Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit): 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit) sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 24-27, October 1-4. The area is 10,121 acres of public hunting land in Lake 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.
Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit)Other FWC WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 10,121 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Lake |
| Deer management unit | DMU C4 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 24-27, October 1-4 |
| General gun | November 12-15, 19-22 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-22, 26-28 |
| 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, hog hunting, horseback riding and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Lake Kathryn (next to it), DeBary (7 mi), Umatilla (8 mi) and Mount Dora (8 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit)?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 24-27, October 1-4 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 29-November 1 |
| General Gun Season | November 12-15, 19-22 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-22, 26-28 |
| Wild Hog-Still Season | December 11-13, 18-20, January 15-17 |
| Small Game Season | January 8-10, 22-24, 29-31, February 5-7, 12-14 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
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 Seminole Forest - Lake Tracy Unit 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 Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit) 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-Still - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit)?
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 waterfowl retrievers may be used to hunt ducks during September duck seasons.
- 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.
- Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
- Taking bear with the aid of dogs is prohibited.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- The gate combination for quota hunts will be listed on the quota permits.
- 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 Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.
- Hunters must physically attach the provided bear harvest tag to their harvested bear prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report the bear they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See the Florida Bear Hunting Guidebook or MyFWC.com for bear 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 vehicle access is allowed only by persons participating in an archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, wild hog-still or spring turkey hunt and only from the Monday prior to one of these hunts through the last day of the hunt. At all other times, including the small game and September duck seasons, vehicle access is regulated by the Florida Forest Service at 352-589-1762.
- Motor vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage.
- Motor vehicles shall be parked at designated parking areas or within 25 feet of named or numbered roads.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
- Use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles or tracked vehicles is prohibited when hunting is allowed and the Florida Forest Service regulates use during other periods.
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 - 2 per quota permit. (See legal to hunt for each season.) 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 Seminole Forest - Lake Tracy Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit)?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit) 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 Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit) in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Lake County | 10,121 |
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 Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit)?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 44. Nearest towns: Lake Kathryn (next to it), DeBary (7 miles), Umatilla (8 miles), Mount Dora (8 miles) and Eustis (9 miles). FWC's page for the area: Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit).
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Ocala WMA (next to it), Seminole Forest WMA (next to it), Rock Springs Run WMA (4.2 miles) and Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit) (6.5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit) in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 24-27, October 1-4; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 29-November 1; General Gun Season: November 12-15, 19-22. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit)?
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 Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit)?
FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit).
Do you need a quota permit for Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit)?
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-Still - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit) in?
Lake County, measured on FWC's boundary.
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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.