Matanzas WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Matanzas WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and general gun); archery is on September 26-October 2, October 3-11, 12-18. The area is 4,654 acres of public hunting land in St. Johns County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northeast region. Around it, FWC estimates 8,975 deer were taken in DMU C6 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 Matanzas 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 Matanzas 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 Matanzas WMA need?

• Archery - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of first 2 hunts (no quota required for last archery hunt). Muzzleloading Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Family Hunt - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Matanzas WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited except bird dogs or retrievers may be used for hunting migratory birds during migratory bird seasons and dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during 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.
• 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 the 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.

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 at night with a gun 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 from sunrise to sunset except during hunting seasons when public access is allowed from 1 ½ hours before sunrise to 1 ½ hours after sunset.
• Vehicular access is only allowed during scouting and hunting seasons or by permit from the Florida Forest Service (386-585-6151).
• Motorized vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
• Airboats, all-terrain vehicles, tracked vehicles and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles are prohibited.

Camping

• Camping is allowed only at designated campsites as authorized by the Florida Forest Service.

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. 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 Matanzas regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Matanzas WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Matanzas WMA lies in DMU C6. FWC estimates 8,975 deer (5,636 bucks, 3,339 does) in DMU C6 in the 2023-24 season, 1,298 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 Matanzas 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 Matanzas WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 5, US 1, FL 9 and I-95. Nearest towns: Marineland (4 miles), St. Augustine Beach (6 miles), St. Augustine (10 miles) and Palm Coast (12 miles). FWC's page for the area: Matanzas.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Dunns Creek WMA (18 miles), Guana River WMA (18.7 miles), J.P. Hall Bayard Point WMA (21.9 miles) and Lake George WMA (24.9 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Matanzas WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: September 26-October 2, October 3-11, 12-18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 30-November 1, November 6-8; Family Hunt: November 14-15; General Gun Season: November 16-22, 24-30. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Matanzas 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 Matanzas WMA?

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

Do you need a quota permit for Matanzas WMA?

Archery - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of first 2 hunts (no quota required for last archery hunt). Muzzleloading Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Family Hunt - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Matanzas WMA in?

St. Johns 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 C6 deer harvest