Ross Prairie WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Ross Prairie WMA sets one deer season, archery, on September 25-27. The area is 3,370 acres of public hunting land in Marion County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northeast 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 Ross Prairie 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 Ross Prairie 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 Ross Prairie WMA need?

• Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).

What rules apply on Ross Prairie WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
• 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 the small game season.
• 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

• Hunters shall enter and exit the area at designated entrances.
• There is no check station on this area.
• 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 the Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.

Guns

• Hunting with firearms other than shotguns is prohibited.
• The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.
• Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
• Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round.
• Motorized vehicles are prohibited except in designated parking areas.
• Horses and bicycles are allowed only on roads, firelines and designated trails. 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: https://myfwc.com/ebike/.
• Use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles and tracked vehicles is prohibited.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.

Camping

• 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 - 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but only 1 per person. 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. Only legal to take during archery season.

From FWC Ross Prairie regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Ross Prairie WMA?

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

Nearest towns: Dunnellon (7 miles), Inverness (11 miles), Ocala (12 miles) and Belleview (12 miles). FWC's page for the area: Ross Prairie.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Half Moon WMA (3.2 miles), Potts WMA (3.5 miles), Flying Eagle WMA (10.7 miles) and Citrus WMA (11.3 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Ross Prairie WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: September 25-27. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Ross Prairie 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 Ross Prairie WMA?

Hunting deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited.

Do you need a quota permit for Ross Prairie WMA?

Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).

What county is Ross Prairie WMA in?

Marion 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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