Cypress Creek WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Cypress Creek WMA sets 2 deer seasons (archery and muzzleloading gun); archery is on September 26-October 11. The area is 3,108 acres of public hunting land in Columbia and Hamilton 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.
Cypress Creek WMAOther FWC WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 3,108 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia, Hamilton |
| Deer management unit | DMU C6 |
| Deer seasons | Archery and muzzleloading gun |
| Archery | September 26-October 11 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-28 |
| 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 | Small game, horseback riding, hiking trails and fishing |
| Nearest towns | White Springs (13 mi), Jasper (13 mi) and Live Oak (22 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Cypress Creek WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-October 11 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 24-26 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-28 |
| Small Game Season | November 7-March 7 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing | 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 Cypress Creek 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 Cypress Creek WMA need?
- Archery - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 12, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 12, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).
What rules apply on Cypress Creek WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer, bear or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited except any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during small game season and when hunting raccoon and opossum during the small game and raccoon seasons.
- 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.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Hunters must log their each 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 at night with a gun is prohibited (see exception for small game season).
- Taking wildlife at night with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device is prohibited.
- Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer or bear must be .30 caliber or larger, if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls.
- Hunting bear with rimfire or nonexpanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited..
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except during the youth turkey hunt when public access is limited to individuals participating in the hunt or using a boat ramp or canoe launch to access the Suwannee River.
- The use of all-terrain vehicles is prohibited.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads, 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.
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 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 Cypress Creek regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Cypress Creek WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Cypress Creek 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 Cypress Creek WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Columbia County | 1,650 |
| Hamilton County | 1,449 |
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 Cypress Creek WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 47 and US 441. Nearest towns: White Springs (13 miles), Jasper (13 miles), Live Oak (22 miles) and Jennings (22 miles). FWC's page for the area: Cypress Creek.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Osceola WMA (1.3 miles), Big Shoals WMA (10.3 miles), Holton Creek WMA (16.4 miles) and Suwannee Ridge WEA (18.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Cypress Creek WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-October 11; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Cypress Creek 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 Cypress Creek WMA?
Hunting deer, bear or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Cypress Creek WMA?
Archery - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 12, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 12, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).
What county is Cypress Creek WMA in?
Columbia County (1,650 acres) and Hamilton County (1,449 acres), measured on FWC's boundary.
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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.