Middle Aucilla WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Middle Aucilla WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 19-October 18. The area is 2,245 acres of public hunting land in Jefferson, Taylor and Madison 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.
Middle Aucilla WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 2,245 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson, Taylor, Madison |
| Deer management unit | DMU C3 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 19-October 18 |
| General gun | November 7-December 3, December 4-January 3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| 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) |
| 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 | Greenville (13 mi), Monticello (14 mi) and Perry (19 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Middle Aucilla WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 19-October 18 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 24-November 1 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-December 3, December 4-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. |
| Raccoon Season | 2026 hunt dates: June 18-August 30 (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only) 2027 hunt dates: June 17-August 29 (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only) |
| Fishing | Allowed year round. |
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 Middle Aucilla 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 Middle Aucilla WMA need?
- Archery - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Spring Turkey - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).
What rules apply on Middle Aucilla WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer, bear or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or waterfowl retrievers, is prohibited except during small game season when any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds, during the last 30 days of small game season (February 6 through March 7) by persons in possession of a SUA from the SRWMD that are hunting raccoon or opossum at night, and during the raccoon season by persons in possession of a SUA from the SRWMD (see small game season and raccoon season for details).
- 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 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
- Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (see exception for 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 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.
- Hunting deer or bear 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 in possession of a Special Use Authorization (SUA) from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD), except during the youth turkey hunt when public access is limited to individuals participating in the hunt or using a boat ramp or canoe launch to access the Aucilla River.
- Vehicles may be operated only on designated roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
- The use of ATVs is prohibited.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
- No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
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 - 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 Middle Aucilla regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Middle Aucilla WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Middle Aucilla 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 Middle Aucilla WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 910 |
| Taylor County | 709 |
| Madison County | 626 |
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 Middle Aucilla WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 20, US 19 and US 27. Nearest towns: Greenville (13 miles), Monticello (14 miles), Perry (19 miles) and St. Marks (23 miles). FWC's page for the area: Middle Aucilla.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Aucilla WMA (next to it), Lower Econfina River WMA (7 miles), Big Bend WMA (Snipe Island Unit) (10.6 miles) and Plank Road WMA (12.5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Middle Aucilla WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 19-October 18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-November 1; General Gun Season: November 7-December 3, December 4-January 3. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Middle Aucilla 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 Middle Aucilla WMA?
Hunting deer, bear or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Middle Aucilla WMA?
Archery - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Spring Turkey - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).
What county is Middle Aucilla WMA in?
Jefferson County (910 acres), Taylor County (709 acres) and Madison County (626 acres), 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.