Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit): 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit) sets 4 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and general gun); archery is on September 26-28, October 5-7, 12-14. The area is 1,757 acres of public hunting land in Duval and Nassau counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's north central region. Around it, FWC estimates 8,975 deer were taken in DMU C6 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 Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit)?

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 Thomas Creek - Kings Road Unit 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 Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit) need?

• Archery - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. 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 Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit)?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs other than bird dogs is prohibited, except any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during small game season.
• Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
• 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.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• 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.

Guns

• Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
• Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer must be .30 caliber 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

• Public access is allowed year-round.
• Persons must enter and exit the area through a designated entrance.
• Motorized vehicles are allowed on named roads only by individuals participating in the hunt and only during periods open to hunting and the day before each hunt (except during small game season),except for individuals who qualify for AMP permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page. During small game season, vehicles are prohibited except at the designated parking areas (see map).
• For vehicle access, persons in possession of a valid quota permit may use the lock combination (found on their quota permit) to unlock entrance gates only on days when motorized vehicles are allowed on the area.
• Bicycles are restricted to designated trails.

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 - Archery season - 1 antlered or antlerless deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit. Muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons - 1 antlered deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit. Family hunt - 1 antlered deer 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 Thomas Creek - Kings Road Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit)?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit) lies in DMU C6. FWC estimates 8,975 deer (5,636 bucks, 3,339 does) in DMU C6 in the 2023-24 season, 1,298 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 Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit) 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 Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit)?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 15, US 1, US 23 and FL 115. Nearest towns: Callahan (5 miles), Jacksonville (12 miles), Hilliard (15 miles) and Baldwin (16 miles). FWC's page for the area: Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit).

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Four Creeks WMA (1.5 miles), Cary WMA (5.9 miles), Jennings Forest WMA (19 miles) and Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA (21.1 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit) in 2026-27?

Archery Season: September 26-28, October 5-7, 12-14; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26; Family Hunt: November 7-8; General Gun Season: November 20-22, 27-29. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit)?

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 Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit)?

Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.

Do you need a quota permit for Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit)?

Archery - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. 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 Thomas Creek WMA (Kings Road Unit) in?

Duval County (1,724 acres) and Nassau County (33 acres), 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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