Joe Budd WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Joe Budd WMA sets 2 deer seasons (archery and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on December 11-13, 18-20, 25-27, January 1-3, 8-10. The area is 11,285 acres of public hunting land in Gadsden County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 18,958 deer were taken in DMU D1 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 Joe Budd WMA?

Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler with 3 or more points (each point 1 inch in length or more), antlerless deer by antlerless deer permit only (each antlerless deer permit allows the take of 1 deer without antlers or with antlers less than 1 inch in length visible above the hairline, but not spotted fawn).

Source: FWC Joe Budd 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 Joe Budd WMA need?

• Archery - 35, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 5 hunts. Archery - 140, no-cost, zone tags are available for each of 5 hunts to hunters without a quota permit by random drawing of those persons present at the check station at 2 p.m. on Thursday prior to each hunt. Archery/Muzzleloading Gun - 35, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts. Archery/Muzzleloading Gun - 140, no-cost, zone tags are available for each of 3 hunts to hunters without a quota permit by random drawing of those persons present at the check station at 2 p.m. on Thursday prior to each hunt. Youth Turkey - 20, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available each day of the hunt by random drawing at the check station. Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 6 hunts. Zone Tags: Zone tags are required for each person to hunt on the area during archery and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons. During the archery and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons, the area is divided into 7 zones with Zone A limited to 18 hunters, Zones B, C and D limited to 14 hunters each, Zone E limited to 6 hunters, Zone F limited to 32 hunters and Zone G limited to 42 hunters. Zone tags for archery and archery/muzzleloading gun hunts will be issued to hunters without quota hunt permits by random drawing at the check station at 2 p.m. on the Thursday prior to each 3-day hunt period. A person may reserve a zone tag for 1 additional hunter who is not in attendance, but must possess the additional hunter's valid license and permits to do so. Any unissued zone tags will be available on hunt days after morning stand hours (approximately 8:30 a.m.). Zone tags may not be transferred from 1 hunter to another. If available, 1 zone tag may be exchanged for another at the check station during each hunt. Holders of quota hunt permits and exempt hunters are not required to attend the drawing on Thursdays to select their zone.

What rules apply on Joe Budd WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except any dog may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds in season) and non-protected birds during the small game season and bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt doves during the dove 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, including bear.
• Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
• Taking bear with the aid of dogs is prohibited.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• During applicable seasons, no person may hunt in any zone other than that for which she or he has obtained a zone tag.
• During applicable seasons, hunters must maintain possession of zone tags and daily quota permits while on the area.
• When the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at the check station when entering and check out when leaving the area and check all game harvested.
• Check station hours are 1½ hours before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset during the archery and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons and the youth turkey hunt. The check station is no longer staffed during the spring turkey season.
• In addition to checking all game at an area 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.

Guns

• Hunting with a gun or archery equipment on or from the rights-of-way of High Bluff Road or C.R. 268 is prohibited.
• Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
• Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer or bear 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 or bear 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 archery, archery/muzzleloading gun, small game and dove seasons, and prior to 1 p.m. during the youth spring turkey and spring turkey seasons, when public access is allowed only by individuals authorized to participate in the hunt.
• No person shall enter the area during any period in which the entry gate is closed.
• During archery and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons, entry into the area is prohibited during stand hours (½ hour before sunrise until 1 hour after sunrise and from 1 hour before sunset to ½ hour after sunset).
• All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
• Motor vehicles shall be operated only on improved 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.

Camping

• Camping is prohibited except at the High Bluff campground by permit from the Florida Forest Service (FFS).

Bag limits

• A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, bear, 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 - Unless noted here, see statewide limits below. Archery - 1 antlerless deer may be taken per antlerless deer permit. Archery/muzzleloading gun - The take of antlerless deer is prohibited. 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 Joe Budd regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Joe Budd WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Joe Budd WMA lies in DMU D1. FWC estimates 18,958 deer (12,789 bucks, 6,169 does) in DMU D1 in the 2023-24 season, 4,694 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 Joe Budd 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 Joe Budd WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 8, I-10, FL 10 and US 90. Nearest towns: Midway (2 miles), Quincy (4 miles), Tallahassee (9 miles) and Havana (10 miles). FWC's page for the area: Joe Budd.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Talquin WMA (next to it), Ochlockonee River WMA (next to it), Apalachicola WMA (1.3 miles) and Apalachicola WMA (Bradwell Unit) (7.3 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Joe Budd WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: December 11-13, 18-20, 25-27, January 1-3, 8-10; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: January 15-17, 22-24, 29-31. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Joe Budd WMA?

Deer with at least 1 antler with 3 or more points (each point 1 inch in length or more), antlerless deer by antlerless deer permit only (each antlerless deer permit allows the take of 1 deer without antlers or with antlers less than 1 inch in length visible above the hairline, 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 Joe Budd WMA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Joe Budd WMA.

Do you need a quota permit for Joe Budd WMA?

Archery - 35, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 5 hunts. Archery - 140, no-cost, zone tags are available for each of 5 hunts to hunters without a quota permit by random drawing of those persons present at the check station at 2 p.m. on Thursday prior to each hunt. Archery/Muzzleloading Gun - 35, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts. Archery/Muzzleloading Gun - 140, no-cost, zone tags are available for each of 3 hunts to hunters without a quota permit by random drawing of those persons present at the check station at 2 p.m. on Thursday prior to each hunt. Youth Turkey - 20, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available each day of the hunt by random drawing at the check station. Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 6 hunts. Zone Tags: Zone tags are required for each person to hunt on the area during archery and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons. During the archery and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons, the area is divided into 7 zones with Zone A limited to 18 hunters, Zones B, C and D limited to 14 hunters each, Zone E limited to 6 hunters, Zone F limited to 32 hunters and Zone G limited to 42 hunters. Zone tags for archery and archery/muzzleloading gun hunts will be issued to hunters without quota hunt permits by random drawing at the check station at 2 p.m. on the Thursday prior to each 3-day hunt period. A person may reserve a zone tag for 1 additional hunter who is not in attendance, but must possess the additional hunter's valid license and permits to do so. Any unissued zone tags will be available on hunt days after morning stand hours (approximately 8:30 a.m.). Zone tags may not be transferred from 1 hunter to another. If available, 1 zone tag may be exchanged for another at the check station during each hunt. Holders of quota hunt permits and exempt hunters are not required to attend the drawing on Thursdays to select their zone.

What county is Joe Budd WMA in?

Gadsden 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.

Florida hunting All Florida WMAs DMU D1 deer harvest