J.W. Corbett WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for J.W. Corbett WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on August 29-September 20. The area is 60,889 acres of public hunting land in Palm Beach and Martin counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's south 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.
J.W. Corbett WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 60,889 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Palm Beach, Martin |
| Deer management unit | DMU C2 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | August 29-September 20 |
| General gun | November 7-January 3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: February 26-March 1; Spring Turkey: March 6-April 11 (Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays only) |
| Legal deer | Antlered deer having at least one antler with three or more points (each point being one inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but does not include spotted fawns) during September 12-20 only |
| Deer dogs | Allowed in a dog season or area (rules below) |
| Also on the area | Small game, released quail, hog dogs, deer dogs, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing and night raccoon hunting |
| Nearest towns | Westlake (4 mi), Indiantown (6 mi) and Loxahatchee Groves (7 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on J.W. Corbett WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | August 29-September 20 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 3-18 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-January 3 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: February 26-March 1; Spring Turkey: March 6-April 11 (Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays only) |
| Small Game Season | January 4-February 21 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Non-Native Reptiles | Allowed year round. |
Legal deer: Antlered deer having at least one antler with three or more points (each point being one inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but does not include spotted fawns) during September 12-20 only.
Source: FWC J.W. Corbett 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 J.W. Corbett WMA need?
- Quota permits are not required for this area.
What rules apply on J.W. Corbett WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except during general gun, small game, migratory bird, and dog training seasons. During small game season, dogs may only be used for hunting gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, non-protected birds, quail, rabbits, and raccoon. Bird dogs and retrievers may be used for hunting coots, doves, ducks, geese, and snipe during their respective statewide seasons and for taking non-protected birds during the seasons for the migratory birds mentioned here.
- The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox, or coyote with dogs is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
- Dogs used for hunting may be taken onto the WMA after 8 a.m. the day before a season opens and shall be removed by 6 p.m. the day after a season ends.
- Hunting deer and wild hog with dogs is only allowed during general gun season.
- Deer dogs and bird dogs may only be trained October 24 through November 2 and only in the area south and east of Stumper’s Grade. During the dog training season, no wildlife shall be harvested, but dogs are allowed to pursue wildlife. A management area permit and hunting license are required to conduct dog training activities.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Hunters must enter and exit the area only at a designated entrance. During periods when check stations are staffed, all hunters must report at a check station upon entering and leaving the area and check all harvested wildlife.
- Check station hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., except during general gun and spring turkey seasons, when hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check stations are not staffed during small game season.
- During periods when check stations are staffed, no deer shall be quartered or dismembered until checked at a check station.
- Deer (after being checked at a check station) and turkey may be dismembered in the field or camp, but each portion shall have a tag affixed to it identifying the name, address, and hunting license number of the person who harvested it; the date and location at which it was taken; and shall be readily traceable to the skull plate with any attached antler, if applicable, for deer, and the head and beard for turkey.
- 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 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 south and east of Stumper’s Grade.
- Hunting with rifles is prohibited within the Pratt-Whitney buffer zone and within ¼ mile of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad and Mecca Farms.
- Hunting with any weapon other than a bow (or crossbow by disabled crossbow permit) is prohibited in the Bruce Bowman archery still hunt area.
- Taking wildlife, discharging a bow, crossbow, or airgun, or possessing harvested wildlife in the closed-to-hunting area adjacent to the Bruce Bowman archery still hunt area is prohibited. This area (see brochure map) includes but is not limited to the natural trail, Hungryland boardwalk, entrance road, and parking lot.
Access and vehicles
- Public access is allowed year-round except from 12 a.m. August 16 until 8 a.m. August 28 when the area is closed. However, on the portion of the North Grade between the north entrance and B-camp gate and on the portion of Stumper's Grade between the south entrance and a roadblock designated by FWC, public access will be allowed starting at 5:00 p.m. August 26. Motorized vehicles parked on North or Stumper's Grade during the closure period may not be left unattended by a driver. Hiking on the Florida Trail and use of the Hungryland Boardwalk is allowed year-round.
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the area with the following exceptions: street-legal vehicles may be operated on named roads (Stumper's, Tomato Field, North, and South grades; and Indian Trails and L-8 Canal roads); the access road to the Everglades Youth Conservation Camp, shooting range, and nature interpretive center, and designated parking and camping areas and their associated access roads (other than Camp O); and individuals who possess a valid OHV Hunting Permit may operate swamp buggies, side-by-sides, and street-legal vehicles as detailed in the permit conditions. Only street-legal vehicles are allowed at any time on the Indian Trails and L-8 Canal roads, including by individuals with a valid OHV Hunting Permit.
- Persons must enter and exit the area only at a designated entrance. During periods when check stations are staffed, all persons must report at a check station upon entering and leaving the area, except for through-hikers on the Florida Trail (see Daily-Use Permit Information section above).
- People through-hiking on the Florida Trail may enter or exit the area on the Florida Trail. Florida Trail through-hikers are exempt from the day-use fee.
- Within the Roy R. Burnsed still hunt area and the Bruce Bowman archery still hunt area, motorized vehicles may be operated only on named roads (without a valid OHV Hunting Permit) and only on named roads and numbered trails (with a valid OHV Hunting Permit).
Camping
- An FWC-issued permit is required for camping on the area and all individuals who camp are subject to permit provisions. Permits may be obtained through the online reservation system at FWC's Camping at Wildlife Management Areas webpage or by calling the J.W. Corbett Field Office at (561) 624-6989 during regular business hours (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Camping is allowed continuously starting 8 a.m. the day prior to archery season through seven days after the last day of general gun season and 8 a.m. the day prior to spring turkey season through the end of spring turkey season, but only in designated campsites. For the remainder of the year when the area is open to public access, camping is allowed only at designated campsites and only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but campsites may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours.
- Campsites are available on a first come, first served basis.
- Each camper must ensure that their campsite is clean at all times.
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Daily limit 1, annual limit 2 (all seasons combined). 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.
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Daily limit 1. B. Statewide limits - Spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
- Wild hog - No bag limits or size restrictions.
From FWC J.W. Corbett regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around J.W. Corbett WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. J.W. Corbett 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 J.W. Corbett WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Palm Beach County | 60,827 |
| Martin County | 62 |
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 J.W. Corbett WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 710, FL 706, FL 76 and FL 80. Nearest towns: Westlake (4 miles), Indiantown (6 miles), Loxahatchee Groves (7 miles) and Palm Beach Gardens (7 miles). FWC's page for the area: J.W. Corbett.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: DuPuis WEA (next to it), Hungryland WEA (next to it), Allapattah Flats WMA (11 miles) and Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA (20.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on J.W. Corbett WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: August 29-September 20; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 3-18; General Gun Season: November 7-January 3. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on J.W. Corbett WMA?
Antlered deer having at least one antler with three or more points (each point being one inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but does not include spotted fawns) during September 12-20 only, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on J.W. Corbett WMA?
The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox, or coyote with dogs is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
Do you need a quota permit for J.W. Corbett WMA?
Quota permits are not required for this area.
What county is J.W. Corbett WMA in?
Palm Beach County (60,827 acres) and Martin County (62 acres), measured on FWC's boundary.
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Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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.