Dinner Island Ranch WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Dinner Island Ranch WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and general gun); archery is on August 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31. The area is 21,708 acres of public hunting land in Hendry County, a wildlife management 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.
Dinner Island Ranch WMAOther FWC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 21,708 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Hendry |
| Deer management unit | Zone A |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and general gun |
| Archery | August 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31 |
| General gun | September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: February 26-March 1; Spring Turkey: March 6-8, 13-15, April 3-5 |
| 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 |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, released quail, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing and family hunts |
| Nearest towns | LaBelle (19 mi), Clewiston (20 mi) and Moore Haven (22 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Dinner Island Ranch WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | August 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | September 11-13 |
| Family Hunt | September 19-20, October 17-18 |
| General Gun Season | September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: February 26-March 1; Spring Turkey: March 6-8, 13-15, April 3-5 |
| Dove Season | September 26, October 3, 10, 17, November 14, 21, 28, December 5, 19, 26, January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 |
| Small Game Season | October 19-February 20 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
| Non-Native Reptiles | Allowed year round. |
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 Dinner Island 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 Dinner Island Ranch WMA need?
- Archery - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Hunt - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Dove Field Hunts - 75, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each Saturday during Phase 1 of dove season. Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Dinner Island Ranch WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer, wild hog, or furbearers with dogs is prohibited.
- Bird dogs and retrievers may be used for hunting migratory and non-protected birds during migratory bird seasons and any dog may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory and non-protected birds, quail, and rabbits during small game season.
- Dogs are prohibited in the posted dove fields except during established dove hunts when permitted hunters may use bird dogs and retrievers.
- 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.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- When the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at the check station when entering and check out when leaving the area and check all game harvested, except for those individuals participating in dove hunts, who are exempt from check station requirements.
- During periods when the check station is staffed, no deer or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at the check station.
- In addition to checking all game 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.
- During dove season, hunting is prohibited on posted dove fields, except on Saturdays. Outside dove season, individuals may participate in hunting activities on the dove field as allowed by season.
- 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.
- 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 deer or bear with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
- Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with airguns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public recreational access year-round.
- Persons shall enter and exit the area only at the designated entrance.
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise, except individuals who possess a valid camping permit and their guests may use motorized vehicles to access their designated campsite during the dates listed on their permit.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads except for individuals who qualify for AMP permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane.
Camping
- Camping is allowed only in the designated campground (see map). An FWC permit is required and camping is subject to permit provisions. Permits may be obtained through the online reservation system at FWC's Camping at Wildlife Management Areas webpage. For questions or assistance, please call the Dinner Island Ranch Field Office at 863-902-3349 during regular business hours (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.).
- Only tents, trailers, or selfpropelled camping vehicles may be used for camping.
Bag limits
- A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, and quail, except when these bag limits ae 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, except during the family hunt when the bag limit is 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but no more than 1 per person. 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 or spring turkey quota permit. B. Statewide limits - Spring season daily limit 2, season limit 2, possession limit 2.
From FWC Dinner Island Ranch regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Dinner Island Ranch WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Dinner Island Ranch WMA 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 Dinner Island Ranch WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Hendry County | 21,708 |
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 Dinner Island Ranch WMA?
Nearest towns: LaBelle (19 miles), Clewiston (20 miles), Moore Haven (22 miles) and South Bay (27 miles). FWC's page for the area: Dinner Island Ranch.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Okaloacoochee Slough WMA (next to it), Dinner Island Ranch WMA (Caracara Unit) (1.6 miles), Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA (10.2 miles) and Big Cypress WMA (12.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Dinner Island Ranch WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: August 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31; Muzzleloading Gun Season: September 11-13; Family Hunt: September 19-20, October 17-18; General Gun Season: September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Dinner Island Ranch WMA?
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 Dinner Island Ranch WMA?
Hunting deer, wild hog, or furbearers with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Dinner Island Ranch WMA?
Archery - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Hunt - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Dove Field Hunts - 75, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each Saturday during Phase 1 of dove season. Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Dinner Island Ranch WMA in?
Hendry County, 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.