Lake Panasoffkee WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Lake Panasoffkee WMA sets one deer season, special-opportunity archery, on September 24-27, October 6-9, 15-18, 27-30, November 5-8, 17-20, December 8-11, 17-20. The area is 8,577 acres of public hunting land in Sumter 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Lake Panasoffkee WMA?

Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 4 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length), antlerless deer by antlerless deer permit only (each antlerless deer permit allows the take of only 1 doe or 1 buck with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).

Source: FWC Lake Panasoffkee 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 Panasoffkee WMA need?

• Special-Opportunity Archery - 20, $100, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 8 hunts. Wild Hog-Dog - 35, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Small Game - 40, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 10, $100, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Lake Panasoffkee WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting deer with dogs is prohibited.
• The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs or dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less are allowed during the small game season, and no more than 3 free-running dogs per quota permit are allowed during the wild hog-dog 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.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• During special-opportunity archery and spring turkey seasons, an individual may accompany a special-opportunity permittee provided that while hunting or scouting the individual shall not occupy a vehicle separate from the permittee, shall not take wildlife with archery equipment or a gun, and shall be in the immediate vicinity (25 feet or less) of the permittee.
• Hunters must enter and exit the area at the designated entrance.
• During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at the check station upon entering and check out upon leaving the area and check all wildlife harvested.
• In addition to checking all wildlife at the 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 they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.
• During periods when the check station is staffed, no wildlife shall be dismembered until checked at the check station. Hunters are requested to bring deer and turkey to the check station prior to any field dressing activity.

Guns

• Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
• Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
• Hunting turkey with air guns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed
• Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round, except during special-opportunity archery and spring turkey seasons. During non-hunting periods, motor vehicle access is allowed only on Jones Creek Trail to the horse stable facility located near the campground.
• Individuals participating in a special-opportunity archery or wild hog hunt are allowed vehicle access to the area from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the day before the hunt; and those participating in a special-opportunity spring turkey hunt are allowed vehicle access to the area from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset on the day before the hunt.
• During periods open for hunting, the operation of a vehicle is allowed only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset unless camping at a designated hunter campsite or by permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
• Vehicles may be operated only on named roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• Vehicles must be parked within 25 feet of a named road.

Camping

• Camping is allowed only at designated sites. Camping and camping equipment are allowed on designated campsites no earlier than 8 a.m. the day before each hunt and equipment shall be removed the last day of each hunt, except camping equipment is allowed no earlier than 8 a.m. the first day of each small game hunt.
• Unless contained in mobile campers, kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers are prohibited. Lumber, sheet metal and other building materials are also prohibited.
• Tampering in any way with official markings of campsites is 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 - 1 antlered deer per special-opportunity permit and 1 antlerless deer per antlerless deer permit. B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 2 of which may be antlerless), daily limit 2, possession limit 4.
• Wild hog - No size or bag limit.

From FWC Lake Panasoffkee regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Lake Panasoffkee WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Lake Panasoffkee 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 Panasoffkee WMA 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 Lake Panasoffkee WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 93, I-75, FL 44 and US 301. Nearest towns: Coleman (next to it), Wildwood (5 miles), Bushnell (8 miles) and Fruitland Park (9 miles). FWC's page for the area: Lake Panasoffkee.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Jumper Creek WMA (2.4 miles), Flying Eagle WMA (3.1 miles), Half Moon WMA (3.8 miles) and Potts WMA (8.1 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Lake Panasoffkee WMA in 2026-27?

Special-Opportunity Archery Season: September 24-27, October 6-9, 15-18, 27-30, November 5-8, 17-20, December 8-11, 17-20. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Lake Panasoffkee WMA?

Deer with at least 1 antler having 4 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length), antlerless deer by antlerless deer permit only (each antlerless deer permit allows the take of only 1 doe or 1 buck 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 Panasoffkee WMA?

Hunting deer with dogs is prohibited.

Do you need a quota permit for Lake Panasoffkee WMA?

Special-Opportunity Archery - 20, $100, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 8 hunts. Wild Hog-Dog - 35, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Small Game - 40, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey - 10, $100, special-opportunity permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Lake Panasoffkee WMA in?

Sumter 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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