Hilochee WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Hilochee WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on February 12-14. The area is 9,976 acres of public hunting land in 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 Hilochee 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 Hilochee 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 Hilochee WMA need?

• Wild Hog-Still - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Fishing - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each weekend (permits valid for Saturday and Sunday). Permits are available by calling the Southwest Regional Office at 863-648-3200.

What rules apply on Hilochee WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
• Only bird dogs or retrievers may be used for hunting, except any dog may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during small game season, and any dog may be used during raccoon 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 must enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
• All 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 at night with a gun is prohibited (see raccoon season for exception).
• 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 but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except during the youth turkey hunt when public access is limited to only individuals participating in the hunt or fishing on area lakes and ponds. During non-hunting periods, public access other than on foot, bicycle or horse is prohibited.
• Persons participating in the raccoon season are allowed on the WMA and may operate motorized vehicles during the raccoon season from 1½ hours before sunset on Thursdays until 1½ hours after sunset on Sundays.
• All persons must enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
• Motorized vehicles are allowed during hunting periods, on Saturdays and Sundays by persons with a valid fishing permit, and 1 day prior to each hunting period, except prior to small game and raccoon seasons.
• Motorized vehicles may be operated on named roads only, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.

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 - See statewide bag 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 Hilochee regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Hilochee WMA?

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

Highways within 5 miles: FL 25, I-4, US 27 and FL 400. Nearest towns: Polk City (3 miles), Auburndale (5 miles), Bay Lake (7 miles) and Davenport (7 miles). FWC's page for the area: Hilochee.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit) (2.5 miles), Green Swamp WMA (6.9 miles), Lake Marion Creek WMA (8.7 miles) and Richloam WMA (9.1 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Hilochee WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: February 12-14; Muzzleloading Gun Season: February 19-21; General Gun Season: February 26-28. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Hilochee 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 Hilochee WMA?

Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.

Do you need a quota permit for Hilochee WMA?

Wild Hog-Still - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Fishing - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each weekend (permits valid for Saturday and Sunday). Permits are available by calling the Southwest Regional Office at 863-648-3200.

What county is Hilochee WMA in?

Lake County (5,519 acres) and Polk County (4,457 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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