Perdido River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Perdido River WMA sets 5 deer seasons (archery, family hunt, muzzleloading gun, general gun and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-November 22. The area is 5,459 acres of public hunting land in Escambia County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 18,958 deer were taken in DMU D1 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.
Perdido River WMAOther FWC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 5,459 acres, measured on FWC's boundary (FWC's regional summary gives 6,261) |
|---|---|
| County | Escambia |
| Deer management unit | DMU D1, DMU D2 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, family hunt, muzzleloading gun, general gun and archery/muzzleloading gun |
| Archery | October 24-November 22 |
| General gun | January 16-22, 23-31 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-28, March 29-April 11 |
| 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) throughout the area |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing and family hunts |
| Nearest towns | Pensacola (13 mi), Gulf Breeze (17 mi) and Milton (20 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Perdido River WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 24-November 22 |
| Family Hunt | November 26-29, January 8-10 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | December 5-7 |
| General Gun Season | January 16-22, 23-31 |
| Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season | February 4-14 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-28, March 29-April 11 |
| Small Game Season | November 23-25, November 30-December 4, December 8-January 7, January 11-15, February 1-3, February 15-March 7 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing and Frogging | 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 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) throughout the area.
Source: FWC Perdido 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 Perdido River WMA need?
- Archery - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Hunt - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Archery/Muzzleloading Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Perdido River WMA?
29 of the area's rules on dogs, guns, check stations, access, camping and bag limits are word for word the same as on Lafayette Creek WMA, and are listed there. The rules below are the ones that differ.
Access and vehicles
- Public access is allowed but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except access is allowed at all times throughout the year on Sand Landing Road, at designated campsites or by permit from the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads, except vehicles may not be operated on Frank Reeder Loop Road, Muscogee Regen Road, Red Gate Road and Shelby Ditch Road from May through September.
- The launching or loading of any vessel with an internal combustion engine larger than 10 horsepower is prohibited at the Fillingim and Pipes boat ramps.
- Horses are allowed on designated horse trails only.
Camping
- Camping is allowed only at designated campsites (see map). A permit from the Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) is required and camping is subject to permit provisions. For more information about camping on NWFWMD property, please visit www.nwfwater.com.
- Camping is limited to 14 days within any consecutive 30-day period and prohibited where posted as “no camping.”
- Camping is limited to tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles only. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers are prohibited, unless contained in mobile campers. Lumber, sheet metal or other building materials are prohibited
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - During the family hunt, the bag limit for antlerless deer is one per quota permit. Otherwise, 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.
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Daily limit 1. Youth turkey - 1 per quota permit. B. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
- Quail - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24.
From FWC Perdido River regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Perdido River WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Perdido River WMA lies in DMU D1 and DMU D2. FWC estimates 18,958 deer (12,789 bucks, 6,169 does) in DMU D1 in the 2023-24 season, 4,694 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 Perdido River WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Escambia County | 5,422 |
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 Perdido River WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 95, US 29, FL 8 and I-10. Nearest towns: Pensacola (13 miles), Gulf Breeze (17 miles), Milton (20 miles) and Century (22 miles). FWC's page for the area: Perdido River.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Escambia River WMA (5.6 miles), Garcon Point WMA (18.7 miles), Escribano Point WMA (22.8 miles) and Yellow River WMA (23.5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Perdido River WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 24-November 22; Family Hunt: November 26-29, January 8-10; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7; General Gun Season: January 16-22, 23-31; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: February 4-14. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Perdido 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) throughout the area, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Perdido 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 Perdido River WMA?
Archery - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Hunt - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Archery/Muzzleloading Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Perdido River WMA in?
Escambia County, measured on FWC's boundary.
Get a Florida hunt plan when they open
Florida plans are not open yet. They are coming soon. Join the waiting list; the first 50 hunters get one plan free.
Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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.