Twin Rivers WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Twin Rivers WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and general gun); archery is on September 26-October 2, October 3-9, 10-16. The area is 9,762 acres of public hunting land in Madison, Suwannee and Hamilton counties, a wildlife management 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.
Twin Rivers WMAOther FWC WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 9,762 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Madison, Suwannee, Hamilton |
| Deer management unit | DMU C5 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt and general gun |
| Archery | September 26-October 2, October 3-9, 10-16 |
| General gun | November 9-15, 16-22 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; 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 | Small game, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing and family hunts |
| Nearest towns | Lee (5 mi), Jennings (10 mi) and Madison (10 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Twin Rivers WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 26-October 2, October 3-9, 10-16 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 24-26 |
| Family Hunt | November 7-8 |
| General Gun Season | November 9-15, 16-22 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 26-28, April 16-18 |
| Small Game Season | November 26-March 7 |
| Trapping | Prohibited. |
| Fishing | 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 Twin Rivers 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 Twin Rivers WMA need?
- Archery - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What rules apply on Twin Rivers WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except during small game season.
- Hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- The taking or pursuing of deer, 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.
- 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.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must check in at the check station upon entering the area, obtain a zone tag and keep it in their possession (except during small game season and the family hunt), check out upon leaving the area, and check all game harvested (except during small game season).
- In addition to checking all game at an area check station (except during small game season), 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.
- During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must hunt in zones corresponding to the zone tags in their possession (except during small game season and the family hunt).
- 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.
- In Anderson Springs Tract, the gate on Springs Road is closed each night at sunset. On Springs Road, hunters may park in the hunter parking area located near River Road only.
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 but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except for persons in possession of a camping 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 web page.
- Persons must enter and exit the area at designated entrances or via the Florida Trail, Suwannee River or Withlacoochee River.
- All-terrain vehicles are prohibited.
- Horses are allowed only on designated roads.
Camping
- The Florida Forest Service prohibits camping on this area during periods open to hunting, except during the small game season.
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 and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit (not 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 Twin Rivers regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Twin Rivers WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Twin Rivers WMA 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 Twin Rivers WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Madison County | 7,048 |
| Suwannee County | 1,520 |
| Hamilton County | 1,195 |
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 Twin Rivers WMA?
Highways through the area: FL 10, US 90, FL 6 and FL 8. Nearest towns: Lee (5 miles), Jennings (10 miles), Madison (10 miles) and Live Oak (12 miles). FWC's page for the area: Twin Rivers.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Holton Creek WMA (6.4 miles), Suwannee Ridge WEA (7.3 miles) and Little River WMA (19.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Twin Rivers WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 26-October 2, October 3-9, 10-16; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-26; Family Hunt: November 7-8; General Gun Season: November 9-15, 16-22. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Twin Rivers 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 Twin Rivers WMA?
The taking or pursuing of deer, 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 Twin Rivers WMA?
Archery - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Family - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun - 45, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Youth Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
What county is Twin Rivers WMA in?
Madison County (7,048 acres), Suwannee County (1,520 acres) and Hamilton County (1,195 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.