Citrus WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Citrus WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on November 7-15, 16-22, 23-29. The area is 48,107 acres of public hunting land in Citrus and Hernando counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 14,293 deer were taken in DMU C3 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.
Citrus WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 48,107 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Citrus, Hernando |
| Deer management unit | DMU C3 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | November 7-15, 16-22, 23-29 |
| General gun | December 11-13, January 1-3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 23-26, April 6-9, 20-23 |
| 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 |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Inverness (next to it), Crystal River (8 mi) and Brooksville (10 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Citrus WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | November 7-15, 16-22, 23-29 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | December 4-6, 18-20 |
| General Gun Season | December 11-13, January 1-3 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 23-26, April 6-9, 20-23 |
| Small Game Season | January 4-February 28 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| 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.
Source: FWC Citrus 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 Citrus WMA need?
- Archery - 500, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 500, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 500, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 25, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 25, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Citrus WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer, wild hog or furbearers with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except any dog is allowed for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during small game season and bird dogs are allowed during bird dog field trial events. Bird dog field trial events are authorized only in the area east of County Road 491 between Forest Road 16 and County Road 480.
- Bird dogs may be trained from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset, October 1-31, in the area east of County Road 491 between Forest Road 16 and 20.
- 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
- In addition to checking all wildlife at the check station, when staffed, 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.
- During periods when the check station is staffed, no deer or turkey shall be dismembered or removed from the area until checked at the check station.
- The following applies in that portion of the area lying south of County Road 480, north of U.S. 98 and west of the power line: Hunting is allowed only during the youth turkey, spring turkey and small game seasons. Only small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) may be taken during small game season.
- The use of horses for hunting is prohibited, except during the small game season.
Guns
- Hunting with a gun on or from rights-of-way of all paved roads is prohibited.
- 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.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round.
- Persons operating vehicles shall enter and exit only at a designated entrance.
- Motor 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.
- 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
- Hunt camps also require a permit for reserved camping. For more information and dates that hunt camps are open to the public, call the Withlacoochee Visitor Center at 352-797-4140. Sale of available reserved hunt campsites begins the first Thursday after Labor Day.
- During the small game season, dogs under restraint are allowed in the overflow area of the Holder Mine campsite.
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 - See statewide limits below. B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 2 of which may be antlerless), daily 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 Citrus regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Citrus WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Citrus WMA lies in DMU C3. FWC estimates 14,293 deer (9,798 bucks, 4,495 does) in DMU C3 in the 2023-24 season, 2,268 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 Citrus WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Citrus County | 45,724 |
| Hernando County | 2,384 |
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 Citrus WMA?
Highways through the area: FL 589 and FL 44. Nearest towns: Inverness (next to it), Crystal River (8 miles), Brooksville (10 miles) and Dunnellon (14 miles). FWC's page for the area: Citrus.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Chassahowitzka WMA (next to it), Homosassa WMA (3.3 miles), Flying Eagle WMA (4.5 miles) and Potts WMA (4.5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Citrus WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: November 7-15, 16-22, 23-29; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 4-6, 18-20; General Gun Season: December 11-13, January 1-3. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Citrus 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, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Citrus WMA?
Hunting deer, wild hog or furbearers with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Citrus WMA?
Archery - 500, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 500, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 500, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 25, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 25, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Citrus WMA in?
Citrus County (45,724 acres) and Hernando County (2,384 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.