Picayune Strand WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Picayune Strand WMA sets 5 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt, general gun mobility-impaired and general gun); archery is on August 1-7, 15-23. The area is 76,485 acres of public hunting land in Collier County, a wildlife management area in FWC's south region. Around it, FWC estimates 2,403 deer were taken in Zone A 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.
Picayune Strand WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 76,485 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Collier |
| Deer management unit | Zone A |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt, general gun mobility-impaired and general gun |
| Archery | August 1-7, 15-23 |
| General gun | October 8-11, 14-18, 21-27 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: February 26-March 1; Spring Turkey: March 6-9, 12-16 |
| Legal deer | Antlered deer having at least one antler with three or more points (each point being one inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing, released quail, family hunts and mobility-impaired hunts |
| Nearest towns | Marco Island (8 mi), Naples (8 mi) and Everglades (10 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Picayune Strand WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | August 1-7, 15-23 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | September 5-7, 12-14 |
| Family Hunt | September 26-27 |
| General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season | October 3-4 |
| General Gun Season | October 8-11, 14-18, 21-27 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: February 26-March 1; Spring Turkey: March 6-9, 12-16 |
| Small Game Season | October 31-February 15 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
| Non-Native Reptiles | Allowed year round. |
Legal deer: Antlered deer having at least one antler with three or more points (each point being one inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length.
Source: FWC Picayune Strand 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 Picayune Strand WMA need?
- Archery - 145, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 145, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Family Hunt - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Mobility-Impaired - 25, no-cost, quota permit (no exemptions). General Gun - 145, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Youth Turkey - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) Spring Turkey - 65, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Picayune Strand WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except dogs may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds, quail, rabbits, and non-protected birds during small game season; and dove, snipe, waterfowl, and non-protected birds during their respective statewide seasons.
- 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
- All 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.
- Deer and turkey may be dismembered in the field or camp, but each portion shall have a tag affixed to it identifying the name, address, and hunting license number of the person who killed it; the date and location at which it was taken; and shall be readily traceable to the skull plate with any attached antler, if applicable, for deer, and the head and beard for turkey.
- 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.
- 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.
- Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with airguns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
Access and vehicles
- Public access is prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise, except individuals who possess a valid camping permit and their guests may access their permitted campsite during the dates listed on their permit and individuals participating in a hunt may access the area 3 hours before sunrise until 3 hours after sunset during established seasons.
- Licensed and registered motor vehicles may be operated on the area only on designated roads, parking areas, and other areas as designated by the Florida Forest Service. Refer to Florida Forest Service’s Picayune Strand State Forest webpage for more information regarding road and trail use and the open/closed status of roads and trails. Individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits should visit the ADA for Hunters web page for more information.
- Use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), tracked vehicles, swamp buggies, or airboats is prohibited, except swamp buggies and ROVs (side-by-sides) may be used during small game season (but only by individuals who possess a valid released quail permit) and during (and 1 week prior to the opening of) archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt, general gun mobility-impaired, general gun, and spring turkey seasons, but only by individuals possessing a valid quota permit and their guests. During these times, side-by-sides and swamp buggies may only be operated on designated roads east of (and including) Miller Blvd and south of (and including) Berson Blvd, except on the closed portion of Miller Blvd. from approximately 64th Ave SE to 80th Ave SE. An "OHV Road Map for Quota Hunts" is available as a PDF on this brochure page and as a hard copy at the Picayune Strand State Forest kiosk courtesy of Florida Forest Service.
- Except as specified in #3 above, off-highway vehicles (including ATVs, ROVs, swamp buggies, tracked vehicles, and off-highway motorcycles) are prohibited, except by permit from the Florida Forest Service (FFS). Individuals authorized to participate in the general gun mobility-impaired hunt may operate ATVs and ROVs off-road, provided they have first obtained a Forest Use Permit from FFS. Those individuals exercising these FFS permits are subject to the permit conditions.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane.
Camping
- Allowed by permit at designated campsites only and is managed by Florida Forest Service.
Bag limits
- A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, bear, turkey, and quail, except when these bag limits are specified as per person. The host is responsible for violations that exceed the bag limit. No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - 2 antlered deer per quota permit but no more than 1 per person, except during the general gun mobility-impaired hunt when the bag limit is one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit, but only mobility-impaired hunters are allowed to harvest antlerless deer. 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.
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - 1 per youth turkey or spring turkey quota permit. B. Statewide limits - Spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
From FWC Picayune Strand regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Picayune Strand WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Picayune Strand WMA lies in Zone A. FWC estimates 2,403 deer (2,069 bucks, 334 does) in Zone A in the 2023-24 season, 1,270 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 Picayune Strand WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Collier County | 76,485 |
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 Picayune Strand WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 93, I-75, FL 84 and FL 90. Nearest towns: Marco Island (8 miles), Naples (8 miles), Everglades (10 miles) and Bonita Springs (16 miles). FWC's page for the area: Picayune Strand.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Big Cypress WMA (7.7 miles), CREW WEA (10.1 miles), Okaloacoochee Slough WMA (24.5 miles) and Dinner Island Ranch WMA (24.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Picayune Strand WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: August 1-7, 15-23; Muzzleloading Gun Season: September 5-7, 12-14; Family Hunt: September 26-27; General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season: October 3-4; General Gun Season: October 8-11, 14-18, 21-27. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Picayune Strand WMA?
Antlered deer having at least one antler with three or more points (each point being one inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Picayune Strand WMA?
FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Picayune Strand WMA.
Do you need a quota permit for Picayune Strand WMA?
Archery - 145, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 145, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Family Hunt - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Mobility-Impaired - 25, no-cost, quota permit (no exemptions). General Gun - 145, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Youth Turkey - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) Spring Turkey - 65, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Picayune Strand WMA in?
Collier 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.