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey (Altha Tract) - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey (Dudley Road Area) - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Spring Turkey (Altha Tract) - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Chipola River WMA in?
Jackson County, 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.