Silver Springs Forest WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Silver Springs Forest WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11. The area is 5,599 acres of public hunting land in Marion 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.
Silver Springs Forest WMAOther FWC WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 5,599 acres, measured on FWC's boundary (FWC's regional summary gives 4,900) |
|---|---|
| County | Marion |
| Deer management unit | DMU C4 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11 |
| General gun | November 13-15, 27-29 |
| 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, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing, family hunts and night raccoon hunting |
| Nearest towns | Ocala (8 mi), Reddick (11 mi) and Belleview (11 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Silver Springs Forest WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 24-26 |
| General Gun Season | November 13-15, 27-29 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-22, 26-28, April 2-4 |
| Family Still Hunt | November 7-8 |
| Small Game Season | December 19-January 17 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Wild Hog | January 23-29 |
| 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 Silver Springs 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 Silver Springs Forest WMA need?
- Archery - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Hunt - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Wild Hog - 20, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Silver Springs Forest WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs other than bird dogs and retrievers is prohibited except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds), non-protected birds and raccoon during 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, including bear.
- Hunting wild hog or bear with dogs is prohibited.
- 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
- The gate combination for quota hunts will be listed on the quota permits.
- Hunters must enter at the designated entrances.
- Hunters may enter the area no earlier than 1.5 hours before sunrise and shall exit the area no later than 1.5 hours after sunset (See exception for the small game season).
- 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 the 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 (See exception for the small game season). Taking wildlife with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device 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.
- Only individuals participating in quota hunts are allowed vehicular access during archery, muzzleloading gun, family, general gun, wild hog, and spring turkey hunt days and one day prior to and one day after each of these hunts from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset. At all other times, including small game seasons, vehicle access is prohibited.
- Motorized vehicles are allowed in designated parking areas only throughout the year.
- Motorized vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads and must be parked within 25 feet of a named or numbered road, except for individuals who qualify for AMP permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or fireline.
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: 2 per quota permit, but only 1 per person. Family hunt: 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit, but no more than one deer per person per day. Muzzleloading and general gun seasons: 2 per quota permit, but only 1 per person. 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 Silver Springs Forest regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Silver Springs Forest WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Silver Springs 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 Silver Springs Forest WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Marion County | 5,599 |
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 Silver Springs Forest WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 40, FL 35 and FL 492. Nearest towns: Ocala (8 miles), Reddick (11 miles), Belleview (11 miles) and McIntosh (16 miles). FWC's page for the area: Silver Springs Forest.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Ocala WMA (1.8 miles), Marshall Swamp WMA (3 miles), Gores Landing WMA (4.8 miles) and Lochloosa WMA (13.1 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Silver Springs Forest WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 25-27, October 2-4, 9-11; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26; General Gun Season: November 13-15, 27-29. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Silver Springs 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 Silver Springs Forest WMA?
FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Silver Springs Forest WMA.
Do you need a quota permit for Silver Springs Forest WMA?
Archery - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family Hunt - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Wild Hog - 20, no cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Silver Springs Forest WMA in?
Marion 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.