Wildlife Management Area · FL

Hilochee Wildlife Management Area Hunting

Hilochee Wildlife Management Area

Florida

16,080 acresManaged by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Explore 16,080 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 · General Gun

Applies to all listed opportunities

Quota required
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

February 12–14

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

Muzzleloading Gun Season

February 19–21

General Gun Season

February 26–28

TurkeyYouth Turkey: March 12-15Spring Turkey: March 26–28, April 9–11Spring

Spring Turkey Season

Youth Turkey: March 12-15Spring Turkey: March 26–28, April 9–11

Quota required

Wild HogNovember 20–22, December 4–6, 18-20

Wild Hog-Still Season

November 20–22, December 4–6, 18-20

Quota required

RaccoonRelated rules in 2 area-wide periods

Details & restrictions (2)

Raccoon or opossum may be hunted at night 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 prohibited2.

OpossumRelated rules in 2 area-wide periods

Details & restrictions (2)

Raccoon or opossum may be hunted at night 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 prohibited2.

Raccoon and Opossum SeasonSee details

Season

August 6–September 27 (1½ hours before sunset on Thursdays until 1½ hours after sunrise on Sundays only)

Legal to Hunt - Raccoon and opossum.

Details & restrictions

Regulations Unique to Raccoon Season - 1. Raccoon or opossum may be hunted at night by the aid of a light and dogs, with .22 rimfire firearms other than .22 magnum, or with a single-shot .410 gauge 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 prohibited2. Taking wildlife at night with a gun equipped with a thermal or night-vision device is prohibited. 3. Hunts end at 1½ hours after sunrise on Sundays, but participants are allowed vehicle access until 1½ hours after sunset.

Permit, Stamp and License Requirements - Hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt furbearers) and management area permit.

Other Hunt Periods2 periods

Area-wide hunt periods not tied to one species.

Small Game Season

December 25–January 17

Details & restrictions

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

1. Hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel, and migratory birds) and non-protected birds with dogs is allowed. Hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited. 2. Hunting with centerfire rifles is allowed. 3. Northern bobwhite may be released and taken by centerfire and muzzleloading shotgun provided each individual or group participating possesses a daily released quail permit and proof (including the name and address of the vendor and date of purchase) that the northern bobwhite were purchased within the past 90 days from a game farm licensed by the Commission or another state (no exemptions). See https://myfwc.com/hunting/quail/ for more information. All individuals participating must enter through the Riddick Grove Road entrance.

Migratory Bird Season

Quota required

Details & restrictions

Permit: Quota permit (if hunting during any quota period), hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt migratory game birds and non-native game birds), management area permit, migratory bird permit, and state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl).

All Migratory Bird Regulations shall apply. 1. Hunting on the posted dove field is allowed by permit only until the last Hilochee Public Small Game Hunting Area (PSGHA) dove hunt has concluded. After the last dove hunt, the dove field will be open for other hunters to use. Refer to the Hilochee PSGHA brochure for additional information. 2. Hunting ducks, geese and coot with lead shot is prohibited. 3. Centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns are allowed for hunting during established area seasons when migratory birds are legal to hunt. 4. Shooting hours for mourning and white-winged doves are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset.5. Adults with required licenses and permits may actively participate in Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days, provided they may not harvest wildlife.

Permits & Check-in5 items

Wild Hog-Still Season: Quota permit and management area permit.
Archery Season: Quota permit, 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) and migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds).
Muzzleloading Gun Season: Quota permit, 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).
General Gun Season: 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) and migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds).
Spring Turkey Season: Quota permit, hunting license (an annual hunting license is required for nonresidents to hunt wild turkey), management area permit and wild turkey permit.

General Restrictions3 items

Archery Season: 1. Only archery equipment may be used for hunting, except that centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns are allowed 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).
Muzzleloading Gun Season: 1. Hunting with archery equipment or guns, other than muzzleloading guns, is prohibited, except that centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns are allowed for hunting migratory birds and non-protected birds.
Spring Turkey Season: 1. Legal shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset. 2. Hunting other animals is prohibited. 3. Only bows, crossbows, PCP air guns propelling a bolt or arrow and centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns using a #2 or smaller shot size may be used for hunting. 4. 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.5. During the youth turkey hunt, public access is limited to individuals participating in the hunt or fishing on area lakes and ponds.

Additional Information1 item