Little River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Little River WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and family hunt); archery is on September 26-28, October 3-5, 10-12. The area is 2,199 acres of public hunting land in Suwannee County, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 7,315 deer were taken in DMU C5 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.
Little River WMAOther FWC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 2,199 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Suwannee |
| Deer management unit | DMU C5 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and family hunt |
| Archery | September 26-28, October 3-5, 10-12 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-22, April 2-4 |
| 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, horseback riding, fishing, night raccoon hunting and family hunts |
| Nearest towns | Branford (4 mi), Mayo (9 mi) and Fort White (17 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Little River WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-28, October 3-5, 10-12 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 24-26 |
| Family Hunt | November 7-8 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-22, April 2-4 |
| Small Game Season | November 14-March 7 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Raccoon Season | 2027 hunt dates: June 17-August 29 (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only) 2026 hunt dates: June 18-August 30 (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only) |
| 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 Little River 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 Little River WMA need?
- Archery - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Hunt - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). 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 Little River WMA?
26 of the area's rules on dogs, guns, check stations, access, camping and bag limits are word for word the same as on Goethe WMA, and are listed there. The rules below are the ones that differ.
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 persons in possession of a SUA from the SRWMD may use dogs for hunting raccoon and opossum at night during small game season and raccoon season (see small game season and raccoon season for details).
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 and raccoon season).
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, unless in possession of a Special Use Authorization (SUA) from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD)(386-362-1001), except during the youth turkey hunt when public access is limited to individuals participating in the hunt.
- Persons must enter and exit at the designated entrance or via the Suwannee River.
- Vehicles may be operated only on Little River Path and roads 33-2 and 33-3, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
- No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
- The use of ATVs is prohibited.
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Archery and muzzleloading gun seasons - See statewide limits below. Family hunt - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit (not 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.
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Archery season - Daily limit 1. Youth turkey - 1 per quota permit. Spring turkey - 1 per person, 2 per quota permit. B. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
From FWC Little River regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Little River WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Little River WMA lies in DMU C5. FWC estimates 7,315 deer (4,762 bucks, 2,553 does) in DMU C5 in the 2023-24 season, 269 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 Little River WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Suwannee County | 2,199 |
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 Little River WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 20, US 27, FL 249 and US 129. Nearest towns: Branford (4 miles), Mayo (9 miles), Fort White (17 miles) and Live Oak (17 miles). FWC's page for the area: Little River.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Mallory Swamp WMA (4.2 miles), Lafayette Forest WEA (9.7 miles), Fort White WEA (11.8 miles) and Steinhatchee Springs WMA (13.2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Little River WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-28, October 3-5, 10-12; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26; Family Hunt: November 7-8. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Little River 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 Little River WMA?
FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Little River WMA.
Do you need a quota permit for Little River WMA?
Archery - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Hunt - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). 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 Little River WMA in?
Suwannee 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.