Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit): 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit) sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on October 2-4, 9-11. The area is 9,162 acres of public hunting land in Osceola County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northeast region. Around it, FWC estimates 2,859 deer were taken in DMU C2 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 Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes 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.

Source: FWC Three Lakes - Prairie Lakes 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 Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit) need?

• Archery - 80, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 80, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 80, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 25, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What rules apply on Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit)?

Dogs

• Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except that bird dogs may be used during the general gun season and dogs may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel, and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during the 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.
• 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

• When the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at the check station upon entering and check out upon leaving the area and check all wildlife harvested.
• When the check station is staffed, no deer, wild hog or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at the check station.
• Check station hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time; 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time. During spring turkey season check station hours are 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time; 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time.
• 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.
• 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.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round.
• All users shall enter or exit the area through a designated entrance, except persons through-hiking on the Florida Trail (open to hikers year round).
• Vehicles and horses are only allowed on named or numbered roads. There may be exceptions for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
• Airboats, tracked vehicles and unlicensed and unregistered motorycles are prohibited except that airboats may be transported to and from the Lake Jackson Boat ramp and may be operated on that portion of Lake Jackson outside the area posted as restricted to airboat access.

Camping

• Camping is allowed on this area by permit only at designated primitive campsites (Sites B-E on the area map) and is subject to permit provisions. Campsites are available first-come, first-served.
• The required no-cost camping permit for Prairie Lakes Unit campsites can be obtained through the online reservation system at Three Lakes WMA Prairie Lakes Unit Camp Sites | or if further assistance is needed call the Northeast Regional Office at 352-732-1225 during regular business hours (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST).
• Camping on this area (Prairie Lakes Unit) is not allowed during quota hunts. Camping is permitted during the small game hunting season and throughout the rest of the year.

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 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 Three Lakes - Prairie Lakes Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit)?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit) lies in DMU C2. FWC estimates 2,859 deer (1,984 bucks, 875 does) in DMU C2 in the 2023-24 season, 1,174 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 Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes 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 Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit)?

Highways within 5 miles: FL 91 and FL 60. Nearest towns: Hillcrest Heights (20 miles), Highland Park (21 miles), Frostproof (21 miles) and St. Cloud (23 miles). FWC's page for the area: Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit).

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA (next to it), Three Lakes WMA (next to it), KICCO WMA (4.3 miles) and Kissimmee River PUA (4.3 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit) in 2026-27?

Archery Season: October 2-4, 9-11; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 30-November 1; General Gun Season: November 20-22, 27-29. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes 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, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit)?

FWC's summary lists no deer dog season for Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit).

Do you need a quota permit for Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit)?

Archery - 80, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 80, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 80, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 25, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.

What county is Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit) in?

Osceola 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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