Escambia River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Escambia River WMA sets 5 deer seasons (archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-November 22. The area is 36,649 acres of public hunting land in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 19,321 deer were taken in DMU D2 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 Escambia River WMA?

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 Escambia River 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 Escambia River WMA need?

• Quota permits are not required for this area.

What rules apply on Escambia River WMA?

29 of the area's rules on dogs, guns, check stations, access, camping and bag limits are word for word the same as on Choctawhatchee River WMA, and are listed there. The rules below are the ones that differ.

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs, other than using bird dogs, rabbit dogs, squirrel dogs, or retrievers to hunt small game and non-protected birds, is prohibited in the still hunt area, except that any dog may be used to hunt raccoon and opossum at night during the raccoon and opossum season and to hunt wild hog during the wild hog-dog season.
• The take of deer with dogs is prohibited, except during the general gun and family hunt seasons in the dog hunt area. The take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except during the general gun, family hunt, and small game seasons in the dog hunt area and during the wild hog-dog season throughout the area.

Guns

• Hunting on or from rights-of-way of Keyser Landing Road, Webb Landing Road, S.R. 184 or any other paved road within the area is prohibited.
• Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (see exception for wild hog-dog season, raccoon and opossum season, and fox and bobcat season).
• 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.
• For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, muzzleloading guns, pistols, air guns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used.

Bag limits

• Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - See statewide limits below. B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 3 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 - Daily limit 1. B. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
• Gray squirrel, quail, and rabbit - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24 for each.

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

How many deer are taken around Escambia River WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Escambia River WMA lies in DMU D2. FWC estimates 19,321 deer (11,545 bucks, 7,776 does) in DMU D2 in the 2023-24 season, 3,151 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 Escambia River WMA 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 Escambia River WMA?

Highways through the area: FL 4. Nearest towns: Century (next to it), Jay (4 miles), Milton (8 miles) and Pensacola (8 miles). FWC's page for the area: Escambia River.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Perdido River WMA (5.6 miles), Garcon Point WMA (8.7 miles), Escribano Point WMA (10.3 miles) and Yellow River WMA (10.4 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Escambia River WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: October 24-November 22; General Gun Season: November 26-29, December 12-25, December 28-February 3; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7; Family Hunt: December 26-27; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: February 4-14. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Escambia River 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 Escambia River WMA?

The take of deer with dogs is prohibited, except during the general gun and family hunt seasons in the dog hunt area. The take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except during the general gun, family hunt, and small game seasons in the dog hunt area and during the wild hog-dog season throughout the area.

Do you need a quota permit for Escambia River WMA?

Quota permits are not required for this area.

What county is Escambia River WMA in?

Santa Rosa County (21,956 acres) and Escambia County (14,693 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.

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