Suwannee Ridge WEA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Suwannee Ridge WEA sets one deer season, general gun mobility-impaired, on October 16-18, October 30-November 1, November 6-8, 20-22. The area is 1,438 acres of public hunting land in Hamilton County, a wildlife and environmental area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 7,315 deer were taken in DMU C5 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.
Suwannee Ridge WEAOther FWC WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,438 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton |
| Deer management unit | DMU C5 |
| Deer seasons | General gun mobility-impaired |
| Spring turkey | March 26-28, April 16-18 |
| 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 | Mobility-impaired hunts |
| Nearest towns | Jasper (6 mi), Jennings (10 mi) and Live Oak (11 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Suwannee Ridge WEA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season | October 16-18, October 30-November 1, November 6-8, 20-22 |
| Spring Turkey Mobility-Impaired Season | March 26-28, April 16-18 |
| 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 Suwannee Ridge 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 Suwannee Ridge WEA need?
- General Gun Mobility-Impaired - 8, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Spring Turkey Mobility-Impaired - 4, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Suwannee Ridge WEA?
Dogs
- Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
- 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 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
- Hunters must enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
- During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at the check station on Holton Creek WMA upon entering and check out upon leaving the area and check all game harvested.
- 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.
- The Holton Creek WMA check station hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Eastern Daylight Saving Time and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time, except during the day before each general gun mobility-impaired season hunt when hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Mobility-impaired hunters must attend a pre-hunt orientation meeting (see each season for dates and location).
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, except during hunting seasons when only persons participating in the hunts are allowed.
- Public access is prohibited from 1 ½ hours after sunset until 1 ½ hours before sunrise.
- During periods open to hunting and 1 day prior to each hunt, vehicles may be operated only on designated portions of named or numbered roads. During non-hunting periods, access is allowed only on foot and only from the County Road 249 parking area.
- Airboats, ATVs, horses, motorcycles and tracked vehicles are prohibited on the area, except that ATVs are allowed during hunts.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
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 per quota permit (only certified mobility-impaired hunters may take antlerless deer). 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 Suwannee Ridge regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Suwannee Ridge WEA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Suwannee Ridge WEA lies in DMU C5. FWC estimates 7,315 deer (4,762 bucks, 2,553 does) in DMU C5 in the 2023-24 season, 269 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 Suwannee Ridge WEA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Hamilton County | 1,438 |
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 Suwannee Ridge WEA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 93, I-75, FL 6 and FL 25. Nearest towns: Jasper (6 miles), Jennings (10 miles), Live Oak (11 miles) and Lee (14 miles). FWC's page for the area: Suwannee Ridge.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Holton Creek WMA (next to it), Twin Rivers WMA (7.3 miles) and Cypress Creek WMA (18.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Suwannee Ridge WEA in 2026-27?
General Gun Mobility-Impaired Season: October 16-18, October 30-November 1, November 6-8, 20-22. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Suwannee Ridge WEA?
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 Suwannee Ridge WEA?
FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Suwannee Ridge WEA.
Do you need a quota permit for Suwannee Ridge WEA?
General Gun Mobility-Impaired - 8, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts. Spring Turkey Mobility-Impaired - 4, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Suwannee Ridge WEA in?
Hamilton 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.