Rotenberger WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Rotenberger WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun-walk); archery is on August 8-30. The area is 29,820 acres of public hunting land in Palm Beach and Broward counties, 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Rotenberger WMA?

Legal deer: Antlered Deer having at least one antler measuring five inches or more in length with two or more points (each point being one inch or more in length).

Source: FWC Rotenberger 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 Rotenberger WMA need?

• Quota permits are not required for this area.

What rules apply on Rotenberger WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except that bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt snipe, waterfowl, and non-protected birds during their respective statewide seasons; and any dog may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, non-protected birds, quail, and rabbits during small game season.
• Dogs used for hunting may be taken onto the WMA after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the 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

• When check stations are staffed on weekends during the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons, deer may not be quartered, dismembered, or removed from the area until checked at the check station located at the southeast corner of the Holey Land Wildlife Management Area.
• Deer may be dismembered in the field or camp, after being checked at a staffed check station on weekends, 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.
• In addition to checking all game at an area check station, hunters must log each harvested deer prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report any deer they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer harvest reporting instructions.

Guns

• All boat ramps, parking areas, roads, camping areas, levees, and adjacent powerline pads are closed to hunting.
• Hunting with a gun on, from, or across a levee is prohibited.
• 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.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year-round.
• Persons may only enter and exit the area from the L-4, Powerline, Miami Canal, and Manley Ditch levees.
• Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all levees except the L-4, Manley Ditch, Miami Canal, and Powerline levees.
• During the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons, airboats are prohibited.
• The use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) is prohibited, except for the purposes of hunting and scouting from 6 a.m. 2 weeks prior to archery season until 6 p.m. 1 day prior to the opening day of general gun-vehicle season. During the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons, motorized vehicles may only be operated on the L-4, Manley Ditch, Miami Canal, and Powerline levees, except ATVs and ROVs (side-by-sides) may be operated off-road.

Camping

• Camping is allowed only on the Miami Canal, Manley Ditch, and Powerline levees.
• Camps may be set up in the area no earlier than 7 days prior to the archery season and all vehicles, camps, tents, and other camping equipment must be removed by 6 p.m. 7 days after the close of general gun-walk season. During the remainder of the year, camping is allowed only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and camps may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours.
• Each camper shall assure that their campsite is clean at all times.

Bag limits

• Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons: Season limit 1 antlered 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 - Prohibited.
• Wild hog - No bag limits or size restrictions.

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

How many deer are taken around Rotenberger WMA?

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

Nearest towns: South Bay (15 miles), Belle Glade (18 miles), Clewiston (20 miles) and Pahokee (26 miles). FWC's page for the area: Rotenberger.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA (next to it), Holey Land WMA (next to it), Big Cypress WMA (4.8 miles) and Dinner Island Ranch WMA (Caracara Unit) (7.5 miles).

Questions hunters ask

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

Archery Season: August 8-30; Muzzleloading Gun Season: September 5-13; General Gun-Walk Season: October 3-18. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Rotenberger WMA?

Antlered Deer having at least one antler measuring five inches or more in length with two or more points (each point being one inch 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 Rotenberger WMA?

FWC's summary lists deer dogs for the area; see the brochure for the dog hunt area and dates.

Do you need a quota permit for Rotenberger WMA?

Quota permits are not required for this area.

What county is Rotenberger WMA in?

Palm Beach County (28,763 acres) and Broward County (1,048 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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