Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 19-20, September 21-October 18. The area is 23,104 acres of public hunting land in Osceola County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northeast region. Around it, FWC estimates 2,859 deer were taken in DMU C2 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.
Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMAOther FWC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 23,104 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Osceola |
| Deer management unit | DMU C2 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 19-20, September 21-October 18 |
| General gun | November 7-8, November 9-January 3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| 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) |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Palm Bay (14 mi), West Melbourne (14 mi) and Melbourne Village (14 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 19-20, September 21-October 18 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 24-26 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-8, November 9-January 3 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Small Game Season | January 4-March 7 |
| Raccoon Season | January 18-24, February 1-7, 15-21 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
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 Herky Huffman / Bull Creek 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 Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA need?
- Archery (first 2 days) - 300, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Archery (after the first 2 days) - 300, no cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available to hunters on a first-come, first-served basis at the check station each day. Muzzleloading Gun - 300, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (first 2 days) - 300, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (after the first 2 days) - 300, no cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available to hunters on a first-come, first-served basis at the check station each day.
What rules apply on Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during the small game season, dogs may be used to hunt raccoon during the raccoon season, and bird dogs may be used to take small game and non-protected birds during archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons.
- 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
- All hunters must enter and exit at a designated entrance.
- When the check station(s) are 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 small game season and designated raccoon hunts).
- When the check station(s) are staffed, hunters using the non-motorized entrances on Crabgrass Road shall have a daily permit issued from the check station in their possession (except during the small game season).
- No deer or wild hog shall be quartered or otherwise dismembered in the hunt area.
- Check station hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time (DST) and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The hours during spring turkey season are 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. DST.
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 (See exception for raccoon 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.
- Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round.
- Persons must enter and exit at a designated entrance, except persons hiking through on the Florida National Scenic Trail.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
- No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage. All-terrain vehicles may only be operated on roads open to other motor vehicles.
- Vehicles or horses may be used only on named or numbered roads or named or numbered trails, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage.
Camping
- Camping is allowed BY PERMIT ONLY at designated campgrounds during periods in which hunting is allowed and throughout the year at designated campsites on the Florida National Scenic Trail, but only for persons hiking through on the Florida National Scenic Trail. Persons hiking through and camping on the Florida National Scenic Trail are exempt from the camping permit requirements. For more information or to get a camping permit please visit us at Camping on WMAs.
- During periods in which hunting is allowed and from 8 a.m. 1 day prior to each season through 6 p.m. 1 day following each season, camping is allowed at the designated campground shown on the brochure map.
- The campground has no designated sites and there are no reservations required.
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 of 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 Herky Huffman / Bull Creek regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA lies in DMU C2. FWC estimates 2,859 deer (1,984 bucks, 875 does) in DMU C2 in the 2023-24 season, 1,174 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 Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Osceola County | 23,104 |
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 Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 500, US 192, US 441 and FL 15. Nearest towns: Palm Bay (14 miles), West Melbourne (14 miles), Melbourne Village (14 miles) and Melbourne (15 miles). FWC's page for the area: Herky Huffman/Bull Creek.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Triple N Ranch WMA (next to it), Three Lakes WMA (2.2 miles), Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA (4.6 miles) and Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit) (9.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 19-20, September 21-October 18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26; General Gun Season: November 7-8, November 9-January 3. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Herky Huffman/Bull Creek 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 Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA?
Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA?
Archery (first 2 days) - 300, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Archery (after the first 2 days) - 300, no cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available to hunters on a first-come, first-served basis at the check station each day. Muzzleloading Gun - 300, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (first 2 days) - 300, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun (after the first 2 days) - 300, no cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available to hunters on a first-come, first-served basis at the check station each day.
What county is Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA in?
Osceola County, measured on FWC's boundary.
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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.