Etoniah Creek WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Etoniah Creek WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 26-October 11. The area is 7,320 acres of public hunting land in Putnam County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northeast 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Etoniah Creek WMA?

Legal deer: Antlered 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 Etoniah 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 Etoniah Creek WMA need?

• Archery - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Spring Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Etoniah Creek WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting deer or bear with dogs is prohibited.
• Hunting with dogs is prohibited except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel, and migratory birds) and non-protected birds 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 and 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.
• 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

• The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.
• 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.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round on foot, horseback or bicycle.
• Vehicle access is allowed from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 after sunset on all named and numbered roads year round. Exception to these vehicle rules: Vehicles are allowed on Scrub Road and North Cablegate Road at any time throughout the year.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
• No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage..
• Motor vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage..

Camping

• Camping is allowed only by permit from the Florida Forest Service (386-329-2552).

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 and the host is responsible for violations that exceed the bag limit.
• Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area Limits - 2 deer per quota permit, but only 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.
• Wild hog - No size or bag limit.

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

How many deer are taken around Etoniah Creek WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Etoniah 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 Etoniah Creek 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 Etoniah Creek WMA?

Nearest towns: Interlachen (8 miles), Palatka (9 miles), Keystone Heights (9 miles) and Penney Farms (14 miles). FWC's page for the area: Etoniah Creek.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Belmore WMA (next to it), Camp Blanding WMA (6.5 miles), Caravelle Ranch WMA (7 miles) and Santa Fe Swamp WEA (11.2 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Etoniah Creek WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: September 26-October 11; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26, October 30-November 1; General Gun Season: November 12-15, 19-22, 26-29. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Etoniah Creek WMA?

Antlered 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 Etoniah Creek WMA?

Hunting deer or bear with dogs is prohibited.

Do you need a quota permit for Etoniah Creek WMA?

Archery - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Spring Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Etoniah Creek WMA in?

Putnam County, 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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