Plank Road WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Plank Road WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun and general gun mobility-impaired); archery is on October 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25. The area is 9,044 acres of public hunting land in Leon and Jefferson counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Plank Road 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 Plank Road 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 Plank Road WMA need?

• Archery - 40, no cost, quota permits for each of 4 hunts (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 40, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 40, no cost, quota permits for each of 3 hunts (no exemptions). General Gun Mobility Impaired - 40, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 20, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 10, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 20, no cost, quota permits for each of 3 hunts (no exemptions).

What rules apply on Plank Road WMA?

27 of the area's rules on dogs, guns, check stations, access, camping and bag limits are word for word the same as on Apalachicola WMA (Bradwell Unit), and are listed there. The rules below are the ones that differ.

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), raccoon, opossum, and non-protected birds during small game season. Taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited, except for raccoon and opossum during the small game season.
• The take of deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.

Guns

• Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
• Hunting turkey with airguns is prohibited, except PCP airguns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except during the small game season when individuals participating in raccoon and opossum hunting are also allowed to access the area from 1½ hours after sunset through 1½ hours before sunrise and during the mobility-impaired general gun season when the area is closed to public access except for individuals participating in the hunt and their non-hunting assistants.
• Vehicles may enter the area only at designated entrances, and may be operated only on roads as depicted on the brochure map unless posted as closed, except by mobility-impaired hunters during mobility-impaired hunts and except for individuals who qualify for AMP permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• Airboats, tracked vehicles, unregistered and unlicensed motorcycles, swamp buggies and all-terrain vehicles are prohibited except as authorized by FFS. However, mobility-impaired hunters may use all-terrain vehicles on established roads, trails, and firebreaks during the mobility-impaired general gun season without obtaining separate authorization from FFS.
• Florida traffic laws relating to vehicles and vehicle operators apply on this area. The use of an unregistered or unlicensed vehicle is prohibited.
• Bicycles and horses are allowed. Class 1 electric bicycles may be operated according to rules for traditional, non-motorized bicycles. All other electric bicycles may be operated only on named or numbered roads open to motorized vehicles. For more information visit MyFWC.com/ebike.

Bag limits

• Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - See statewide limits below, except during the mobility-impaired general gun season the bag limit for antlerless deer is 1 per quota permit and only mobility-impaired hunters may harvest antlerless deer, and during the family still hunt when the bag limit for deer is 2 deer per quota permit (only 1 of which may be antlerless). 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 - Daily limit 1. B. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.

From FWC Plank Road regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Plank Road WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Plank Road 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 Plank Road 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 Plank Road WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: US 27, FL 59, FL 154 and FL 260. Nearest towns: St. Marks (9 miles), Tallahassee (11 miles), Monticello (17 miles) and Midway (22 miles). FWC's page for the area: Plank Road.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Aucilla WMA (1 mile), L. Kirk Edwards WEA (3.5 miles), Apalachicola WMA (6.1 miles) and Wakulla WMA (6.3 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Plank Road WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: October 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 31-November 2; General Gun Season: November 7-9, 26-29, December 11-13; General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season: December 4-7. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Plank Road 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 Plank Road WMA?

The take of deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.

Do you need a quota permit for Plank Road WMA?

Archery - 40, no cost, quota permits for each of 4 hunts (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 40, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 40, no cost, quota permits for each of 3 hunts (no exemptions). General Gun Mobility Impaired - 40, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 20, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 10, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 20, no cost, quota permits for each of 3 hunts (no exemptions).

What county is Plank Road WMA in?

Leon County (6,690 acres) and Jefferson County (2,355 acres), 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.

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