Lower Hillsborough WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Lower Hillsborough WMA sets one deer season, family hunt, on December 11-13, January 15-17, 29-31, February 12-14. The area is 2,775 acres of public hunting land in Hillsborough County, 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Lower Hillsborough WMA?

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 Lower Hillsborough 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 Lower Hillsborough WMA need?

• Family Hunt - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Family Small Game - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What rules apply on Lower Hillsborough WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited.
• Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
• 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.
• During non-hunting periods, the possession of dogs shall only be as authorized by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• 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 hunting 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 but only from sunrise to sunset, except during periods open for hunting when public access is allowed 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, during the youth turkey hunt when public access is limited to only individuals participating in the hunt, and permitted campers may access the area as authorized by their permit.
• Public access other than by foot or horse is prohibited.
• All persons must enter and exit through a designated entrance.
• Motor vehicles are prohibited except in designated parking areas and permitted campers may drive directly to the designated camping area.
• The use of airboats, tracked vehicles, swamp buggies, all-terrain vehicles, bicycles or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.

Camping

• By permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District and during open periods for hunting when camping is restricted to quota permit holders only.
• Fires are prohibited, except in the designated camping area
• During hunting seasons, a valid management area permit is required for persons to camp on the area, except those persons exempt from permit requirements.

Bag limits

• Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - 2 deer (antlered or antlerless) per family hunt 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.
• Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - 1 per youth turkey quota permit. B. Statewide limits - Spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.

From FWC Lower Hillsborough regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Lower Hillsborough WMA?

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

Highways within 5 miles: FL 41, US 301, I-75 and FL 56. Nearest towns: Temple Terrace (6 miles), Zephyrhills (7 miles), Plant City (12 miles) and St. Leo (12 miles). FWC's page for the area: Lower Hillsborough.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Upper Hillsborough WMA (7.9 miles), Green Swamp West Unit (13.6 miles), Green Swamp WMA (16.1 miles) and Richloam WMA (20.8 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Lower Hillsborough WMA in 2026-27?

Family Hunt: December 11-13, January 15-17, 29-31, February 12-14. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Lower Hillsborough 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 Lower Hillsborough WMA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Lower Hillsborough WMA.

Do you need a quota permit for Lower Hillsborough WMA?

Family Hunt - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Family Small Game - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What county is Lower Hillsborough WMA in?

Hillsborough 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.

Florida hunting All Florida WMAs DMU B1 deer harvest