Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA sets 5 deer seasons (archery, general gun mobility-impaired, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and general gun); archery is on September 19-27. The area is 3,634 acres of public hunting land in Nassau County, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 8,975 deer were taken in DMU C6 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 Ralph E. Simmons Memorial 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 Ralph E. Simmons Memorial 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 Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA need?

• Archery - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Mobility-Impaired - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA?

28 of the area's rules on dogs, guns, check stations, access, camping and bag limits are word for word the same as on Hatchet Creek WMA, and are listed there. The rules below are the ones that differ.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round, except during the family hunt and archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun mobility-impaired, general gun and spring turkey seasons, when only persons participating in the hunts are allowed.
• Public access is prohibited from 1 ½ hours after sunset until 1 ½ hours before sunrise, except in designated camping areas and by persons in possession of a special use permit from the Florida Forest Service (904-845-3597).
• Vehicular access is allowed during periods open for hunting plus the weekend before and day before each hunt, except the family hunt, small game and spring turkey seasons when vehicle access is allowed only during periods open for hunting and the day before each hunt.
• During the general gun mobility-impaired season and the weekend before and day before the season, certified mobility-impaired hunters may use tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and horses throughout the area.
• Motor vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map, except as allowed above for certified mobility-impaired hunters and for individuals who qualify for AMP permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.

Camping

• During quota hunt periods, camping is allowed only in the Scotts Landing Road campground and only by hunters participating in the hunt.

Bag limits

• Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Family hunt, archery and general gun mobility-impaired seasons - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit. During general gun mobility-impaired season, only certified mobility-impaired hunters may take antlerless deer. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 1 antlered deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit. 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.
• Bobcat and otter - Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a trapping license.

From FWC Ralph E. Simmons Memorial regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA lies in DMU C6. FWC estimates 8,975 deer (5,636 bucks, 3,339 does) in DMU C6 in the 2023-24 season, 1,298 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 Ralph E. Simmons Memorial 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 Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 15, US 1, US 23 and US 301. Nearest towns: Hilliard (7 miles), Callahan (16 miles) and Fernandina Beach (30 miles). FWC's page for the area: Ralph E. Simmons Memorial.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Four Creeks WMA (16.1 miles), Osceola WMA (20.5 miles), Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit) (21.1 miles) and Cary WMA (24.7 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: September 19-27; General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season: October 10-13; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-November 1; Family Hunt: November 7-8; General Gun Season: November 21-29. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Ralph E. Simmons Memorial 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 Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA.

Do you need a quota permit for Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA?

Archery - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun Mobility-Impaired - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA in?

Nassau 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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