Wildlife Management Area · FL

Escambia River Wildlife Management Area Hunting

Escambia River Wildlife Management Area

Florida

36,649 acresManaged by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Explore 36,649 acres of public hunting land in Florida. View the property boundary, hunting seasons and regulations, map information and official sources.

Map loading…

Scout this areaScout this area

Hunting regulations

Official regulations ↗

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

Species & Seasons

DeerMultiple seasonsArchery · General Gun · 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

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 Season

October 24–November 22

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

Family Hunt

December 26–27

General Gun Season

November 26–29, December 12–25, December 28–February 3

Muzzleloading Gun Season

December 5–7

TurkeyYouth Turkey: March 12–15 Spring Turkey: March 20–April 25Spring

Spring Turkey Season

Youth Turkey: March 12–15 Spring Turkey: March 20–April 25

Wild HogSee details

Wild Hog-Dog Season

Details & restrictions

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

RaccoonRelated rules in 2 area-wide periods

Details & restrictions (2)

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.

BobcatMultiple seasons

Closed

Bobcat may not be harvested

Season

December 1 through March 1

OpossumRelated rules in 2 area-wide periods

Details & restrictions (2)

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.

OtterDecember 1 through March 1

Season

December 1 through March 1

Fox and Bobcat SeasonNovember 1–March 11, March 16–19, April 26–July 31 (Dog Hunt Area only)

Season

November 1–March 11, March 16–19, April 26–July 31 (Dog Hunt Area only)

Details & restrictions

November 1–March 11, March 16–19, April 26–July 31 (Dog Hunt Area only) Permit, Stamp, and License Requirements - Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt fox, bobcat, coyote and rabbits) and management area permit. Legal to Hunt - Fox, 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. Harvesting fox is prohibited. Take of other non-native wildlife is limited to species generally classified as game. Regulations Unique to Fox and Bobcat Season - Fox, bobcat, and coyote may be pursued with free-running dogs during the day and at night. Rabbits may be chased with free-running dogs from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset only.

Raccoon and Opossum SeasonSee details

Season

2026 hunt dates: April 27–December 31 2027 hunt dates: January 1–March 11, March 16–19, April 26–June 30

Details & restrictions

2026 hunt dates: April 27–December 31 2027 hunt dates: January 1–March 11, March 16–19, April 26–June 30 Permit, Stamp, and License Requirements - Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt raccoon and opossum) , and management area permit. Legal to Hunt - Raccoon and opossum. Regulations Unique to Raccoon and Opossum Season - 1. 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. 2. Hunting raccoon or opossum by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat or animal is prohibited. 3. In the Still Hunt Area, dogs may only be used to take raccoon and opossum from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise.

Other Hunt Periods2 periods

Area-wide hunt periods not tied to one species.

Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season

February 4–14

Permit: Trapping license and management area permit.

Details & restrictions

Permit: 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) and migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds).

1. Only bows, crossbows, airbows, and muzzleloading guns may be used for hunting, except as allowed during overlapping seasons and centerfire shotguns for hunting migratory birds and non-protected birds. 2. Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except wild hog may be hunted with dogs in the Dog Hunt Area during the small game season on dates that overlap with the archery/muzzleloading gun season.

Small Game Season

November 14–March 7

1. Hunting with centerfire rifles is allowed. 2. Hunting wild hog with dogs is allowed in the Dog Hunt Area only.

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).

Permits & Check-in6 items

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).
Family Hunt: Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt game and furbearers), management area permit, deer permit (if hunting deer), WMA deer-dog permit (if hunting deer with dogs), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds), and state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl).
General Gun Season: Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt game and furbearers), management area permit, deer permit (if hunting deer), WMA deer-dog permit (if hunting deer with dogs), 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), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds), and state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl).
Spring Turkey Season: Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt wild turkeys), management area permit, and wild turkey permit.
Wild Hog-Dog Season: Management area permit.

General Restrictions5 items

Archery Season: 1. Only archery equipment may be used for hunting, except as allowed during overlapping seasons and centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns for hunting migratory birds and non-protected birds. Hunting with crossbows, airbows, or bows equipped with a draw-lock device is prohibited (except by Persons with Disabilities Crossbow Permit). 2. Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except wild hog may be hunted with dogs in the Dog Hunt Area during the small game season on dates that overlap with the archery season.
Family Hunt: 1. Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is allowed in the Dog Hunt Area only. 2. Up to 2 youths (under 16 years of age but not younger than 8 years of age) may hunt only under the direct supervision of the supervising hunter (at least 18 years of age) who must be present for the youth to hunt. 3. The supervising adult may hunt, but only in the presence of at least 1 youth. 4. A valid WMA deer-dog hunting permit is required to hunt deer with the aid of dogs.
General Gun Season: 1. Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is allowed in the Dog Hunt Area only. 2. A valid WMA deer-dog hunting permit is required to hunt deer with the aid of dogs.
Muzzleloading Gun Season: 1. Hunting with archery equipment or guns, other than muzzleloading guns, is prohibited, except as allowed during overlapping seasons and centerfire shotguns for hunting migratory birds and non-protected birds. 2. Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except wild hog may be hunted with dogs in the Dog Hunt Area during the small game season on dates that overlap with the muzzleloading gun season.
Spring Turkey Season: 1. Legal shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset. 2. Hunting with dogs is prohibited. 3. Hunting other animals is prohibited. 4. Only bows, crossbows, PCP airguns propelling a bolt or arrow, and centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns using a #2 or smaller shot size may be used for hunting. 5. During the youth turkey hunt, 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, but may not harvest a wild turkey.

Additional Information1 item