Flying Eagle WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Flying Eagle WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on October 3-6, 9-13. The area is 10,535 acres of public hunting land in Citrus and Sumter counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 7,079 deer were taken in DMU C4 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 Flying Eagle 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 Flying Eagle 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 Flying Eagle WMA need?

• September Duck - 75, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the wood duck and teal season. Archery - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Small Game - 75, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Spring Turkey - 30, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts.

What rules apply on Flying Eagle WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs or retrievers are allowed during wood duck and teal season and 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.
• 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

• During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at the check station upon entering and check out upon leaving the area and check all wildlife harvested.
• In addition to checking all wildlife at the 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 periods when the check station is staffed, no deer, wild hog or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at the check station. Hunters are requested to bring deer and turkey to the check station prior to any field dressing activity.
• Check station hours during hunts are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Eastern Daylight Saving Time and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time, except during the September wood duck and teal season when hours are 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., the small game season when hours are 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the spring turkey season when hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check station hours the day prior to archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun hunts are from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset the day prior to spring turkey hunts.

Guns

• Hunting with centerfire rifles is allowed during general gun and small game seasons.
• 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.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round. During non-hunting periods, only public access on foot, bicycle or horse is allowed. Class 1 electric bicycles may be operated according to rules for traditional, non-motorized bicycles. All other electric bicycles may be operated only on named or numbered roads open to motorized vehicles. For more information visit MyFWC.com/ebike.
• Motorized vehicles are allowed only during hunting periods; from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. 1 day prior to each archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun hunt; and from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset 1 day prior to each spring turkey hunt.
• The status (open or closed) of roads beyond designated wet-weather barriers will be posted at the check station. Persons are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the status of roads beyond wet-weather barriers on a daily basis.
• Vehicles may be operated only on named roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• Vehicles must be parked within 25 feet of a named road.

Camping

• Prohibited during hunting periods.

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 bag 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 Flying Eagle regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Flying Eagle WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Flying Eagle WMA lies in DMU C4. FWC estimates 7,079 deer (4,969 bucks, 2,110 does) in DMU C4 in the 2023-24 season, 2,046 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 Flying Eagle 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 Flying Eagle WMA?

Highways through the area: FL 44. Nearest towns: Inverness (4 miles), Coleman (6 miles), Bushnell (7 miles) and Wildwood (10 miles). FWC's page for the area: Flying Eagle.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Jumper Creek WMA (next to it), Half Moon WMA (next to it), Lake Panasoffkee WMA (3.1 miles) and Potts WMA (3.5 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Flying Eagle WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: October 3-6, 9-13; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26; General Gun Season: November 7-10, 13-17. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Flying Eagle 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 Flying Eagle WMA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Flying Eagle WMA.

Do you need a quota permit for Flying Eagle WMA?

September Duck - 75, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the wood duck and teal season. Archery - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Small Game - 75, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Spring Turkey - 30, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts.

What county is Flying Eagle WMA in?

Citrus County (10,510 acres) and Sumter County (25 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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