Homosassa WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Homosassa WMA sets one deer season, archery, on October 15-18, October 29-November 1, November 5-8. The area is 6,047 acres of public hunting land in Citrus County, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. 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.
Homosassa WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 6,047 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Citrus |
| Deer management unit | DMU C3 |
| Deer seasons | Archery |
| Archery | October 15-18, October 29-November 1, November 5-8 |
| Spring turkey | March 20-26, April 3-9 |
| 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, fishing and night raccoon hunting |
| Nearest towns | Crystal River (7 mi), Inverness (14 mi) and Brooksville (17 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Homosassa WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 15-18, October 29-November 1, November 5-8 |
| Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey Season | March 20-26, April 3-9 |
| Small Game Season | November 13-December 6, December 26-January 17, February 6-28 |
| 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 Homosassa 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 Homosassa WMA need?
- Archery - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Small Game - 30, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 5, $175, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Homosassa WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs or dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less and persons in possession of a Special Use permit from the Florida Forest Service may use dogs for hunting raccoon or opossum at night during small game season (beginning February 6) (see small game season for details).
- 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.
- During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at a check station upon entering and check out upon leaving the area and check all wildlife harvested, except when hunting raccoon or opossum at night during small game season (beginning February 6) (see small game season for details).
- In addition to checking all wildlife at the check 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.
- During special-opportunity spring turkey season, an individual may accompany a special-opportunity permittee provided that while hunting or scouting the individual shall not occupy a vehicle separate from the permittee, shall not take wildlife with archery equipment or a gun, and shall be in the immediate vicinity (25 feet or less) of the permittee.
- Check station hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during archery season, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. during small game season, and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during special-opportunity spring turkey season.
Guns
- Hunting with centerfire rifles is prohibited.
- Taking wildlife at night with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device is prohibited.
- Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (see exception for small game season).
- Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except during special-opportunity spring turkey season when public access is limited to persons participating in the hunt and by persons in possession of a Special Use permit from the Florida Forest Service.
- Vehicles are allowed on Burnt Bridge Road year round. Vehicles are allowed on other roads only during hunting periods and from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. 1 day prior to each hunt, except prior to small game hunts.
- Motor vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
- Vehicles must be parked within 25 feet of a named road.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
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 - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless 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 Homosassa regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Homosassa WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Homosassa 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 Homosassa WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Citrus County | 6,047 |
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 Homosassa WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 55, US 19, US 98 and FL 589. Nearest towns: Crystal River (7 miles), Inverness (14 miles), Brooksville (17 miles) and Inglis (17 miles). FWC's page for the area: Homosassa.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Chassahowitzka WMA (2 miles), Citrus WMA (3.3 miles), Weekiwachee WMA (13.3 miles) and Potts WMA (15.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Homosassa WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 15-18, October 29-November 1, November 5-8. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Homosassa 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 Homosassa WMA?
Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Homosassa WMA?
Archery - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Small Game - 30, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 5, $175, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Homosassa WMA in?
Citrus 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.