Fort White WEA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Fort White WEA sets one deer season, archery, on October 24-28, October 31-November 4, November 14-18. The area is 1,654 acres of public hunting land in Gilchrist County, a wildlife and environmental area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 14,293 deer were taken in DMU C3 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.
Fort White WEAOther FWC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,654 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Gilchrist |
| Deer management unit | DMU C3 |
| Deer seasons | Archery |
| Archery | October 24-28, October 31-November 4, November 14-18 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-24, 27-31 |
| 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 and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Fort White (3 mi), Branford (8 mi) and Bell (10 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Fort White WEA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 24-28, October 31-November 4, November 14-18 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-24, 27-31 |
| Small Game Season | November 19-March 7 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
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 Fort White 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 White WEA need?
- Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Youth Turkey - 3, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 3, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Fort White WEA?
Dogs
- Dogs are prohibited except dogs on a leash may be used for trailing wounded game 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 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 of MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.
Guns
- Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
- Hunting wildlife (other than deer or migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
- Hunting turkey with air guns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed.
- Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset except during quota hunts when only individuals authorized to participate in a hunt may access the area and during the youth turkey hunt when one non-hunting guest per quota permit may also access the area.
- Persons must enter and exit the area through a designated entrance.
- Motorized vehicular access is prohibited, except in the parking areas.
- Horses are prohibited.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
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 or antlerless deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota 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 White regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Fort White WEA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Fort White WEA lies in DMU C3. FWC estimates 14,293 deer (9,798 bucks, 4,495 does) in DMU C3 in the 2023-24 season, 2,268 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 White WEA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Gilchrist County | 1,654 |
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 White WEA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 20, US 27, FL 47 and US 129. Nearest towns: Fort White (3 miles), Branford (8 miles), Bell (10 miles) and High Springs (13 miles). FWC's page for the area: Fort White.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Lafayette Forest WEA (10.6 miles), Mallory Swamp WMA (11.6 miles), Little River WMA (11.8 miles) and Log Landing WMA (13 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Fort White WEA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 24-28, October 31-November 4, November 14-18. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Fort White WEA?
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 Fort White WEA?
FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Fort White WEA.
Do you need a quota permit for Fort White WEA?
Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Youth Turkey - 3, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 3, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Fort White WEA in?
Gilchrist 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.