Upper Hillsborough WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Upper Hillsborough WMA sets 2 deer seasons (archery and muzzleloading gun); archery is on December 5-6, 12-13, January 2-3, 9-10. The area is 5,245 acres of public hunting land in Pasco and Polk counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's southwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 1,973 deer were taken in DMU B1 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 Upper Hillsborough WMA?

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 Upper Hillsborough 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 Upper Hillsborough WMA need?

• Archery - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 4 hunts. Spring Turkey - 45, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season.

What rules apply on Upper Hillsborough WMA?

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 and dogs may be used during the wild hog-dog season.
• Hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited except during the wild hog-dog season.
• 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

• All hunters must enter and exit the area at a designated entrance on County Road 54.
• During periods when the check station is staffed, each day, hunters must check in prior to hunting and check out when finished hunting for the day, except during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons.
• In addition to checking all wildlife at an area check station when required, 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 check all wildlife harvested, except during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons.
• During periods when the check station is staffed, no deer, wild hog or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at the check station, except during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons.

Guns

• Only shotguns and air guns are allowed for hunting during the small game season.
• Only bows, crossbows and shotguns are allowed for hunting during the spring turkey season.
• Only shotguns and centerfire handguns are allowed for hunting during the wild hog-dog season.
• 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. Public access other than on foot, bicycle or horse is prohibited, except motor vehicles may be used as allowed in #2 below.
• Motor vehicles may be operated between the designated entrance and the designated campsite anytime camping is allowed. Motor vehicles may be operated beyond the designated campsite from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. one day prior to each archery, muzzleloading gun and spring turkey hunt. During all hunts, motor vehicles may be operated beyond the designated campsite only during hours that the check station is in operation, except during the small game and wild hog-dog seasons when motor vehicles may only be operated beyond the designated camp sites from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
• Vehicles may be operated only on named roads, except for individuals who qualify for AMP or SUV permits. For more information visit the ADA for Hunters web page.
• Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
• No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.

Camping

• Prohibited except at the designated campsite during the times listed in Public Access and Vehicles #2. During the hunting seasons, the designated campsite is intended for use by hunters.
• Archery, muzzleloading gun and spring turkey: Camping is allowed beginning at 8 a.m. one day prior to each hunt until 8 p.m. on the last day of each hunt. Wild hog-dog and small game: Camping is allowed beginning at 3 p.m. one day prior to each hunt until 8 p.m. on the last day of each hunt.
• Camping equipment is prohibited on the WMA, except when camping is allowed.

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 - See statewide bag limits below. B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 2 of which may be antlerless), daily 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 Upper Hillsborough regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Upper Hillsborough WMA?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Upper Hillsborough WMA lies in DMU B1. FWC estimates 1,973 deer (1,359 bucks, 614 does) in DMU B1 in the 2023-24 season, 601 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 Upper Hillsborough WMA 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 Upper Hillsborough WMA?

Highways within 5 miles: US 98, FL 39, US 301 and FL 35. Nearest towns: Zephyrhills (2 miles), Dade City (8 miles), St. Leo (9 miles) and San Antonio (11 miles). FWC's page for the area: Upper Hillsborough.

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Green Swamp West Unit (3 miles), Green Swamp WMA (4.5 miles), Lower Hillsborough WMA (7.9 miles) and Richloam WMA (11.4 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Upper Hillsborough WMA in 2026-27?

Archery Season: December 5-6, 12-13, January 2-3, 9-10; Muzzleloading Gun Season: January 16-17, 23-24, 30-31, February 6-7. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Upper Hillsborough 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 Upper Hillsborough 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 Upper Hillsborough WMA?

Archery - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 4 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 75, no-cost, quota permits (exemptions allowed) for each of 4 hunts. Spring Turkey - 45, no-cost, daily quota permits (exemptions allowed) are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season.

What county is Upper Hillsborough WMA in?

Pasco County (4,842 acres) and Polk County (403 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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