Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit): 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit) sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 26-October 11. The area is 14,435 acres of public hunting land in Volusia County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northeast region. Around it, FWC estimates 7,079 deer were taken in DMU C4 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.
Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit)Other FWC WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 14,435 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Volusia |
| Deer management unit | DMU C4 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 26-October 11 |
| General gun | November 14-22 |
| Spring turkey | March 20-26, April 3-9, 17-23 |
| 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 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, camping, horseback riding and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Pierson (4 mi), DeLand (10 mi) and Lake Helen (14 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit)?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-October 11 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 30-November 1 |
| General Gun Season | November 14-22 |
| Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey Season | March 20-26, April 3-9, 17-23 |
| Small Game Season | November 26-29, December 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27, December 31-January 3, January 7-10, 14-17 |
| 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 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 Lake George - Dexter/Mary Farms Unit 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 Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit) need?
- Archery - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 12 (4 per zone), $175, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit)?
Dogs
- Hunting deer or bear with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during the small game 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.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Hunters shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance and when the check station is staffed hunters must register at the check station.
- Check station hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time during the archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the small game season; and 4:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the special-opportunity spring turkey hunts.
- When the check station is staffed, deer, turkey and wild hog must be checked at the check station prior to being dismembered or taken from the area.
- Hunters must physically attach the provided bear harvest tag to their harvested bear prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report the bear they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See the Florida Bear Hunting Guidebook or MyFWC.com for bear harvest reporting instructions.
- In addition to checking all game at a check station when the check station is staffed, 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
- The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.
- 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
- Vehicles may be operated only on named roads designated on the brochure map. Vehicles may not be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage.
- Outside of archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun and small game seasons and 1 day prior to each of these seasons (except small game season), public access to the area is prohibited during the period from sunset to sunrise, unless camping at designated camping areas.
- Vehicular access is only allowed from 1½ hours before sunrise to 1½ hours after sunset 1 day prior to archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun and special-opportunity spring turkey seasons. Vehicle access is also allowed during these seasons and small game season. Individuals in possession of a special-opportunity spring turkey permit shall also have vehicular access to the area from 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset on the Saturday and Sunday preceding each hunt. At all other times, vehicular access is only by permit from the Florida Forest Service (386-585-6151) except the Bluffton Recreation Area shall be open to vehicular access throughout the year via the St. Johns River Road from sunrise to sunset.
- Use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles or tracked vehicles is prohibited.
- Use of boats is prohibited on Jenkins Pond.
Camping
- Camping is allowed by permit from the Florida Forest Service.
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 - Archery season - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 1 antlered 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 Lake George - Dexter/Mary Farms Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit)?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit) lies in DMU C4. FWC estimates 7,079 deer (4,969 bucks, 2,110 does) in DMU C4 in the 2023-24 season, 2,046 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 Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit) in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Volusia County | 14,435 |
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 Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit)?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 15, FL 40, US 17 and FL 11. Nearest towns: Pierson (4 miles), DeLand (10 miles), Lake Helen (14 miles) and Orange City (15 miles). FWC's page for the area: Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit).
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Lake George WMA (next to it), Ocala WMA (next to it), Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit) (6.5 miles) and Tiger Bay WMA (7.2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit) in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-October 11; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 30-November 1; General Gun Season: November 14-22. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit)?
Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam 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 Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit)?
Hunting deer or bear with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit)?
Archery - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 12 (4 per zone), $175, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit) in?
Volusia 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.