Lochloosa WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Lochloosa WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 26-October 25. The area is 9,372 acres of public hunting land in Alachua County, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central 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.
Lochloosa WMAOther FWC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 9,372 acres, measured on FWC's boundary (FWC's regional summary gives 11,149) |
|---|---|
| County | Alachua |
| Deer management unit | DMU C4 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 26-October 25 |
| General gun | November 7-20, November 21-December 6, December 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, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn) |
| Deer dogs | Allowed in a dog season or area (rules below) |
| Also on the area | Small game, deer dogs, camping, horseback riding, fishing and night raccoon hunting |
| Nearest towns | Hawthorne (3 mi), McIntosh (4 mi) and Micanopy (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Lochloosa WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-October 25 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 30-November 1 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-20, November 21-December 6, December 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, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).
Source: FWC Lochloosa 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 Lochloosa WMA need?
- General Gun - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Lochloosa WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer with dogs is allowed only during general gun season.
- 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 wild hog with dogs is allowed only during the 3rd general gun season hunt (December 7 through January 3).
- Hunting raccoon and opossum at night with dogs is allowed only during general gun and small game seasons.
- 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.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Hunting with archery equipment or guns on or from the rights-of-way of County Road 325 is prohibited.
- Hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey prior to moving it form 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 general gun and small game seasons for exceptions).
- Taking wildlife at night with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device 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.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round.
- Lands north of Fish Camp Road are not part of Lochloosa WMA.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
- Bicycles and horses may be ridden only on named or numbered roads and designated trails.
- Class 1 electric bicycles may be operated according to rules for traditional, non-motorized bicycles. All other electric bicycles may be operated only on names or numbered roads open to motorized vehicles. For more information visit MyFWC.com/ebike.
Camping
- 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 - See statewide limits below. 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 bag or size limit.
From FWC Lochloosa regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Lochloosa WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Lochloosa 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 Lochloosa WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Alachua County | 9,372 |
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 Lochloosa WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 301, FL 20, FL 25 and US 441. Nearest towns: Hawthorne (3 miles), McIntosh (4 miles), Micanopy (6 miles) and Reddick (7 miles). FWC's page for the area: Lochloosa.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Hatchet Creek WMA (9.4 miles), Ocala WMA (11.1 miles), Caravelle Ranch WMA (12.3 miles) and Silver Springs Forest WMA (13.1 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Lochloosa WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-October 25; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 30-November 1; General Gun Season: November 7-20, November 21-December 6, December 7-January 3. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Lochloosa 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 Lochloosa WMA?
Hunting deer with dogs is allowed only during general gun season.
Do you need a quota permit for Lochloosa WMA?
General Gun - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Lochloosa WMA in?
Alachua County, measured on FWC's boundary.
Get a Florida hunt plan when they open
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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.