Wildlife Management Area · FL

Blackwater River Wildlife Management Area Hunting

Blackwater River Wildlife Management Area

Florida

191,482 acresManaged by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Explore 191,482 acres of public hunting land in Florida. View the property boundary, hunting seasons and regulations, map information and official sources.

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Hunting regulations

Official regulations ↗

Current season: 2026-2027. Verify current regulations and closures before hunting.

Regulations for

Species & Seasons

DeerMultiple seasonsArchery · Muzzleloader

Applies to all listed opportunities

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

Details & restrictions (8)

General Gun Still Season: 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
General Gun Still Season: antlerless deer by antlerless deer permit only and only in portions of the still hunt area and during dates as listed on the permit (each antlerless deer permit allows the take of 1 deer without antlers or with antlers less than 5 inches in length
General Gun Dog Season: 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
General Gun Dog Season: antlerless deer by antlerless deer permit only and only in that portion of the dog hunt area as listed on the permit (each antlerless deer permit allows the take of 1 deer without antlers or with antlers less than 5 inches in length
General Gun Dog Season: boat or animal is prohibited. 2. A quota permit is required to hunt raccoon and opossum from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. 3. General gun dog season is closed in the Field Trial Area. 4. A valid WMA deerdog hunting permit is required to hunt deer with the aid of dogs.
Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: 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
Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: antlerless deer if hunting in the field trial area (antlerless deer includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length
Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season: except as allowed during overlapping seasons and centerfire shotguns for hunting migratory birds and nonprotected birds. 2. Hunting deer or wild hogs with dogs is prohibited

Archery Season

antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length

Details & restrictions

except wild hog may be hunted with dogs as allowed during the small game season on dates that overlap with the archery season. 3. The take of antlerless deer and turkey is prohibited in the Field Trial Area after November 22.

October 24 November 22 (throughout the area) November 2629, December 19 January 14, January 18 February 10 (Field Trial Area only)

or bows equipped with a drawlock device is prohibited (except by Persons with Disabilities Crossbow Permit). 2. Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited

Muzzleloading Gun Season

December 57 (except in the Field Trial Area)

Details & restrictions

except as allowed during overlapping seasons and centerfire shotguns for hunting migratory birds and nonprotected birds. 2. Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited

Family Hunt

December 1213

Quota requiredSpecial opportunity

Details & restrictions

but only in the presence of at least 1 youth. 3. All hunt participants are requested to attend aprehunt orientation meeting at the Munson Fire Station from 5 to 6 p.m. the day before the hunt. 4. Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is allowed in the dog hunt area only (including the fox hunt area). 5. A valid WMA deerdog hunting permit is required to hunt deer with the aid of dogs.

antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length

TurkeySee detailsSpring

Spring Turkey Season

Details & restrictions

Youth Turkey: March 1215 (except in the Field Trial Area) Spring Turkey: March 20 April 25 (except in the Field Trial Area)

Wild HogSee details

Wild HogDog Season

Details & restrictions

2026 hunt dates: May 13, 1517, June 57, 1921, July 35, 1719, August 79, 2123, September 46, 1820 2027 hunt dates: May 79, 2123, June 46, 1820

QuailSee details

Quail Season

Details & restrictions

February 34, 89, 1718, 2223 (Field Trial Area only) January through February on Wednesdays and Saturdays only, maximum of 16 days (Quail Enhancement Area only). For specific dates in the Quail Enhancement Area please refer to: https://myfwc.com/hunting/quail/.

RaccoonRelated rules in 5 area-wide periods

Details & restrictions (5)

Raccoon and opossum may be hunted at night only by the aid of a light and dogs, with .
raccoon or opossum by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat, or animal is prohibited.
raccoon and opossum may be hunted at night, but only by the aid of a light and dogs, with .
raccoon or opossum by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat or animal is prohibited.
A quota permit is required to hunt raccoon and opossum from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.

BobcatMultiple seasons

Closed

Bobcat may not be harvested

Season

December 1 through March 1

OpossumRelated rules in 5 area-wide periods

Details & restrictions (5)

Raccoon and opossum may be hunted at night only by the aid of a light and dogs, with .
raccoon or opossum by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat, or animal is prohibited.
raccoon and opossum may be hunted at night, but only by the aid of a light and dogs, with .
raccoon or opossum by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat or animal is prohibited.
A quota permit is required to hunt raccoon and opossum from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.

OtterDecember 1 through March 1

Season

December 1 through March 1

Fox, Raccoon, Opossum and Bobcat SeasonMay 1–March 7 (Dog Hunt Area only)

Season

May 1–March 7 (Dog Hunt Area only)

Quota required

Details & restrictions

Permit, Stamp, and License Requirements - Quota permit (if hunting raccoon or opossum from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset during the general gun-dog season), hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt game and furbearers), and management area permit.

Legal to Hunt - Fox, raccoon, opossum, bobcat, coyote, and rabbits. Bobcat may not be harvested, except during daylight hours from December 1 through March 1. Coyote and rabbits may not be harvested, except as allowed during overlapping seasons. Raccoon and opossum may only be harvested as described in #2 of "Regulations Unique to Fox, Raccoon, Opossum, and Bobcat Season", except as allowed during overlapping seasons. Harvesting fox is prohibited. Take of other non-native wildlife is limited to species generally classified as game. Regulations Unique to Fox, Raccoon, Opossum, and Bobcat Season", except as allowed during overlapping seasons. Harvesting fox is prohibited. Take of other non-native wildlife is limited to species generally classified as game. Regulations Unique to Fox, Raccoon, Opossum and Bobcat Season - 1. Fox, raccoon, opossum, bobcat, and coyote may be chased with free-running dogs during the day and at night. 2. Raccoon and opossum may be hunted at night only by the aid of a light and dogs, with .22 rimfire firearms other than .22 magnum, or with a single-shot .410 centerfire or muzzleloading shotgun using shot no larger than No. 6. Hunting raccoon or opossum by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat, or animal is prohibited. 3. Rabbits may be chased with free-running dogs from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset only.

Other Hunt Periods5 periods

Area-wide hunt periods not tied to one species.

Small Game Season

November 1425, November 30 December 18, February 11 March 7 (except closed in the Field Trial Area)

except during daylight hours in the Dog Hunt Area (including the Fox Hunt Area). 3. In the Dog Hunt Area onlybut only by the aid of a light and dogs

Details & restrictions

Permit: Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt game and furbearers), management area permit, migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds), and state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl).

with .22 rimfire firearms other than .22 magnum

and nonprotected birds.

General Gun Still Season

November 2629, December 19 February 10 (Still Hunt Area only) January 417 (Dog Hunt Area only)

Quota requiredbut not spotted fawn)

Details & restrictions

Permit: Quota permit (if hunting November 2629, December 1927, or January 25 through February 10), hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt game and furbearers) , management area permit, deer permit (if hunting deer), antlerless deer permit (if hunting antlerless deer), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds), state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl), and military license or ID (if harvesting waterfowl during the Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunt days).

and nonprotected birds only. 2. General gun still season is closed in the Field Trial Area.

General Gun Dog Season

Quota requiredbut not spotted fawn)

Details & restrictions

Permit: Quota permit (except when hunting raccoon or opossum from one hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise), hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt game and furbearers) , management area permit, deer permit (if hunting deer), antlerless deer permit (if hunting antlerless deer), WMA deerdog permit (if hunting deer with dogs), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds), state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl), and military license or ID (if harvesting waterfowl during the Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunt days).

Hunt 1: November 2629, December 19 January 3 (Dog Hunt Area only, which includes Fox Hunt Area) Hunt 2: January 18 February 10 (Dog Hunt Area only, which includes Fox Hunt Area)

with .22 rimfire firearms other than .22 magnum

Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season

January 1517 (Field Trial Area only) February 1828 (except in the Field Trial Area)

Quota requiredbut not spotted fawn)

Details & restrictions

Permit: Quota permit (if hunting in the Field Trial Area), hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt game and furbearers), management area permit, archery permit (if hunting with a bow), crossbow permit (if hunting with a crossbow or airbow), muzzleloading gun permit (if hunting with a muzzleloading gun), deer permit (if hunting deer), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds) and state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl).

and nonprotected birds. Take of other nonnative wildlife is limited to species generally classified as game. Regulations Unique to Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season 1. Only bows

crossbows

airbows

and muzzleloading guns may be used for hunting

Migratory Bird Season

Quota requiredprovided they may not harvest wildlife.

Details & restrictions

Permit: Quota permit (if hunting migratory birds other than doves and waterfowl during any quota period), hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt migratory game birds and nonnative game birds), management area permit, migratory bird permit, state waterfowl permit and duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl), and military license or ID (if harvesting waterfowl during the Veterans and Military Waterfowl Hunt days).

Migratory game birds (other than doves and waterfowl) and crows may be hunted when their respective statewide seasons overlap the seasons in this brochure where migratory birds are listed as legal to hunt. Doves (mourning and whitewinged) may be hunted throughout the area during the statewide dove season, except in the Field Trial Area where doves may be hunted on posted dove fields only. Waterfowl (ducks, geese, and coot) may be hunted during statewide waterfowl seasons, except hunting is prohibited on Bear, Karick, and Krul lakes, and the eastern portion of Hurricane Lake (see map). See migratory game bird hunting regulations.

provided they may not harvest wildlife. 5. Adults with required licenses and permits may actively participate in Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

Permits & Check-in6 items

Wild HogDog Season: Management area permit.
Archery Season: Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt game and furbearers), management area permit, archery permit, deer permit (if hunting deer), wild turkey permit (if hunting wild turkey), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds), and state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl).
Muzzleloading Gun Season: Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt game and furbearers), management area permit, muzzleloading gun permit, deer permit (if hunting deer) and migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds).
Family Hunt quota permit, hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt game and furbearers), management area permit, deer permit (if hunting deer), WMA deerdog permit (if hunting deer with dogs), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds), and state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl).
Quail Season: Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt quail) and management area permit.
Spring Turkey Season: Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt wild turkey), management area permit, and wild turkey permit.

Additional Information12 items

Wild HogDog Season: west of County Road 191
Wild HogDog Season: and north of Springhill Road .
Archery Season: but not spotted fawn) from October 24 through November 22 only
Archery Season: and nonprotected birds. Take of other nonnative wildlife is limited to species generally classified as game. Regulations Unique to Archery Season 1. Only archery equipment may be used for hunting
Archery Season: airbows
Muzzleloading Gun Season: and nonprotected birds. Take of other nonnative wildlife is limited to species generally classified as game. Regulations Unique to Muzzleloading Gun Season 1. Hunting with archery equipment or guns
Muzzleloading Gun Season: other than muzzleloading guns
Muzzleloading Gun Season: is prohibited
Family Hunt: but not spotted fawn)
Family Hunt: and non protected birds. Take of other nonnative wildlife is limited to species generally classified as game. Regulations Unique to the Family Hunt 1. Up to 2 youths (under 16 years of age but not younger than 8 years of age) per quota permit may hunt only under the direct supervision of the quota permit holder (at least 18 years of age) who must be present for the youth to hunt. 2. The quota permit holder may hunt
Spring Turkey Season: crossbows
Spring Turkey Season: only youth under 16 years of age may hunt and must be under the supervision and in the presence of an adult not younger than 18 years of age. Adults with required licenses and permits may participate when in the presence of a youth