Lafayette Forest WEA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Lafayette Forest WEA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and family hunt); archery is on September 26-30, October 2-6, 9-13. The area is 2,145 acres of public hunting land in Lafayette County, a wildlife and environmental 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Lafayette Forest WEA?

Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5-inches or more in length, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).

Source: FWC Lafayette Forest 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 Lafayette Forest WEA need?

• Archery - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 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 Lafayette Forest WEA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited except during small game season when dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds, and during small game season by persons hunting raccoon or opossum at night.
• Hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
• Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
• Dogs may be transported year round on McCalls Chapel Grade.
• 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

• 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 exception for small game season).
• 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 but only from 1 ½ hours before sunrise until 1 ½ hours after sunset, except during small game season by persons hunting raccoon or opossum at night. During quota hunts, only persons participating in the hunt may enter the area, except persons may use McCalls Chapel Grade to access Mallory Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
• Only the following persons may traverse McCalls Chapel Grade from 1 ½ hours after sunset until 1 ½ hours before sunrise: A. Persons hunting raccoon or opossum at night during small game season. B. Persons hunting during the April or June wild hog-dog season hunts on Mallory Swamp WMA. C. Persons with a Special Use Authorization permit for Mallory Swamp WMA (obtained from the Suwannee River Water Management District).
• Motorized vehicles are allowed only on McCalls Chapel Grade, except persons participating in a hunt may drive on Lafayette Loop during periods open to hunting and the day prior to each hunt. Additionally, all users are allowed to drive motorized vehicles on Lafayette Loop during the small game season.
• Persons must enter and exit the area through a designated entrance.
• 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 - Archery season - 1 antlered or antlerless deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 1 antlered deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit. Family hunt - 1 antlered or 1 antlerless deer per person. 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 Lafayette Forest regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Lafayette Forest WEA?

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

Highways within 5 miles: FL 349. Nearest towns: Branford (7 miles), Bell (8 miles), Cross City (15 miles) and Fort White (16 miles). FWC's page for the area: Lafayette Forest.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Mallory Swamp WMA (next to it), Log Landing WMA (5.9 miles), Little River WMA (9.7 miles) and Fort White WEA (10.6 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Lafayette Forest WEA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: September 26-30, October 2-6, 9-13; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26; Family Hunt: November 7-8, 14-15. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Lafayette Forest WEA?

Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5-inches or more in length, 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 Lafayette Forest WEA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Lafayette Forest WEA.

Do you need a quota permit for Lafayette Forest WEA?

Archery - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What county is Lafayette Forest WEA in?

Lafayette 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.

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