Tate's Hell WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Tate's Hell WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-November 22. The area is 186,474 acres of public hunting land in Franklin and Liberty counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 18,958 deer were taken in DMU D1 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.
Tate's Hell WMAOther FWC WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 186,474 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin, Liberty |
| Deer management unit | DMU D1 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun |
| Archery | October 24-November 22 |
| General gun | November 26-29, December 12-February 3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Legal deer | Antlered deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn) |
| Deer dogs | Allowed in a dog season or area (rules below) |
| Also on the area | Small game, hog dogs, deer dogs, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing, night raccoon hunting and hog hunting |
| Nearest towns | Carrabelle (next to it), Sopchoppy (6 mi) and Apalachicola (9 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Tate's Hell WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 24-November 22 |
| General Gun Season | November 26-29, December 12-February 3 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | December 5-7 |
| Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season | February 4-14 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Fox, Raccoon, Opossum and Bobcat Season | May 1-September 30 (Fox Hunt Area only) |
| Small Game Season | November 14-March 7 |
| Trapping | February 1-March 1 |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
Legal deer: Antlered deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).
Source: FWC Tate's Hell 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 Tate's Hell WMA need?
- General Gun Still (last 13 days) - 185, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun Dog (last 13 days) - 750, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Youth Turkey - 100, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 205, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed).
What rules apply on Tate's Hell WMA?
31 of the area's rules on dogs, guns, check stations, access, camping and bag limits are word for word the same as on Aucilla WMA, and are listed there. The rules below are the ones that differ.
Dogs
- The taking or pursuing of deer, bear, 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.
- The take of deer with dogs is prohibited, except during general gun and deer dog training seasons in the dog hunt area (including the fox hunt area). During the deer and bear dog training season, deer and bear dogs may be allowed to run free for training purposes, but the take of wildlife with a gun (including archery equipment) while training deer or bear dogs is prohibited. The take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except during general gun and small game seasons in the dog hunt area (including the fox hunt area).
- Deer and bear dogs may be trained October 31 through November 19, but only from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset in the dog hunt area.
- Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs and retrievers, is prohibited in the still hunt areas (see map), except any dog may be used to hunt small game during small game season dates that do not overlap with an area deer season (see small game season regulations for specific dates).
- Bear may be chased with the use of free-running dogs during the established deer dog training season only. Killing bear is prohibited.
Guns
- Hunting with a gun or archery equipment on or from the rights-of-way of State Road 65, County Road 67 or U.S. 98 is prohibited.
- Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (see exception for general gun and small game seasons).
Access and vehicles
- Vehicles may be operated only on designated roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
- The use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles, tracked vehicles, swamp buggies and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited, except as allowed by the Florida Forest Service.
- No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
Camping
- Camping is allowed only in designated campsites indicated on the hunt map and shall be limited to tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles only.
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - See statewide limits below. 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.
- Quail - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24.
From FWC Tate's Hell regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Tate's Hell WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Tate's Hell WMA lies in DMU D1. FWC estimates 18,958 deer (12,789 bucks, 6,169 does) in DMU D1 in the 2023-24 season, 4,694 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 Tate's Hell WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Franklin County | 167,925 |
| Liberty County | 18,548 |
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 Tate's Hell WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 319, FL 30, US 98 and FL 65. Nearest towns: Carrabelle (next to it), Sopchoppy (6 miles), Apalachicola (9 miles) and Wewahitchka (17 miles). FWC's page for the area: Tate's Hell.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Apalachicola WMA (next to it), Tate's Hell WMA (Womack Creek Unit) (next to it), Apalachicola River WEA (next to it) and Tate's Hell WMA (St. James Island Unit) (next to it).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Tate's Hell WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 24-November 22; General Gun Season: November 26-29, December 12-February 3; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: February 4-14. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Tate's Hell WMA?
Antlered deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) OR a main beam of 10 inches or more in length, 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 Tate's Hell WMA?
The taking or pursuing of deer, bear, 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 Tate's Hell WMA?
General Gun Still (last 13 days) - 185, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). General Gun Dog (last 13 days) - 750, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Youth Turkey - 100, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 205, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed).
What county is Tate's Hell WMA in?
Franklin County (167,925 acres) and Liberty County (18,548 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.