Walk-in-the-Water WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Walk-in-the-Water WMA sets 2 deer seasons (archery and muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 3-4, 5-8, 9-11, 12-15, 16-18. The area is 6,026 acres of public hunting land in Polk County, a wildlife management area in FWC's southwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 4,506 deer were taken in DMU C1 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.
Walk-in-the-Water WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 6,026 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Polk |
| Deer management unit | DMU C1 |
| Deer seasons | Archery and muzzleloading gun |
| Archery | October 3-4, 5-8, 9-11, 12-15, 16-18 |
| Spring turkey | March 30-April 1 |
| 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 hunting, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Frostproof (2 mi), Hillcrest Heights (4 mi) and Highland Park (7 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Walk-in-the-Water WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 3-4, 5-8, 9-11, 12-15, 16-18 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | December 5-6, 7-10, 11-13 |
| Spring Turkey Season | March 30-April 1 |
| Wild Hog-Still Season | January 16-24 |
| Small Game Season | February 6-14, February 27-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 Walk-in-the-Water 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 Walk-in-the-Water WMA need?
- Archery - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 25, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).
What rules apply on Walk-in-the-Water WMA?
Dogs
- Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
- Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers are allowed, and any dog may be used to hunt 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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 wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
- Hunting turkey with air guns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round.
- All persons must enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
- Motorized vehicles may be operated only on named roads.
- Vehicles shall be parked in designated parking areas.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
Camping
- The Florida Forest Service regulates camping and a fee is required.
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 - 2 deer per quota permit, but only 1 per person. Muzzleloading gun season - 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 Walk-in-the-Water regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Walk-in-the-Water WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Walk-in-the-Water WMA lies in DMU C1. FWC estimates 4,506 deer (3,179 bucks, 1,327 does) in DMU C1 in the 2023-24 season, 1,239 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 Walk-in-the-Water WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Polk County | 6,026 |
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 Walk-in-the-Water WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 60, FL 17, FL 25 and US 27. Nearest towns: Frostproof (2 miles), Hillcrest Heights (4 miles), Highland Park (7 miles) and Lake Wales (11 miles). FWC's page for the area: Walk-in-the-Water.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Arbuckle WMA (2.8 miles), Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA (7.8 miles), Hatchineha Unit of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge (10.7 miles) and KICCO WMA (13.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Walk-in-the-Water WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 3-4, 5-8, 9-11, 12-15, 16-18; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-6, 7-10, 11-13. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Walk-in-the-Water 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 Walk-in-the-Water WMA?
Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
Do you need a quota permit for Walk-in-the-Water WMA?
Archery - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 5 hunts. Muzzleloading Gun - 25, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 3 hunts. Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).
What county is Walk-in-the-Water WMA in?
Polk County, 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.