Tiger Bay WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Tiger Bay WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 19-October 18. The area is 19,847 acres of public hunting land in Volusia County, a wildlife management area in FWC's northeast region. Around it, FWC estimates 7,079 deer were taken in DMU C4 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.
Tiger Bay WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 19,847 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Volusia |
| Deer management unit | DMU C4 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 19-October 18 |
| General gun | November 7-15, November 16-January 3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-23, April 1-5, 15-18 |
| 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 | Small game, horseback riding, hiking trails and fishing |
| Nearest towns | DeLand (4 mi), Daytona Beach (4 mi) and Lake Helen (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Tiger Bay WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 19-October 18 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 24-26 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-15, November 16-January 3 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-23, April 1-5, 15-18 |
| Small Game Season | January 4-March 7 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
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 Tiger Bay 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 Tiger Bay WMA need?
- General Gun (first 9 days) - 150, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 25, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What rules apply on Tiger Bay WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer, bear or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) 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 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
- There is no check station on this area.
- 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.
- 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 with guns or archery equipment on or from rights-of-way of all paved roads is prohibited.
- 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 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.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round. During non-hunting periods, public access is allowed only from sunrise to sunset. During hunting periods, public access is allowed only from 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset. Public access during other times is allowed only by permit from the Florida Forest Service.
- Motor vehicles shall be operated only on roads shown on the brochure map, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters webpage..
- Vehicles must enter and exit the area at designated entrances.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
- Airboats, tracked vehicles and all-terrain vehicles are prohibited.
Camping
- Prohibited. Camping is allowed on the Rima Ridge Unit of Tiger Bay WMA with a permit from the Florida Forest Service.
Bag limits
- A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, bear 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 - See Statewide Limits. 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 Tiger Bay regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Tiger Bay WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Tiger Bay WMA lies in DMU C4. FWC estimates 7,079 deer (4,969 bucks, 2,110 does) in DMU C4 in the 2023-24 season, 2,046 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 Tiger Bay WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Volusia County | 19,847 |
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 Tiger Bay WMA?
Highways through the area: FL 600 and US 92. Nearest towns: DeLand (4 miles), Daytona Beach (4 miles), Lake Helen (6 miles) and Ormond Beach (8 miles). FWC's page for the area: Tiger Bay.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Tiger Bay WMA (Rima Ridge Unit) (next to it), Lake George WMA (5.6 miles), Lake George WMA (Dexter/Mary Farms Unit) (7.2 miles) and Ocala WMA (8.1 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Tiger Bay WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 19-October 18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26; General Gun Season: November 7-15, November 16-January 3. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Tiger Bay WMA?
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 Tiger Bay WMA?
Hunting deer, bear or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Tiger Bay WMA?
General Gun (first 9 days) - 150, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed). Youth Turkey - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 25, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts.
What county is Tiger Bay WMA in?
Volusia County, measured on FWC's boundary.
Get a Florida hunt plan when they open
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Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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.