Ochlockonee River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Ochlockonee River WMA sets 2 deer seasons (archery and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-25, October 30-November 1, November 6-8, 13-15, 20-22. The area is 2,854 acres of public hunting land in Leon County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 19,321 deer were taken in DMU D2 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.
Ochlockonee River WMAOther FWC WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 2,854 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Leon |
| Deer management unit | DMU D2, DMU D1 |
| Deer seasons | Archery and archery/muzzleloading gun |
| Archery | October 24-25, October 30-November 1, November 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-21, 27-28, April 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 |
| 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 if hunting south of I-10, 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 if hunting north of I-10, 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 and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Midway (3 mi), Havana (7 mi) and Tallahassee (8 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Ochlockonee River WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 24-25, October 30-November 1, November 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 |
| Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season | November 27-29, December 12-13, 18-20, 25-27, January 1-3 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-21, 27-28, April 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 |
| Wild Hog-Still Season | 2027 hunt dates: May 7-9, 21-23, June 4-6, 18-20 |
| Small Game Season | January 8-March 7 (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only) |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
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 if hunting south of I-10, 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 if hunting north of I-10, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).
Source: FWC Ochlockonee River 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 Ochlockonee River WMA need?
- Archery/Muzzleloading Gun (first 5 days) - 45, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 6 hunts.
What rules apply on Ochlockonee River WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited, except any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds in season) and non-protected birds during small game season. The take of deer, furbearers, and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- 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.
- Taking bear with the aid of dogs is prohibited.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Hunters must enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
- On that portion of the area north of Interstate 10, hunting on the powerline right-of-way is prohibited.
- 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 with centerfire rifles is prohibited.
- Hunting at night with a gun 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.
- Motor vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
- No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
- All-terrain vehicles are prohibited.
Camping
- Prohibited.
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 3 of which may be antlerless north of I-10 and only 2 of which may be antlerless south of I-10), 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 Ochlockonee River regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Ochlockonee River WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Ochlockonee River WMA lies in DMU D2 and DMU D1. FWC estimates 19,321 deer (11,545 bucks, 7,776 does) in DMU D2 in the 2023-24 season, 3,151 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 Ochlockonee River WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Leon County | 2,850 |
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 Ochlockonee River WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 8, I-10, FL 10 and US 90. Nearest towns: Midway (3 miles), Havana (7 miles), Tallahassee (8 miles) and Quincy (11 miles). FWC's page for the area: Ochlockonee River.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Joe Budd WMA (next to it), Talquin WMA (next to it), Apalachicola WMA (2.1 miles) and Wakulla WMA (13 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Ochlockonee River WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 24-25, October 30-November 1, November 6-8, 13-15, 20-22; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: November 27-29, December 12-13, 18-20, 25-27, January 1-3. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Ochlockonee River 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 if hunting south of I-10, 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 if hunting north of I-10, 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 Ochlockonee River WMA?
Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited, except any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds in season) and non-protected birds during small game season. The take of deer, furbearers, and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Ochlockonee River WMA?
Archery/Muzzleloading Gun (first 5 days) - 45, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 6 hunts.
What county is Ochlockonee River WMA in?
Leon 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.