Marshall Swamp WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Marshall Swamp WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 19-25, September 26-October 2, October 3-9, 10-16, 17-25. The area is 6,447 acres of public hunting land in Marion 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.
Marshall Swamp WMAOther FWC WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 6,447 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Marion |
| Deer management unit | DMU C4 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 19-25, September 26-October 2, October 3-9, 10-16, 17-25 |
| General gun | November 20-22, 27-29, December 4-6 |
| Spring turkey | March 20-22, 26-28, 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 and night raccoon hunting |
| Nearest towns | Belleview (5 mi), Ocala (8 mi) and Lady Lake (12 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Marshall Swamp WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 19-25, September 26-October 2, October 3-9, 10-16, 17-25 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | November 6-8 |
| General Gun Season | November 20-22, 27-29, December 4-6 |
| Spring Turkey Season | March 20-22, 26-28, April 2-4 |
| Small Game Season | November 14-19, 23-26, November 30-December 3, December 7-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 Marshall 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 Marshall Swamp WMA need?
- Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Marshall Swamp WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer, bear and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds), non-protected birds and raccoon during the small game 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, including bear.
- Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Hunters must enter and exit the area at a designated entrance. The Ocklawaha River is a designated entrance.
- There is no check station on this area.
- 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.
- Hunters must physically attach the provided bear harvest tag to their harvested bear prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report the bear they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See the Florida Bear Hunting Guidebook or MyFWC.com for bear harvest reporting instructions.
Guns
- The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.
- Hunting with centerfire rifles and centerfire handguns is prohibited.
- Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (See exception for small game season). Taking wildlife at night with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device is prohibited.
- Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer or bear must be .30 caliber or larger, if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round. Vehicles are prohibited, except in designated parking areas and on Entrance Road, which is the unimproved road leading to the parking areas. See map.
- Persons must enter and exit at a designated entrance. Note: The Ocklawaha River is a designated entrance.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
- No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
- Airboats, all-terrain vehicles, tracked vehicles, swamp buggies and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles are prohibited.
Camping
- Prohibited.
Bag limits
- A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, bear 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 - Archery season - 2 deer per quota permit, but only 1 per person. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but only 1 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.
- Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
From FWC Marshall Swamp regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Marshall Swamp WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Marshall Swamp 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 Marshall Swamp WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Marion County | 6,447 |
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 Marshall Swamp WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 40, FL 500, US 441 and FL 35. Nearest towns: Belleview (5 miles), Ocala (8 miles), Lady Lake (12 miles) and Fruitland Park (17 miles). FWC's page for the area: Marshall Swamp.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Ocala WMA (next to it), Silver Springs Forest WMA (3 miles), Gores Landing WMA (8.2 miles) and Ross Prairie WMA (16.2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Marshall Swamp WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 19-25, September 26-October 2, October 3-9, 10-16, 17-25; Muzzleloading Gun Season: November 6-8; General Gun Season: November 20-22, 27-29, December 4-6. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Marshall Swamp 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 Marshall Swamp WMA?
Hunting deer, bear and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Marshall Swamp WMA?
Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Marshall Swamp WMA in?
Marion 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.