Goethe WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Goethe WMA sets 5 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt, general gun still and general gun dog); archery is on September 19-October 11. The area is 47,590 acres of public hunting land in Levy County, a wildlife management 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.
Goethe WMAOther FWC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 47,590 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Levy |
| Deer management unit | DMU C3 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt, general gun still and general gun dog |
| Archery | September 19-October 11 |
| General gun | November 7-12, 13-19 |
| Spring turkey | March 20-26, March 27-April 4, April 5-11 |
| 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 | Allowed in a dog season or area (rules below) |
| Also on the area | Small game, deer dogs, camping, horseback riding, fishing, night raccoon hunting, family hunts, hog hunting and hog dogs |
| Nearest towns | Bronson (5 mi), Inglis (5 mi) and Otter Creek (7 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Goethe WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 19-October 11 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 23-25 |
| Family Hunt | October 31-November 1 |
| General Gun Still Season | November 7-12, 13-19 |
| General Gun Dog Season | November 20-22, 23-26, 27-30 |
| Spring Turkey Season | March 20-26, March 27-April 4, April 5-11 |
| Small Game Season | January 9-February 7 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
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 Goethe 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 Goethe WMA need?
- Muzzleloading Gun - 250, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Family - 75, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Still - 450, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun Dog - 125, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts. Spring Turkey - 130, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Goethe WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited during archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun still seasons.
- During general gun dog season, hunting with dogs with a shoulder height of more than 17 inches is prohibited.
- The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
- During the family hunt, hunting with dogs other than waterfowl retrievers and bird dogs is prohibited.
- During small game season, hunting with dogs is prohibited except by persons hunting raccoon or opossum at night who are in possession of a special use access permit from the FFS (352-566-5225) and dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Hunting on or from the rights-of-way of State Road 121 or County Roads 326, 336, 337 and 343 is prohibited.
- The portion of the area north of Hospital Road and east of C.R. 337, known as the Hog Pond Tract, is open for hunting only during the small game season.
- The portion of the area south of C.R. 326 and adjacent to the east side of C.R. 337, known as the Dove-Only Area, is open only for dove hunting as described in the Migratory Bird Seasons section.
- 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
- Only shotguns are allowed for hunting in the Dove-Only Area.
- Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (see exception for small game season).
- Taking wildlife at night with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device 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.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except that those persons in possession of a valid camping or special use access permit from the FFS may be on the area during periods specified on the permit.
- Vehicles must enter and exit the area at a designated entrance. Only during general gun dog season may vehicles enter and exit at the designated entrances to Chimney Road, Gate 1 Road and Road 47 as indicated on the WMA brochure map. Walk-in access is allowed from public roads.
- Motor vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map, except for individuals who qualify for SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page. Vehicles may not be operated on any road that has been gated or posted as closed to vehicular traffic.
- Only during general gun dog season may vehicles be operated on portions of Chimney Road, Gate 1 Road, South Angle Road and Roads 7, 47, 49 and 50 as indicated on the WMA brochure map.
- Use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles and tracked vehicles is 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, muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - See statewide limits below. Family hunt - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit (not 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.
- Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
From FWC Goethe regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Goethe WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Goethe WMA 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 Goethe WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Levy County | 47,589 |
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 Goethe WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 55, US 19, US 98 and FL 121. Nearest towns: Bronson (5 miles), Inglis (5 miles), Otter Creek (7 miles) and Dunnellon (7 miles). FWC's page for the area: Goethe.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Gulf Hammock WMA (next to it), Devil's Hammock WMA (5 miles), Watermelon Pond WEA (12.1 miles) and Ross Prairie WMA (14.5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Goethe WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 19-October 11; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 23-25; Family Hunt: October 31-November 1; General Gun Still Season: November 7-12, 13-19; General Gun Dog Season: November 20-22, 23-26, 27-30. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Goethe 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 Goethe WMA?
The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
Do you need a quota permit for Goethe WMA?
Muzzleloading Gun - 250, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Family - 75, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Still - 450, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun Dog - 125, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts. Spring Turkey - 130, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Goethe WMA in?
Levy County, measured on FWC's boundary.
Get a Florida hunt plan when they open
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Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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.