Green Swamp WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Green Swamp WMA sets 2 deer seasons (archery and general gun); archery is on October 30-November 29. The area is 51,950 acres of public hunting land in Sumter, Lake and Polk counties, 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 WMA?

Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).

Source: FWC Green Swamp 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 WMA need?

• Archery - 750, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. General Gun (first 9 days) - 750, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun (after first 9 days) - 750, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Youth Turkey - 100, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey (first 2 days) - 200, no-cost, spring turkey quota permits (exemptions allowed). Spring Turkey (after first 2 days) - 200, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Refer to the Camping section for information related to camping permits.

What rules apply on Green Swamp WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs other than bird dogs is prohibited, except any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during small game season and any dog may be used during the 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 hogs 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

• Hunters shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance. During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters may enter or exit the area only during hours a check station is in operation, except during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons.
• During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at a check station upon entering and check out upon leaving the area and check all wildlife harvested, except during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons.
• In addition to checking all wildlife at an area check station, 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.
• During periods when the check station is staffed, no deer or wild hog shall be dismembered until checked at a check station, except wild hog may be dismembered during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons.
• Check station hours are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Eastern Daylight Saving Time and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time.

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. Public access is limited to foot traffic and bicycles only, except during periods open for scouting or hunting, during fishing and frogging season (May 3 through June 15, 2025, Saturdays and Sundays only and May 1 through June 13, 2027 Saturdays and Sundays only) and when camping is allowed.
• Except at campsites, vehicles may only be operated on the area from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset during established hunting seasons, and from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. 1 day prior (scout day) to archery, general gun, youth turkey and spring turkey hunts. During the fishing and frogging season, vehicles may be operated during daylight hours only.
• Vehicle access to campsites is allowed after 8 a.m. 1 day prior to archery, general gun, youth turkey and spring turkey hunts until 1½ hours after sunset on the last day of the hunt. During wild hog-dog season vehicle access to campsites is allowed after 4 p.m. on Wednesdays until 1½ hours after sunset on Sundays. During small game, and the fishing and frogging seasons, vehicle access to campsites is allowed after 4 p.m. on Fridays until 1½ hours after sunset Sundays.
• Vehicles may be operated only on named roads, except Stanley Fish Hole, Orange Lake and Tillman Lake roads are open only during the fishing and frogging season and except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• Stanley Fish Hole, Orange Lake and Tillman Lake roads will be open to vehicular traffic during the May-June fishing season. Tanic Grade, Powder Grade and Levee Road north of Main Grade are closed during this period.

Camping

• Camping is allowed by permit only and only within the site designated on the permit.
• All camping permits are only available first-come, first-served at the campgrounds when camping is allowed.
• The improved campsites located at the SR 471 campground are intended for use by persons with disabilities.

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 - See statewide limits below. 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 Green Swamp regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Green Swamp WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Green Swamp WMA 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 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 Green Swamp WMA?

Highways through the area: FL 471. Nearest towns: Dade City (8 miles), Zephyrhills (9 miles), Polk City (10 miles) and Mascotte (11 miles). FWC's page for the area: Green Swamp.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Richloam WMA (next to it), Green Swamp West Unit (next to it), Upper Hillsborough WMA (4.5 miles) and Richloam WMA (Baird Unit) (5.2 miles).

Questions hunters ask

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

Archery Season: October 30-November 29 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, and Thanksgiving Day); General Gun Season: December 5-January 31. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Green Swamp WMA?

Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, 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 Green Swamp 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 Green Swamp WMA?

Archery - 750, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. General Gun (first 9 days) - 750, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun (after first 9 days) - 750, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Youth Turkey - 100, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey (first 2 days) - 200, no-cost, spring turkey quota permits (exemptions allowed). Spring Turkey (after first 2 days) - 200, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Refer to the Camping section for information related to camping permits.

What county is Green Swamp WMA in?

Sumter County (27,308 acres), Lake County (13,159 acres) and Polk County (11,475 acres), 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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