Hickory Hammock WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Hickory Hammock WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun and general gun mobility-impaired); archery is on October 16-18. The area is 3,692 acres of public hunting land in Highlands County, a wildlife management area in FWC's southwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 4,506 deer were taken in DMU C1 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.
Hickory Hammock WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 3,692 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Highlands |
| Deer management unit | DMU C1 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun and general gun mobility-impaired |
| Archery | October 16-18 |
| General gun | November 7-9 |
| Spring turkey | March 25-27, April 15-17 |
| 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, hog hunting, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing and mobility-impaired hunts |
| Nearest towns | Lake Placid (14 mi), Sebring (17 mi) and Avon Park (22 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Hickory Hammock WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 16-18 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 24-26, 28-30 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-9 |
| General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season | December 12-13 |
| Spring Turkey Season | March 25-27, April 15-17 |
| Wild Hog-Still Season | 2026 hunt dates: April 29-May 3, May 22-26; 2027 hunt dates: April 28-May 2, May 28-June 1 |
| Small Game Season | November 16-29, January 25-March 7 |
| 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 Hickory Hammock 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 Hickory Hammock WMA need?
- Wild Hog-Still - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Archery - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Mobility-Impaired - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Hickory Hammock WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except any dog may be used to take small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory game) and non-protected birds during the small game 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.
- 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
- Hunters may use the cleaning station located just north of the Equestrian Center. No carcasses or entrails shall be left at or within 200 yards of any campsite or camp facility (Please use designated disposal site north of the cleaning 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.
Guns
- Hunting with centerfire rifles is prohibited.
- 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 year round. Public access other than on foot or bicycle is prohibited except by persons that have obtained authorization from the South Florida Water Management District.
- The McArthur Road entrance gate is locked at all times and a lock combination is necessary to access the area with a motor vehicle.
- Camping, vehicle authorization, gate combinations, and horses require a Special Use License (SUL) from South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). To apply and receive an SUL by email, visit www.SFWMD.gov/sul. To receive an SUL by US Mail, contact SFWMD at 1-800-432-2045 (allow 7-10 business days). All vehicles used under an SUL must have the SUL reference number displayed on the driver’s side of the dashboard.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named roads and must be parked in designated parking areas or within 25 feet of an open road, except all-terrain vehicles may be used by certified mobility-impaired hunters during the general gun mobility-impaired season and from 8 a.m. until sunset 1 day prior to the season.
- The use of tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles (except as allowed above) or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.
Camping
- Camping is allowed at the Equestrian Center and Istokpoga Canal Boat Ramp Area by persons possessing a Special Use License.
- Camping is limited to 8 continuous days.
- Quiet Hours: Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. loud music, barking dogs or any other activity causing excessive noise is prohibited in camping areas. Generators are allowed except as restricted by posted sign.
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 and general gun mobility-impaired seasons: 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit. Only mobility-impaired hunters may harvest antlerless deer during the general gun mobility-impaired season. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons: 1 antlered deer per quota permit. 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 Hickory Hammock regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Hickory Hammock WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Hickory Hammock WMA lies in DMU C1. FWC estimates 4,506 deer (3,179 bucks, 1,327 does) in DMU C1 in the 2023-24 season, 1,239 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 Hickory Hammock WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Highlands County | 3,687 |
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 Hickory Hammock WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 98. Nearest towns: Lake Placid (14 miles), Sebring (17 miles), Avon Park (22 miles) and Okeechobee (23 miles). FWC's page for the area: Hickory Hammock.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Kissimmee River PUA (next to it), Kissimmee Bend Unit of the Everglades Headwaters WMA (5.4 miles), Lake Wales Ridge WMA (Royce Unit) (9 miles) and KICCO WMA (13 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Hickory Hammock WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 16-18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26, 28-30; General Gun Season: November 7-9; General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season: December 12-13. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Hickory Hammock 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 Hickory Hammock WMA?
Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Hickory Hammock WMA?
Wild Hog-Still - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Archery - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Mobility-Impaired - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Hickory Hammock WMA in?
Highlands 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.