Garcon Point WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Garcon Point WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-27, October 30-November 2, November 5-8, 13-16. The area is 2,004 acres of public hunting land in Santa Rosa County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 18,958 deer were taken in DMU D1 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 Garcon Point WMA?

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 Garcon Point 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 Garcon Point WMA need?

• Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Archery/Muzzleloading Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Garcon Point WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt migratory birds and non-protected birds during statewide migratory bird seasons and any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds in season) 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

• 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.

Guns

• In the Avalon Tract (see brochure map), only bows are allowed for taking wildlife, except centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns may be used for taking waterfowl in season and crossbows, airbows, and bows equipped with a draw-lock device are allowed by Persons With Disabilities Crossbow Permit. When taking wildlife with a bow during muzzleloading gun season in the Avalon Tract, all other regulations for muzzleloading gun season apply, including the requirement of a muzzleloading gun permit.
• 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

• Public access is allowed year-round, except access to improved recreational areas is only allowed from sunset to sunrise for individuals participating in authorized hunting and fishing activities.
• Individuals shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances as indicated on the brochure map, except vessels may enter the Avalon and Garcon tracts anywhere along their coastline boundaries with Escambia and East bays.
• Motor vehicles may be operated only on designated parking areas as indicated on the brochure map, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
• Airboats, off-highway vehicles (which includes all-terrain vehicles, side-by-sides, and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles), swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles are prohibited.

Camping

• 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 - 1 deer per quota permit during archery season and 1 antlered deer per quota permit during muzzleloading gun, general gun, and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons. 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 Garcon Point regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Garcon Point WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Garcon Point WMA lies in DMU D1. FWC estimates 18,958 deer (12,789 bucks, 6,169 does) in DMU D1 in the 2023-24 season, 4,694 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 Garcon Point 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 Garcon Point WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: US 98, I-10, FL 281 and US 90. Nearest towns: Pensacola (5 miles), Gulf Breeze (7 miles), Milton (11 miles) and Mary Esther (24 miles). FWC's page for the area: Garcon Point.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Escribano Point WMA (3.4 miles), Yellow River WMA (6.3 miles), Escambia River WMA (8.7 miles) and Blackwater WMA (14.4 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Garcon Point WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: October 24-27, October 30-November 2, November 5-8, 13-16; General Gun Season: November 26-29, December 18-21, January 15-18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: February 6-8. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Garcon Point WMA?

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 Garcon Point WMA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Garcon Point WMA.

Do you need a quota permit for Garcon Point WMA?

Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Archery/Muzzleloading Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Garcon Point WMA in?

Santa Rosa 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 DMU D1 deer harvest