Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on August 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31. The area is 7,654 acres of public hunting land in Hendry County, a wildlife management area in FWC's south region. Around it, FWC estimates 2,403 deer were taken in Zone A 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA?

Legal deer: Antlered deer having at least one antler with three or more points (each point being one inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length.

Source: FWC Spirit-of-the-Wild 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 Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA need?

• Archery - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Youth Turkey Hunt - 10, no cost quota permits (no exceptions). Spring Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs or retrievers may be used for hunting migratory birds and non-protected birds in season; and any dog may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds, quail, rabbits, and non-protected birds 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.
• Dogs are allowed during periods and in area 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

• During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must report at the check station upon entering and leaving the area and check all harvested game.
• When check stations are staffed, no deer or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at the check station.
• In addition to checking all game at an area check station, 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

• 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.
• Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with airguns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year-round.
• Motor vehicles may be operated only on named roads, except during archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun seasons when vehicles may also be operated on named trails by individuals possessing a valid quota permit and their guests. Individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits should visit the ADA for Hunters web page for more information.
• The use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles, swamp buggies, tracked vehicles, or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited, except individuals possessing a valid quota permit and their guests may operate swamp buggies and all-terrain vehicles during archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun quota periods.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane.
• No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.

Camping

• Prohibited.

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 - 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but no more than 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.
• Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Youth turkey - 1 per quota permit. B. Spring turkey - 2 per quota permit, but only 1 per person. C. Statewide limits - Spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.

From FWC Spirit-of-the-Wild regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA lies in Zone A. FWC estimates 2,403 deer (2,069 bucks, 334 does) in Zone A in the 2023-24 season, 1,270 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 Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA in?

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 Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 29. Nearest towns: LaBelle (4 miles), Moore Haven (22 miles), Fort Myers (25 miles) and Estero (25 miles). FWC's page for the area: Spirit-of-the-Wild.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Okaloacoochee Slough WMA (next to it), CREW WEA (8.6 miles), Dinner Island Ranch WMA (10.2 miles) and Dinner Island Ranch WMA (Caracara Unit) (15.8 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: August 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31; Muzzleloading Gun Season: September 11-13; General Gun Season: September 19-21, 25-27, October 2-4. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA?

Antlered deer having at least one antler with three or more points (each point being one inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA.

Do you need a quota permit for Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA?

Archery - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Youth Turkey Hunt - 10, no cost quota permits (no exceptions). Spring Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA in?

Hendry County, measured on FWC's boundary.

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.

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