Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on September 19-October 18. The area is 122,793 acres of public hunting land in Brevard, Indian River and Osceola counties, 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.
Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 122,793 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Brevard, Indian River, Osceola |
| Deer management unit | DMU C2 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | September 19-October 18 |
| General gun | November 7-January 17 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| 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, hog dogs, camping, horseback riding and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Fellsmere (2 mi), Rockledge (2 mi) and Cocoa (3 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 19-October 18 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | October 24-November 1 |
| General Gun Season | November 7-January 17 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Small Game Season | January 18-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 Upper St. Johns River Marsh 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 St. Johns River Marsh WMA need?
- Quota permits are not required for this area.
What rules apply on Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs may be used during the duck and coot seasons; and dogs may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds during small game season and wild hog during the period of January 18-31.
- 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.
- The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
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 Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.
Guns
- During the duck, geese and coot season in the Stick Marsh/Farm 13, Kenansville Lake and as posted in the Blue Cypress Water Management Area, hunting with archery equipment and firearms, other than shotguns, is prohibited.
- Hunting is prohibited on the rights of way of Fellsmere Grade, C-54 and all levees.
- 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.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round, but read below for restrictions and limitations.
- Public access is prohibited within 1,000 feet of any posted construction site.
- Public access on Levee 74 North is allowed only at designated entrances.
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited, except on Fellsmere Grade and Lawton Road.
- Motorized vessels are prohibited in those portions of the area posted as non-motorized, except motorized vessels are allowed in areas posted as seasonal non-motorized areas, but only from 1 day following the close of spring turkey season to 1 day prior to archery season.
Camping
- Camping is prohibited, except from 8 a.m. 1 day prior to archery season to 6 p.m. 7 days after the close of spring turkey season or at other times as authorized by St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) at https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/camping/ or 386-329-4401. Only tent camping is allowed and only at designated campsites.
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area Limits - See statewide limits below. 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.
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area Limits - Daily limit 1. B. Statewide Limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
From FWC Upper St. Johns River Marsh regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA 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 Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Brevard County | 73,693 |
| Indian River County | 48,183 |
| Osceola County | 917 |
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 St. Johns River Marsh WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: I-95, FL 60, FL 5 and US 1. Nearest towns: Fellsmere (2 miles), Rockledge (2 miles), Cocoa (3 miles) and Palm Bay (3 miles). FWC's page for the area: Upper St. Johns River Marsh.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Fort Drum WMA (next to it), William Beardall Tosohatchee WMA (3.9 miles), Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA (4.6 miles) and Triple N Ranch WMA (9.1 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: September 19-October 18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: October 24-November 1; General Gun Season: November 7-January 17. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Upper St. Johns River Marsh 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 St. Johns River Marsh WMA?
The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs 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 St. Johns River Marsh WMA?
Quota permits are not required for this area.
What county is Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA in?
Brevard County (73,693 acres), Indian River County (48,183 acres) and Osceola County (917 acres), 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.