Lake Marion Creek WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Lake Marion Creek WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on October 17-19, 23-25, October 30-November 1. The area is 7,831 acres of public hunting land in Polk and Osceola counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's southwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 1,973 deer were taken in DMU B1 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 Marion Creek WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 7,831 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Polk, Osceola |
| Deer management unit | DMU B1 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | October 17-19, 23-25, October 30-November 1 |
| General gun | January 22-24, February 5-7 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-22, April 2-4, 16-18 |
| 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, hog hunting, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Davenport (3 mi), Haines City (4 mi) and Lake Hamilton (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Lake Marion Creek WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 17-19, 23-25, October 30-November 1 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | November 27-29, December 4-6 |
| General Gun Season | January 22-24, February 5-7 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-22, April 2-4, 16-18 |
| Wild Hog-Still Season | December 11-13, 25-27 |
| Small Game Season | January 1-3, 8-10 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing | 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 Lake Marion Creek 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 Marion Creek WMA need?
- Archery - 35, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 35, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Wild Hog-Still - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 35, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Lake Marion Creek WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs other than bird dogs or retrievers is prohibited, except any dog may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory game) 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. Public access other than on foot or bicycle is prohibited except by persons that have obtained authorization from the South Florida Water Management District.
- The entrance gate is locked at all times and a combination is necessary to access the property with a motor vehicle.
- Camping, vehicle authorization, gate combinations, and horses require a Special Use License (SUL) from South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). To apply and receive an SUL by email, visit www.SFWMD.gov/sul. To receive an SUL by US Mail, contact SFWMD at 1-800-432-2045 (allow 7-10 business days). All vehicles used under an SUL must have the SUL reference number displayed on the driver’s side of the dashboard.
- All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named roads.
Camping
- Prohibited during hunting seasons.
- Allowed during non-hunting periods by persons possessing a Special Use License. Camping is limited to 8 continuous days.
- Quiet Hours: Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. loud music, barking dogs or any other activity causing excessive noise is prohibited in camping areas. Generators are allowed except as restricted by posted sign.
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 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 Marion Creek regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Lake Marion Creek WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Lake Marion Creek WMA lies in DMU B1. FWC estimates 1,973 deer (1,359 bucks, 614 does) in DMU B1 in the 2023-24 season, 601 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 Marion Creek WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Polk County | 6,742 |
| Osceola County | 1,089 |
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 Marion Creek WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 17, US 92, FL 600 and FL 25. Nearest towns: Davenport (3 miles), Haines City (4 miles), Lake Hamilton (6 miles) and Dundee (7 miles). FWC's page for the area: Lake Marion Creek.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Creek Ranch WMA (3.7 miles), Hatchineha Unit of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge (4.7 miles), Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA (5.1 miles) and Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit) (6.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Lake Marion Creek WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 17-19, 23-25, October 30-November 1; Muzzleloading Gun Season: November 27-29, December 4-6; General Gun Season: January 22-24, February 5-7. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Lake Marion Creek 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 Lake Marion Creek WMA?
Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Lake Marion Creek WMA?
Archery - 35, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 35, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Wild Hog-Still - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 35, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Lake Marion Creek WMA in?
Polk County (6,742 acres) and Osceola County (1,089 acres), measured on FWC's boundary.
Get a Florida hunt plan when they open
Florida plans are not open yet. They are coming soon. Join the waiting list; the first 50 hunters get one plan free.
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.