Green Swamp West Unit: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Green Swamp West Unit sets 2 deer seasons (special-opportunity archery and special-opportunity general gun); special-opportunity archery is on December 5-8, 17-20. The area is 34,478 acres of public hunting land in Pasco County, a wildlife management area in FWC's southwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 1,973 deer were taken in DMU B1 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 Green Swamp West Unit?

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 Green Swamp West Unit 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 Green Swamp West Unit need?

• Wild Hog-Still - 225, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Dog - 150, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Small Game - 25, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Special-Opportunity Archery - 54, $100, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Special-Opportunity General Gun - 54, $100, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Small Game - 80 (wild hog and small game) and 40 (small game only), no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 24 (8 per zone), $100, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts.

What rules apply on Green Swamp West Unit?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except dogs may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbit and squirrel) and non-protected birds during small game season and family small game season, and no more than 3 free-running dogs per wild hog-dog quota permit are allowed during wild hog-dog season.
• 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.
• Hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited except during the wild hog-dog 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.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• During special-opportunity archery, general gun and spring turkey seasons, an individual may accompany a special-opportunity permittee provided that while hunting or scouting the individual shall not occupy a vehicle separate from the permittee, shall not take wildlife with archery equipment or a gun, and shall be in the immediate vicinity (25 feet or less) of the permittee.
• In addition to checking all wildlife at an area check station when staffed, hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report any harvested 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.
• Hunters shall enter and exit at the designated entrance.
• 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.
• During periods when the check station is staffed, no wildlife shall be dismembered until checked at the check station.

Guns

• 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.
• Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round, except during the special-opportunity archery, general gun and spring turkey seasons.
• During periods open for hunting, motorized vehicles may only be operated by persons participating in the hunts.
• Persons participating in the special-opportunity, Family (Hunt) Small Game season, or wild hog hunts are allowed vehicle access from sunrise until sunset on the day before the permitted hunt, except special-opportunity spring turkey permit holders are allowed vehicle access to the area 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset on the day preceding the hunt. Vehicle access is not allowed the day prior to Small Game season/hunts.
• 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.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.

Camping

• Camping is allowed at designated campsites during hunting seasons.
• Camping equipment may be taken onto the WMA after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the season.
• Unless contained in mobile campers, kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers are prohibited. Lumber, sheet metal and other building materials are also prohibited.

Bag limits

• 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 permit, 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.
• Wild hog - No size or bag limit.

From FWC Green Swamp West Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Green Swamp West Unit?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Green Swamp West Unit lies in DMU B1. FWC estimates 1,973 deer (1,359 bucks, 614 does) in DMU B1 in the 2023-24 season, 601 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 Green Swamp West Unit 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 Green Swamp West Unit?

Highways within 5 miles: US 98, FL 700, FL 35 and US 301. Nearest towns: Dade City (3 miles), Zephyrhills (6 miles), St. Leo (7 miles) and San Antonio (8 miles). FWC's page for the area: Green Swamp West Unit.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Green Swamp WMA (next to it), Richloam WMA (next to it), Upper Hillsborough WMA (3 miles) and Richloam WMA (Baird Unit) (5 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Green Swamp West Unit in 2026-27?

Special-Opportunity Archery Season: December 5-8, 17-20; Special-Opportunity General Gun Season: January 7-10, 21-24, February 4-7. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Green Swamp West Unit?

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 Green Swamp West Unit?

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 Green Swamp West Unit?

Wild Hog-Still - 225, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Dog - 150, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Small Game - 25, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Special-Opportunity Archery - 54, $100, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Special-Opportunity General Gun - 54, $100, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Small Game - 80 (wild hog and small game) and 40 (small game only), no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 24 (8 per zone), $100, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts.

What county is Green Swamp West Unit in?

Pasco 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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