Salt Lake WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Salt Lake WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 26-October 4, October 5-11. The area is 7,922 acres of public hunting land in Brevard 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.
Salt Lake WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 7,922 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Brevard |
| Deer management unit | DMU C4 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 26-October 4, October 5-11 |
| General gun | November 14-17, 18-22 |
| Spring turkey | March 20-23, 24-28 |
| 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) |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, released quail, hog hunting, hog dogs, horseback riding and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Titusville (4 mi), Oviedo (15 mi) and Oak Hill (15 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Salt Lake WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-October 4, October 5-11 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 30-November 1 |
| General Gun Season | November 14-17, 18-22 |
| Spring Turkey Season | March 20-23, 24-28 |
| Small Game Season | December 11-13, 18-20, January 8-10, 15-17, 29-31, February 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28 |
| Wild Hog-Dog Season | January 21-24 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
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 Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake WMA need?
- Archery - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Wild Hog-Dog - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Salt Lake WMA?
Dogs
- The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed by area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except that dogs may be used to hunt wild hog during the wild hog-dog season and to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during the small game season.
- The take of wild hogs with dogs is prohibited except during the wild hog-dog 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, including bear.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Hunters shall enter and exit the area at designated entrances.
- 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 game harvested.
- When the check station is staffed no deer, wild hog or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at the check station.
- Check station hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time except during small game season when check station hours are from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- In addition to checking all game at the check station when the check station is staffed, 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.
Guns
- 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.
- Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer or bear must be .30 caliber or larger if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls.
- Hunting deer or bear with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round, but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset. Vehicle access is prohibited except during hunting seasons and 1 day prior to and 1 day after each of these seasons. At all other times, public access other than by foot (pedestrian), horseback (equestrian) or bicycle is prohibited.
- Horses and bicycles may be used only on named or numbered roads or 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/.
- Horses are prohibited during established area hunting seasons, except small game season.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads and must be parked at designated parking areas or within 25 feet of a named or numbered road, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage.
- 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, bear 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 - Archery season - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 1 antlered 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.
- Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
From FWC Salt Lake regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Salt Lake WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Brevard County | 7,922 |
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 Salt Lake WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: I-95, FL 5, US 1 and FL 50. Nearest towns: Titusville (4 miles), Oviedo (15 miles), Oak Hill (15 miles) and Cocoa (17 miles). FWC's page for the area: Salt Lake.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Buck Lake WMA (next to it), Seminole Ranch WMA (1.1 miles), Charles H. Bronson WMA (2.4 miles) and William Beardall Tosohatchee WMA (2.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Salt Lake WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-October 4, October 5-11; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 30-November 1; General Gun Season: November 14-17, 18-22. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake WMA?
The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed by 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 Salt Lake WMA?
Archery - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Wild Hog-Dog - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Salt Lake WMA in?
Brevard County, measured on FWC's boundary.
Get a Florida hunt plan when they open
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Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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.