Seminole Ranch WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Seminole Ranch WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on October 9-11, 16-18. The area is 6,554 acres of public hunting land in Orange and Seminole counties, 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 Ranch WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 6,554 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Orange, Seminole |
| Deer management unit | DMU C4 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | October 9-11, 16-18 |
| General gun | November 20-22 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-22, 26-28, April 2-4 |
| 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, hog dogs, horseback riding, hiking trails and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Christmas (next to it), Titusville (8 mi), Oviedo (12 mi) and Cocoa (16 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Seminole Ranch WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 9-11, 16-18 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 30-November 1, November 6-8 |
| General Gun Season | November 20-22 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-22, 26-28, April 2-4 |
| Small Game Season | November 28-29, December 5-6, 12-13, January 9-10 |
| Wild Hog-Dog Season | January 30-February 5 |
| 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 Seminole Ranch 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 Ranch WMA need?
- Archery - 50, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 50, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 50, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Small Game - 50, no-cost, daily quota permits are available, first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 25, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Seminole Ranch WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except that dogs may be used during the wild hog-dog season and 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.
- The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- 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 wildlife harvested. Daily quota permits will be issued when required and only when the check station is staffed. During the waterfowl seasons, waterfowl hunting is allowed on bodies of water on the area that connect with the St. Johns River. No quota permit is required and hunters are not required to check in and out, provided that access is via the St. Johns River only.
- 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. during Eastern Standard Time and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the small game season.
- In addition to checking all game at the check station when staffed (See exception for waterfowl hunting in #1 above), 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 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.
- Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition 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.
- Vehicle access is prohibited except persons participating in a hunt are allowed vehicle access during designated check station operating hours for the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, wild hog-dog, small game and spring turkey seasons and one day prior to and one day after each of these hunts from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except for small game) for scouting and retrieving equipment purposes. At all other times, public access other than on foot, horseback or bicycle is prohibited.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads and may be parked only at designated parking areas, 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.
- Airboats, all-terrain vehicles, tracked vehicles and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles are prohibited.
Camping
- Camping is allowed only at the designated through-trail campsite along the Florida Trail provided that access to the area is by the Florida Trail.
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 - Archery season - 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit or per exempt hunter. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 1 antlered deer per quota permit or per exempt hunter and 1 antlerless deer per antlerless deer permit (by antlerless deer permit only). 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 limits.
From FWC Seminole Ranch regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Seminole Ranch WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Seminole Ranch 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 Ranch WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Orange County | 6,526 |
| Seminole County | 29 |
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 Ranch WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 50, FL 520 and FL 46. Nearest towns: Christmas (next to it), Titusville (8 miles), Oviedo (12 miles), Cocoa (16 miles) and Orlando (17 miles). FWC's page for the area: Seminole Ranch.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Charles H. Bronson WMA (next to it), William Beardall Tosohatchee WMA (next to it), Salt Lake WMA (1.1 miles) and Buck Lake WMA (3.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Seminole Ranch WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 9-11, 16-18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 30-November 1, November 6-8; General Gun Season: November 20-22. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Seminole Ranch 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 Ranch WMA?
The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during 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 Seminole Ranch WMA?
Archery - 50, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 50, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 2 hunts. General Gun - 50, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Small Game - 50, no-cost, daily quota permits are available, first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season. Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 25, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Seminole Ranch WMA in?
Orange County (6,526 acres) and Seminole County (29 acres), 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.