Escribano Point WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Escribano Point WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-30, October 31-November 8. The area is 4,121 acres of public hunting land in Santa Rosa County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 18,958 deer were taken in DMU D1 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.
Escribano Point WMAOther FWC WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 4,121 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Rosa |
| Deer management unit | DMU D1 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun |
| Archery | October 24-30, October 31-November 8 |
| General gun | November 26-29, January 23-26, 27-31, February 5-8 |
| Spring turkey | March 20-22, April 2-4, 9-11, 23-25 |
| Legal deer | Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length, 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 and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Milton (6 mi), Pensacola (11 mi) and Gulf Breeze (13 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Escribano Point WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 24-30, October 31-November 8 |
| General Gun Season | November 26-29, January 23-26, 27-31, February 5-8 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | December 5-7 |
| Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season | February 13-15 |
| Spring Turkey Season | March 20-22, April 2-4, 9-11, 23-25 |
| Small Game Season | November 9-25, November 30-December 4, December 8-January 22, February 1-4, 9-12, February 16-March 7 |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).
Source: FWC Escribano Point 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 Escribano Point WMA need?
- Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Archery/Muzzleloading - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts.
What rules apply on Escribano Point WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited, except any dog may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds in season) and non-protected birds during the small game season.
- The take of deer, furbearers, and wild hog 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 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.
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 airguns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round, except motorized vehicles are prohibited from 1½ hours after sunset through 1½ hours before sunrise.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads, except for individuals who qualify for SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
- The use of all-terrain vehicles is prohibited.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
- No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
Camping
- Prohibited.
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 Escribano Point regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Escribano Point WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Escribano Point WMA lies in DMU D1. FWC estimates 18,958 deer (12,789 bucks, 6,169 does) in DMU D1 in the 2023-24 season, 4,694 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 Escribano Point WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Santa Rosa County | 4,121 |
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 Escribano Point WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: I-10, FL 87, US 98 and FL 281. Nearest towns: Milton (6 miles), Pensacola (11 miles), Gulf Breeze (13 miles) and Mary Esther (18 miles). FWC's page for the area: Escribano Point.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Yellow River WMA (next to it), Garcon Point WMA (3.4 miles), Blackwater WMA (6.7 miles) and Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit) (6.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Escribano Point WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 24-30, October 31-November 8; General Gun Season: November 26-29, January 23-26, 27-31, February 5-8; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: February 13-15. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Escribano Point WMA?
Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length, 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 Escribano Point WMA?
The take of deer, furbearers, and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Escribano Point WMA?
Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Archery/Muzzleloading - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts.
What county is Escribano Point WMA in?
Santa Rosa County, measured on FWC's boundary.
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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.