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

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Fisheating Creek WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on August 21-23, 28-30. The area is 18,406 acres of public hunting land in Glades 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.

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

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, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but does not include spotted fawns).

Source: FWC Fisheating 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 Fisheating Creek WMA need?

• Archery - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Wild Hog-Still - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts. Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 10, $175, special-opportunity turkey permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What rules apply on Fisheating Creek WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting 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

• Permitted hunters and their guests are exempt from the Palmdale campground concessionaire’s daily-use and parking fees during and for the 7 days preceding their hunt. A valid quota or special-opportunity permit must be presented to the concessionaire to receive the exemption.
• The Palmdale campground concessionaire’s livery service may transport camping equipment to the Burnt Bridge and Ingrams Crossing locations, but the service does not transport hunting equipment such as guns, tree stands, and decoys. Hunters can have their camping equipment dropped off by the service, but must hike or boat their hunting equipment through the Palmdale entrance. Contact the concessionaire at 863-675-5999 or visit fisheatingcreekoutpost.com for more information.
• During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must report at the Palmdale campground check station upon entering and leaving the area and check all harvested game.
• In addition to checking all game at 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. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.
• All hunters shall enter and exit the area at the Palmdale campground entrance, except special-opportunity turkey hunters shall use the U.S. Highway 27 right-of-way (Gaskin's) entrance, provided they check in and out at the Palmdale campground check station or at the buggy check station at the Gaskin's entrance.

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.
• The Palmdale campground is operated by a private concessionaire and daily-use and parking fees are required. Contact the concessionaire at 863-675-5999 or visit fisheatingcreekoutpost.com for more information.
• Public recreational access, other than on foot, bicycle, or boat, is prohibited, except registered and licensed vehicles and golf carts may be operated within the Palmdale campground. The use of any vehicle, including but not limited to: all-terrain vehicles, tracked vehicles, or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, is prohibited. The use of personal watercraft or horses is prohibited.
• All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
• Airboats may only be operated in the airboating area. A no-cost airboat use permit issued by the Commission is required for all airboats operating in the management area (863-946-1194).

Camping

• Primitive camping is allowed year-round throughout the area, except in the office complex where camping is prohibited, and at the concessionaire-operated public campground in Palmdale, where camping is by permit only (available from the concessionaire) and only tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles may be used for camping. Palmdale campground and canoe rentals: 863-675-5999 or fisheatingcreekoutpost.com.
• During hunting seasons, individuals are encouraged to camp at the Palmdale campground.
• Fires other than campfires are 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 - Archery season: 2 deer per permit, but only 1 per person. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons: 2 antlered 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.
• Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Youth turkey - 1 per quota permit. B. Spring turkey - 2 per quota permit, but only 1 per person. C. Special-opportunity spring turkey - 1 per permit, daily limit 1, season limit 2. D. Statewide limits - Spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.

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

How many deer are taken around Fisheating Creek WMA?

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

Highways within 5 miles: FL 25, US 27, FL 78 and FL 29. Nearest towns: Moore Haven (7 miles), LaBelle (16 miles), Clewiston (17 miles) and Lake Placid (19 miles). FWC's page for the area: Fisheating Creek.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA (17.8 miles), Okaloacoochee Slough WMA (18.7 miles), Kissimmee River PUA (19.1 miles) and Babcock/Webb WMA (19.8 miles).

Questions hunters ask

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

Archery Season: August 21-23, 28-30 (west of U.S. Highway 27 only); Muzzleloading Gun Season: September 11-13, 18-20 (west of U.S. Highway 27 only); General Gun Season: October 2-4; October 16-18 (west of U.S. Highway 27 only). From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Fisheating Creek 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, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but does not include spotted fawns), by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Fisheating Creek WMA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Fisheating Creek WMA.

Do you need a quota permit for Fisheating Creek WMA?

Archery - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Wild Hog-Still - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts. Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 10, $175, special-opportunity turkey permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What county is Fisheating Creek WMA in?

Glades 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.

Florida hunting All Florida WMAs Zone A deer harvest