Lake Monroe WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Lake Monroe WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 19-October 18. The area is 3,098 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 Monroe WMAOther FWC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 3,098 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Volusia |
| Deer management unit | DMU C4 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 19-October 18 |
| General gun | November 7-January 3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| 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 |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, horseback riding, hiking trails and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Sanford (4 mi), Deltona (4 mi) and DeBary (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Lake Monroe WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 19-October 18 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 24-November 6 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-January 3 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Small Game Season | January 4-March 7 |
| 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 length of 10 inches or more.
Source: FWC Lake Monroe 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 Monroe WMA need?
- Quota permits are not required for this area.
What rules apply on Lake Monroe WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited except bird dogs and retrievers may be used during the general gun and migratory game bird seasons and dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during small game season. Taking bear with the aid of dogs is prohibited.
- 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 must enter and exit at a designated entrance. Access is also allowed from the St. Johns River and Lake Monroe. Access from State Road 415 is prohibited.
- There is no check station on this area.
- 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.
- 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.
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
- Open to public access year round. Motorized vehicles are allowed only in designated parking areas.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
- No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
- Use or possession of all-terrain vehicles, swamp buggies or tracked vehicles is prohibited.
- Class 1 electric bicycles may be operated according to rules for traditional, non-motorized bicycles. All other electric bicycles may be operated only on named or numbered roads open to motorized vehicles. For more information visit: https://myfwc.com/ebike/.
Camping
- Prohibited.
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area Limits - See statewide limits. 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.
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area Limits - Daily limit 1. B. Statewide Limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
From FWC Lake Monroe regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Lake Monroe WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Lake Monroe WMA 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 Monroe WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Volusia County | 3,094 |
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 Monroe WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 46, FL 400, I-4 and FL 415. Nearest towns: Sanford (4 miles), Deltona (4 miles), DeBary (6 miles) and Orange City (7 miles). FWC's page for the area: Lake Monroe.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Seminole Forest WMA (10 miles), Little Big Econ WMA (10 miles), Rock Springs Run WMA (11.4 miles) and Buck Lake WMA (12.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Lake Monroe WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 19-October 18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-November 6; General Gun Season: November 7-January 3. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Lake Monroe 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, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Lake Monroe WMA?
FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Lake Monroe WMA.
Do you need a quota permit for Lake Monroe WMA?
Quota permits are not required for this area.
What county is Lake Monroe WMA in?
Volusia County, 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.