CREW WEA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for CREW WEA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on August 8-16. The area is 24,267 acres of public hunting land in Collier and Lee counties, a wildlife and environmental area in FWC's south region. Around it, FWC estimates 2,403 deer were taken in Zone A 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 CREW WEA?

Legal deer: Antlered deer having at least one antler with three or more points (each point being one inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length.

Source: FWC CREW 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 CREW WEA need?

• Archery - 30 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still Archery - 25 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 30 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still Muzzleloading Gun - 25 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still General Gun - 25 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5 (Flint Pen Strand), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Spring Turkey - 5 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What rules apply on CREW WEA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used for hunting gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, quail, rabbits, and non-protected birds during general gun season. Any dog may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, non-protected birds, quail, and rabbits during small game 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, including bear.
• Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. Dogs are prohibited on the Caracara Prairie Reserve.
• Taking bear with the aid of dogs is prohibited.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• Hunters are required to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance and hunters entering or exiting the Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve must use Gate 5.
• During periods when check stations are staffed, hunters must check in at a check station upon entering and leaving the area and check all harvested wildlife.
• During periods when check stations are staffed, no deer or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at a check station.
• In addition to checking all game at an area check station, 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.
• Hunters must physically attach the provided bear harvest tag to their harvested bear prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report the bear they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See the Florida Bear Hunting Guidebook or MyFWC.com for bear harvest reporting instructions.

Guns

• Hunting east of or within ¼-mile of the Western North/South Tram, south of Bonita Beach Road in the Bird Rookery Swamp Unit, or in any other areas designated as "Closed to Hunting" is prohibited.
• Hunting within 100 yards of a designated campsite is prohibited.
• Hunting with centerfire or rimfire rifles is prohibited.
• Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year-round but only from 2 hours before sunrise until 2 hours after sunset, unless camping at a designated campsite.
• All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
• The designated entrance at the intersection of Sand and Vincent roads is closed to all public access, except for individuals in possession of a valid quota permit and their guests.
• A gate code will be provided to quota permit awardees.
• The use of ATVs, swamp buggies, tracked vehicles, vessels (except canoes or kayaks), or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited, except swamp buggies may be operated only by individuals participating in a quota hunt.

Camping

• Camping is allowed only at designated sites by Special-Use License (SUL) from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). To apply for and receive an SUL by email, visit www.sfwmd.gov/sul. To receive an SUL by U.S. Mail, contact SFWMD at 1-866-433-6312 (allow 7-10 business days). NOTE: Hunters will need an SUL to camp during quota hunts.
• No persons shall bring building materials onto the area or erect permanent or semi-permanent structures.
• Quiet hours: From 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. loud music, barking dogs, or any other activity causing excessive noise is prohibited in camping areas.

Bag limits

• A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, bear, 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 - 1 antlered deer per quota permit (Flint Pen Strand and Western Bird Rookery Swamp units). The take of deer is prohibited in the Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve. 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 - 1 per youth turkey and spring turkey quota permit. B. Statewide limits - Spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.

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

How many deer are taken around CREW WEA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. CREW WEA lies in Zone A. FWC estimates 2,403 deer (2,069 bucks, 334 does) in Zone A in the 2023-24 season, 1,270 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 CREW WEA 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 CREW WEA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 93, I-75, FL 82 and FL 29. Nearest towns: Bonita Springs (4 miles), Estero (5 miles), Fort Myers Beach (12 miles) and Naples (13 miles). FWC's page for the area: CREW.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Okaloacoochee Slough WMA (8.2 miles), Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA (8.6 miles), Picayune Strand WMA (10.1 miles) and Dinner Island Ranch WMA (16.2 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on CREW WEA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: August 8-16 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp Unit only); Muzzleloading Gun Season: September 5-7 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Unit only.); General Gun Season: November 21-29 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp Unit only.). From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on CREW WEA?

Antlered deer having at least one antler with three or more points (each point being one inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 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 CREW WEA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for CREW WEA.

Do you need a quota permit for CREW WEA?

Archery - 30 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still Archery - 25 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 30 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still Muzzleloading Gun - 25 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still General Gun - 25 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5 (Flint Pen Strand), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Spring Turkey - 5 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit/Caracara Prairie Preserve), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What county is CREW WEA in?

Collier County (13,527 acres) and Lee County (10,740 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.

Florida hunting All Florida WMAs Zone A deer harvest