Fort Drum WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Fort Drum WMA sets one deer season, special-opportunity deer, on October 31-November 6. The area is 20,802 acres of public hunting land in Indian River County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northeast region. Around it, FWC estimates 2,859 deer were taken in DMU C2 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 Fort Drum WMA?

Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 4 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length), antlerless deer by antlerless deer permit only (each antlerless deer permit allows the take of only 1 doe or 1 buck with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).

Source: FWC Fort Drum 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 Fort Drum WMA need?

• Wild Hog-Still - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts. Special-Opportunity Deer - 20, $50, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions). Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 5, $50, special-opportunity spring turkey permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Fort Drum WMA?

Dogs

• 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 the small game season.
• Hunting deer or 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 shall enter and exit at Gate 1 only.
• When the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at the check station upon entering, check out upon leaving the area and check all game harvested.
• During the special-opportunity hunts, an individual may accompany a special-opportunity permittee provided that while scouting or hunting the individual shall not occupy a vehicle separate from the permittee, shall not take wildlife with a gun and shall be in the immediate vicinity (25 feet or less) of the permittee. All other persons must possess a special-opportunity permit during special-opportunity hunts.
• When the check station is staffed, no deer, wild hog or turkey may be dismembered until checked at the check station.
• Check station hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time and 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the special-opportunity spring turkey season.

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 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, except during special-opportunity hunts (see more details in Hunters, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting section).
• During wild hog-still, special-opportunity deer, small game and special-opportunity turkey seasons, vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage. During the remainder of the year, vehicles may be operated only on Entrance Road with access from State Road 60.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
• Horses are allowed only on named and numbered roads and designated trails and only during periods when a Special Opportunity hunt is not occurring.
• Use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles, tracked vehicles and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.

Camping

• During special-opportunity and wild hog-still hunts, only hunters in possession of valid special-opportunity permits or wild hog-still quota permits and their guests may camp. During all other times, camping is regulated by St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), 386-329-4401. To make a reservation, please visit https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/camping/ in advance of when you want to camp.
• Only tent camping is allowed, and only at designated campsites.
• Camping equipment may be taken onto the WMA after 8 a.m. 1 day before the opening of the season and shall be removed before 6 p.m. 1 day following the close of the season.

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 - 1 antlered deer per special-opportunity deer permit and 1 antlerless deer per antlerless deer permit. 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 Fort Drum regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Fort Drum WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Fort Drum WMA lies in DMU C2. FWC estimates 2,859 deer (1,984 bucks, 875 does) in DMU C2 in the 2023-24 season, 1,174 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 Fort Drum 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 Fort Drum WMA?

Highways through the area: FL 60. Nearest towns: Fellsmere (7 miles), Sebastian (15 miles), Vero Beach (18 miles) and Orchid (18 miles). FWC's page for the area: Fort Drum.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA (next to it), Kissimmee Bend Unit of the Everglades Headwaters WMA (17.3 miles), Kissimmee River PUA (18.1 miles) and KICCO WMA (21.9 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Fort Drum WMA in 2026-27?

Special-Opportunity Deer Season: October 31-November 6. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Fort Drum WMA?

Deer with at least 1 antler having 4 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length), antlerless deer by antlerless deer permit only (each antlerless deer permit allows the take of only 1 doe or 1 buck 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 Fort Drum WMA?

Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.

Do you need a quota permit for Fort Drum WMA?

Wild Hog-Still - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts. Special-Opportunity Deer - 20, $50, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions). Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 5, $50, special-opportunity spring turkey permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Fort Drum WMA in?

Indian River 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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