Yellow River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Yellow River WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun); archery is on October 24-November 22. The area is 27,339 acres of public hunting land in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's northwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 18,958 deer were taken in DMU D1 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.
Yellow River WMAOther FWC WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 27,339 acres, measured on FWC's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Rosa, Okaloosa |
| Deer management unit | DMU D1, DMU D2 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun and archery/muzzleloading gun |
| Archery | October 24-November 22 |
| General gun | November 26-29, December 12-February 3 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Legal deer | Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length if hunting south of I-10, 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 if hunting north of I-10, 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, hog hunting, horseback riding, fishing and night raccoon hunting |
| Nearest towns | Crestview (3 mi), Milton (6 mi) and Laurel Hill (9 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Yellow River WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 24-November 22 |
| General Gun Season | November 26-29, December 12-February 3 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | December 5-7 |
| Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season | February 4-14 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Wild Hog-Still Season | 2026 hunt dates: May 8-10, 22-24, June 12-14, 26-28, July 10-12, 24-26, August 14-16, 28-30, September 11-13, 25-27 2027 hunt dates: May 14-16, 28-30, June 11-13, 25-27, July 9-11, 23-25, August 13-15, 27-29, September 10-12, 25-27 |
| Raccoon Season | July 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, July 30-August 2, August 6-9, 13-16, 20-23, 27-30 |
| Small Game Season | November 14-25, November 30-December 11, February 4-March 7 |
| Trapping | December 1-March 1 |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length if hunting south of I-10, 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 if hunting north of I-10, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn).
Source: FWC Yellow River 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 Yellow River WMA need?
- Quota permits are not required for this area.
What rules apply on Yellow River WMA?
29 of the area's rules on dogs, guns, check stations, access, camping and bag limits are word for word the same as on Point Washington WMA, and are listed there. The rules below are the ones that differ.
Dogs
- Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs or retrievers, is prohibited, except any dog may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds in season) and non-protected birds during the small game and general gun seasons and to hunt raccoon and opossum during the raccoon, general gun, and small game seasons.
- The take of deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited. Taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited, except for raccoon and opossum during the general gun, raccoon, and small game seasons.
Guns
- Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (see exception for the raccoon, small game, and general gun seasons).
- 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.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round, except access to improved recreational areas is allowed from sunset to sunrise only for individuals participating in authorized hunting and/or fishing activities, actively launching/retrieving a boat or authorized to camp within the area.
- Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads except vehicular access is prohibited from May through September on Holt Enhancement Road, North Holt Cross Road, South Holt Cross Road, Haiseal Road and Cotton Creek Road.
Camping
- Camping is allowed throughout the portion of the area managed by the Northwest Florida Water Management District, except where posted as no camping, but for no more than 14 days within any consecutive 30-day period. Within the portion of the area managed by the Florida Forest Service, camping is prohibited, except by special use permit or at designated primitive campsites and for a maximum of 14 days. Throughout the area, camping is limited to tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles only.
- Kitchen stoves, refrigerators, and freezers are prohibited, unless contained in mobile campers. Lumber, sheet metal, or other building materials are prohibited.
- For more information about camping on Northwest Florida Water Management District property, please visit www.nwfwater.com.
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 3 of which may be antlerless north of I-10 and only 2 of which may be antlerless south of I-10), 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.
From FWC Yellow River regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Yellow River WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Yellow River WMA lies in DMU D1 and DMU D2. FWC estimates 18,958 deer (12,789 bucks, 6,169 does) in DMU D1 in the 2023-24 season, 4,694 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 Yellow River WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Santa Rosa County | 15,483 |
| Okaloosa County | 11,856 |
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 Yellow River WMA?
Highways through the area: FL 8, I-10 and FL 87. Nearest towns: Crestview (3 miles), Milton (6 miles), Laurel Hill (9 miles) and Niceville (13 miles). FWC's page for the area: Yellow River.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Blackwater WMA (next to it), Escribano Point WMA (next to it) and Blackwater WMA (Hutton Unit) (next to it).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Yellow River WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 24-November 22; General Gun Season: November 26-29, December 12-February 3; Muzzleloading Gun Season: December 5-7; Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: February 4-14. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Yellow River WMA?
Deer with at least 1 antler having 2 or more points (each point 1 inch or more in length) and having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length if hunting south of I-10, 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 if hunting north of I-10, 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 Yellow River WMA?
The take of deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited. Taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited, except for raccoon and opossum during the general gun, raccoon, and small game seasons.
Do you need a quota permit for Yellow River WMA?
Quota permits are not required for this area.
What county is Yellow River WMA in?
Santa Rosa County (15,483 acres) and Okaloosa County (11,856 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.