Creek Ranch WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Creek Ranch WMA sets one deer season, family hunt, on January 2-3, 9-10. The area is 1,340 acres of public hunting land in Polk County, a wildlife management area in FWC's southwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 1,973 deer were taken in DMU B1 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.
Creek Ranch WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,340 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Polk |
| Deer management unit | DMU B1 |
| Deer seasons | Family hunt |
| Spring turkey | March 20-21, April 17-18 |
| 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) |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Family hunts, small game, horseback riding and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Dundee (7 mi), Lake Hamilton (8 mi) and Haines City (9 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Creek Ranch WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Family Hunt | January 2-3, 9-10 |
| Youth Turkey Hunt | March 20-21, April 17-18 |
| Small Game Season | Family Small Game: January 23-24, February 6-7 |
| 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) 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 Creek Ranch 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 Creek Ranch WMA need?
- Family Hunt - 2, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Family Small Game Hunt - 2, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 2, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Creek Ranch WMA?
Dogs
- Taking wildlife with dogs is prohibited, except any dog may be used to hunt small game and non-protected birds during the Family hunt and Family small game season. The take of deer or wild hogs with dogs is prohibited.
- 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 shall enter and exit the area through a designated entrance.
- All hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report any harvested 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 to 1½ hours after sunset, except during the Family hunts, Family small game hunts, and Youth Turkey hunts when public access is limited to only individuals participating in the hunt and one additional non-hunting guest per quota permit. Public access other than by foot, horseback, or bicycle is prohibited during non-hunting periods. NOTE: Lake Hatchineha cannot be accessed from the area.
- All persons must enter and exit the area through a designated entrance.
- Persons with a valid quota hunt permit and their guests (and one additional non-hunting guest per quota permit during the Family hunts, Family small game hunts, and Youth Turkey hunts) may operate vehicles on roads indicated on the brochure map from 1½ hours before sunrise to 1½ hours after sunset one day prior to and during each Family and Family small game hunt, and from 4:30 a.m. until 1½ hours after sunset during each youth turkey hunt.
- The use of airboats, tracked vehicles, swamp buggies, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.
- No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
Camping
- Prohibited.
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Family Hunt: 1 antlered or 1 antlerless deer per quota permit, but only youth hunters may harvest antlerless deer during the Family hunt. 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.
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Youth turkey hunt - 1 per quota permit. B. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
From FWC Creek Ranch regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Creek Ranch WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Creek Ranch WMA lies in DMU B1. FWC estimates 1,973 deer (1,359 bucks, 614 does) in DMU B1 in the 2023-24 season, 601 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 Creek Ranch WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Polk County | 1,340 |
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 Creek Ranch WMA?
Nearest towns: Dundee (7 miles), Lake Hamilton (8 miles), Haines City (9 miles) and Lake Wales (10 miles). FWC's page for the area: Creek Ranch.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Hatchineha Unit of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge (next to it), Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA (next to it), Lake Marion Creek WMA (3.7 miles) and Walk-in-the-Water WMA (13.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Creek Ranch WMA in 2026-27?
Family Hunt: January 2-3, 9-10. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Creek Ranch 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 Creek Ranch WMA?
Taking wildlife with dogs is prohibited, except any dog may be used to hunt small game and non-protected birds during the Family hunt and Family small game season. The take of deer or wild hogs with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Creek Ranch WMA?
Family Hunt - 2, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Family Small Game Hunt - 2, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 2, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Creek Ranch WMA in?
Polk County, measured on FWC's boundary.
Get a Florida hunt plan when they open
Florida plans are not open yet. They are coming soon. Join the waiting list; the first 50 hunters get one plan free.
Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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.