Guana River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Guana River WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on October 9-11, 16-18. The area is 8,883 acres of public hunting land in St. Johns County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northeast region. Around it, FWC estimates 8,975 deer were taken in DMU C6 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 Guana River 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 Guana River 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 Guana River WMA need?

• Duck and Coot - Please refer to the Guana River - Lake Ponte Vedra PSGHA brochure for updated information on waterfowl hunts. Archery - 60, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 60, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 60, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Small Game - 75, no-cost, daily quota permits are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Spring Turkey - 6, no-cost, quota permits for each of 3 hunts (no exemptions).

What rules apply on Guana River WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting deer with dogs is prohibited.
• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs or retrievers are allowed during the waterfowl season and dogs may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during the small game season. The take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
• 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

• During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters (except public water alligator hunt participants and falconers hunting outside of the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, small game, and waterfowl seasons) must check in at a check station upon entering and check out upon leaving the area and check all harvested wildlife.
• The upland check station opens at 5 a.m. for each archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, spring turkey and small game hunt. Hunters shall check out at the check station by 9 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time and 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time.
• During periods when the check station is staffed, all waterfowl must be checked at a check station prior to 1 p.m.
• That portion of Lake Ponte Vedra from the Guana Dam to a point ½ mile north is closed to hunting except for alligator hunting.
• Hunting at the visitor interpretive center, wildlife observation towers or nature trail boardwalks is prohibited.

Guns

• The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.
• 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

• Open to public access as follows: During quota permitted hunting dates (when the upland portion is open for archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, and spring turkey seasons), public access to the upland portion is restricted to quota permit holders, hunting guests and exempt hunters only and only from the Guana Dam entrance. During scouting and small game season dates (when the upland portion is open for scouting or small game season), public access to the upland portion is restricted to access only from the Guana Dam entrance. During non-hunting dates (when the upland portion is NOT open for scouting or archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, small game and spring turkey seasons), public access to the upland portion is restricted to non-motorized access only, and only from the Guana Dam and Roscoe Boulevard Extension entrances.
• Persons accessing, parking or launching boats at the Guana Dam are required to pay an access fee to the Department of Environmental Protection. During periods open to scouting and during archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, small game, waterfowl, and spring turkey seasons, the following persons are not required to pay the fee for vehicular access to the upland portion of the management area: exempt hunters, persons in possession of a valid management area permit and persons in possession of a Sportsman’s license.
• Public access to the Guana Dam Water Control Structure or any portion of it is prohibited.
• Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage.
• Vehicle access for scouting is allowed 1 day prior to each hunt (except waterfowl hunts - see Guana River - Lake Ponte Vedra PSGHA brochure) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time. During the hunts, vehicle access is only allowed from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time and from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time.

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 - Archery season - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit or per exempt hunter. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 1 antlered deer per quota permit or per exempt hunter. 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 Guana River regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Guana River WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Guana River WMA lies in DMU C6. FWC estimates 8,975 deer (5,636 bucks, 3,339 does) in DMU C6 in the 2023-24 season, 1,298 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 Guana River 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 Guana River WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 5 and US 1. Nearest towns: Jacksonville Beach (8 miles), St. Augustine (9 miles), Neptune Beach (11 miles) and Atlantic Beach (13 miles). FWC's page for the area: Guana River.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: J.P. Hall Bayard Point WMA (15.6 miles), Matanzas WMA (18.7 miles), Jennings Forest WMA (28.8 miles) and Belmore WMA (30.5 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Guana River WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: October 9-11, 16-18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26, October 30-November 1; General Gun Season: November 20-22, 27-29. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Guana River 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 Guana River WMA?

Hunting deer with dogs is prohibited.

Do you need a quota permit for Guana River WMA?

Duck and Coot - Please refer to the Guana River - Lake Ponte Vedra PSGHA brochure for updated information on waterfowl hunts. Archery - 60, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 60, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 60, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Small Game - 75, no-cost, daily quota permits are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Spring Turkey - 6, no-cost, quota permits for each of 3 hunts (no exemptions).

What county is Guana River WMA in?

St. Johns 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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