Potts WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Potts WMA sets 2 deer seasons (archery and muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 8-11, 14-18. The area is 7,715 acres of public hunting land in Citrus County, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 7,079 deer were taken in DMU C4 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 Potts 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.

Source: FWC Potts 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 Potts WMA need?

• Wild Hog-Dog - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Small Game - 30, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What rules apply on Potts WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during small game season, and no more than 3 free-running dogs per quota permit are allowed during the wild hog-dog season.
• The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
• 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.
• 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

• During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at a check station upon entering and check out upon leaving the area and check all wildlife harvested.
• In addition to checking all wildlife at the check station, 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.
• During periods when the check station is staffed, no game shall be dismembered until checked at the check station. Hunters are requested to bring deer and turkey to the check station prior to any field dressing activity.
• Check station hours during hunts are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Eastern Daylight Saving Time and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time, except during the small game season when hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the spring turkey season when hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check station hours the day prior to archery, muzzleloading gun and wild hog hunts are from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset the day prior to spring turkey hunts.

Guns

• Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
• Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer must be .30 caliber or larger, if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls.
• Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
• Hunting turkey with air guns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round. During non-hunting periods, public access other than on foot, bicycle or horse is prohibited.
• Motorized vehicles are allowed during hunting periods and from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. 1 day prior to each archery, muzzleloading gun and wild hog hunt and from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset 1 day prior to each spring turkey hunt.
• Vehicles may be operated only on named roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• Vehicles must be parked within 25 feet of a named road.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.

Camping

• Camping is allowed only at designated sites. Camping and camping equipment is allowed on designated campsites no earlier than 8 a.m. the day before each hunt and equipment shall be removed the last day of each hunt, except camping equipment is allowed no earlier than 8 a.m the first day of each small game hunt. During the hunting seasons, the designated campsites are intended for use by hunters.
• Unless contained in mobile campers, kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers are prohibited. Lumber, sheet metal and other building materials are also prohibited.
• Tampering in any way with official markings of campsites is 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 bag 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 Potts regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Potts WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Potts WMA lies in DMU C4. FWC estimates 7,079 deer (4,969 bucks, 2,110 does) in DMU C4 in the 2023-24 season, 2,046 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 Potts 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 Potts WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 44, FL 45 and US 41. Nearest towns: Inverness (4 miles), Dunnellon (9 miles), Coleman (14 miles) and Crystal River (15 miles). FWC's page for the area: Potts.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Half Moon WMA (next to it), Ross Prairie WMA (3.5 miles), Flying Eagle WMA (3.5 miles) and Citrus WMA (4.5 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Potts WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: October 8-11, 14-18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 30-November 1. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Potts 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, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Potts WMA?

The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.

Do you need a quota permit for Potts WMA?

Wild Hog-Dog - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Small Game - 30, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What county is Potts WMA in?

Citrus County, 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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