Gulf Hammock WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Gulf Hammock WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, archery/muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 19-October 23. The area is 24,002 acres of public hunting land in Levy County, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Recreational use permit required for all hunts and activities. 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Gulf Hammock 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 Gulf Hammock regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, read October 2026. The brochure and FWC's rules are the final word.

What rules apply on Gulf Hammock WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is allowed only during the general gun season, and only in the dog hunt area (see map).
• 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 with dogs, other than bird dogs or waterfowl retrievers, is prohibited in the still hunt area, except as allowed during small game season.
• During small game season, dogs may be used throughout the area for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds.
• Hunting raccoon and opossum at night with dogs is allowed only during small game season in the dog hunt area.

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.
• Hancock Timber Resource Group and Weyerhaeuser Company may conduct timber management at any time, including hunting seasons.

Guns

• Hunting with a firearm or archery equipment on or from the right-of-way of Butler Road, south of its intersection with Buck Head Road, is prohibited.
• 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

• Access is allowed only during periods open for hunting, the consecutive Friday, Saturday and Sunday prior to each hunting season and on the consecutive Friday, Saturday and Sunday following the last day of each hunting season by individuals possessing a valid Gulf Hammock recreational use permit, except that the spouse and dependent children of a permittee may engage in outdoor recreational activities other than hunting while in the company of the permittee. One minor dependent, under 16 years of age, may hunt with the permittee.
• Trespass laws are enforced.
• Access is allowed only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except during spring turkey season when persons must exit the area by 1 hour after sunset and during small game season in the dog hunt area when raccoon or opossum may be hunted at night.
• Entry and exit is allowed only at designated entrances.
• The area on the map indicated as “Private Property (Weyerhaeuser Company)” is private property closed to public access except travel through the area is allowed on existing roads only. This travel allowance may be withdrawn by Weyerhaeuser Company at any time.

Camping

• Prohibited.

Bag limits

• 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.
• Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Daily limit 1. B. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.

From FWC Gulf Hammock regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Gulf Hammock WMA?

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

Highways within 5 miles: FL 55, US 19, US 98 and FL 121. Nearest towns: Inglis (next to it), Yankeetown (3 miles), Crystal River (11 miles) and Otter Creek (12 miles). FWC's page for the area: Gulf Hammock.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Goethe WMA (next to it), Cedar Key Scrub WMA (13.2 miles), Devil's Hammock WMA (13.3 miles) and Citrus WMA (17.8 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Gulf Hammock WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: September 19-October 23; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-November 6; General Gun Season: November 7-January 24. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Gulf Hammock 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 Gulf Hammock WMA?

Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is allowed only during the general gun season, and only in the dog hunt area (see map).

Do you need a quota permit for Gulf Hammock WMA?

Recreational use permit required for all hunts and activities.

What county is Gulf Hammock WMA in?

Levy 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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