Mallory Swamp WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Mallory Swamp WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 19-October 18. The area is 30,703 acres of public hunting land in Lafayette and Dixie counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 14,293 deer were taken in DMU C3 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 Mallory Swamp WMA?

Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5-inches or more in length, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).

Source: FWC Mallory Swamp 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 Mallory Swamp WMA need?

• Muzzleloading Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Still (first 9 days) - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Dog (first 9 days) - 150, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).

What rules apply on Mallory Swamp WMA?

Dogs

• In the still hunt area, hunting wild hog 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.
• During the general gun season: A. Dogs of any size or breed may be used for hunting in the dog hunt area. B. Hunting in the still hunt area with dogs other than bird dogs is prohibited.
• During the small game season, persons in possession of a SUA from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) may use dogs for hunting raccoon and opossum at night (see small game season and raccoon season for details).
• During the wild hog season, wild hog may be hunted with dogs of any size or breed.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• Hunting is prohibited during the period from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise (see exception for wild hog and small game seasons).
• During the muzzleloading gun season, hunting is allowed only in the still hunt area which is those portions of the WMA lying east of East Mainline, south and east of McCalls Chapel Grade, west of Crapp’s Tower Grade and south of Deserter’s Hammock Road, and north of L.A. Bennett Grade and west of Crapp’s Tower Grade.
• 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 wild hog season, small game season and raccoon season).
• 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 but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, unless participating in the April or June wild hog season hunts or in possession of a Special Use Authorization (SUA) for Mallory Swamp WMA from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD, 386-362-1001).
• Persons participating in the April or June wild hog season hunts or in possession of a SUA may traverse McCalls Chapel Grade through Lafayette Forest WEA from 1 ½ hours after sunset until 1 ½ hours before sunrise.
• Motorized vehicles may be operated only on established roads.
• The use of airboats and tracked vehicles is prohibited. The use of ATVs and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited, except as authorized by SUA from the SRWMD.
• Horses are allowed only during daylight hours and only on roads and designated horse trails.

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 size or bag limit.

From FWC Mallory Swamp regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Mallory Swamp WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Mallory Swamp WMA lies in DMU C3. FWC estimates 14,293 deer (9,798 bucks, 4,495 does) in DMU C3 in the 2023-24 season, 2,268 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 Mallory Swamp 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 Mallory Swamp WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 349, FL 20, US 27 and FL 249. Nearest towns: Branford (5 miles), Mayo (10 miles), Bell (10 miles) and Cross City (13 miles). FWC's page for the area: Mallory Swamp.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Lafayette Forest WEA (next to it), Little River WMA (4.2 miles), Steinhatchee Springs WMA (4.3 miles) and Log Landing WMA (6.3 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Mallory Swamp WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: September 19-October 18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-November 1 (in still hunt area only); General Gun Season: November 14-22, November 23-January 10. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Mallory Swamp WMA?

Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5-inches or more in length, 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 Mallory Swamp WMA?

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.

Do you need a quota permit for Mallory Swamp WMA?

Muzzleloading Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Still (first 9 days) - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Dog (first 9 days) - 150, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).

What county is Mallory Swamp WMA in?

Lafayette County (30,625 acres) and Dixie County (78 acres), 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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