Seminole Forest WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Seminole Forest WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, general gun mobility-impaired, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 26-29, September 30-October 4. The area is 9,715 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 WMAOther FWC WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 9,715 acres, measured on FWC's boundary (FWC's regional summary gives 12,616) |
|---|---|
| County | Lake |
| Deer management unit | DMU C4 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, general gun mobility-impaired, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 26-29, September 30-October 4 |
| General gun | December 5-8, 9-13 |
| Spring turkey | March 20-24, 27-31 |
| 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, camping, horseback riding, fishing and mobility-impaired hunts |
| Nearest towns | DeBary (5 mi), Lake Mary (7 mi) and Orange City (8 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Seminole Forest WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-29, September 30-October 4 |
| General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season | October 23-25 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 30-November 1 |
| General Gun Season | December 5-8, 9-13 |
| Spring Turkey Season | March 20-24, 27-31 |
| Small Game Season | January 16-17, 23-24, 30-31 |
| 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 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 need?
- Archery - 60, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun Mobility-Impaired - 60, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 60, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 60, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Small Game - 75, no-cost, daily quota permits are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Spring Turkey - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Seminole Forest WMA?
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 the small game season.
- The take of wild hog or bear with dogs is prohibited.
- 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.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Official scouting days are 1 day prior to archery, general gun mobility-impaired, muzzleloading gun, general gun and spring turkey seasons. If a hunter wants to drive into the area to scout on days other than these official scout days, then s/he must get a permit from the Florida Forest Service to drive on the area. Access to the area by foot, horse or bicycle does not require a permit from the Florida Forest Service.
- Hunters shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
- When the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at the 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, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the small game season.
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 except during the general gun mobility impaired hunts, when only individuals participating in the hunts, their assistants and through-hikers on the Florida National Scenic Trail are allowed access to the area. Vehicle access is allowed only on those days that hunting is allowed (see each season for specific dates). At all other times, 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 during the general gun mobility-impaired season.
- Vehicles shall not be parked farther than 25 feet from designated roads or parking areas.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
- Use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles or tracked vehicles is prohibited, except all-terrain vehicles may be used beginning the Monday prior to the general gun mobility-impaired season (permit from the Florida Forest Service required) and during the season but only by persons participating in the mobility-impaired hunt.
Camping
- Camping is prohibited during hunting seasons, except hikers may camp at designated primitive campsites along the Florida Trail throughout the year.
- During non-hunting periods, camping is allowed.
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 statewide bag limits.
- 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 and 1 antlerless deer per antlerless deer 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 Seminole Forest regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Seminole Forest WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Seminole Forest 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 Seminole Forest WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Lake County | 9,715 |
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?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 44, FL 400, I-4 and FL 15. Nearest towns: DeBary (5 miles), Lake Mary (7 miles), Orange City (8 miles) and Sanford (8 miles). FWC's page for the area: Seminole Forest.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Seminole Forest WMA (Lake Tracy Unit) (next to it), Rock Springs Run WMA (next to it), Ocala WMA (7.1 miles) and Lake Monroe WMA (10 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Seminole Forest WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-29, September 30-October 4; General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season: October 23-25; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 30-November 1; General Gun Season: December 5-8, 9-13. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Seminole Forest 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 Seminole Forest WMA?
FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Seminole Forest WMA.
Do you need a quota permit for Seminole Forest WMA?
Archery - 60, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun Mobility-Impaired - 60, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun - 60, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 60, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Small Game - 75, no-cost, daily quota permits are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Spring Turkey - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Seminole Forest WMA 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.