Wildlife Management Area · FL

Ocala Wildlife Management Area Hunting

Ocala Wildlife Management Area

Florida

382,735 acresManaged by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Explore 382,735 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.

Species & Seasons

DeerMultiple seasonsArchery · General Gun · Muzzleloader

Details & restrictions

General Gun Season - Church Lake Unit: Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more

Archery Season

September 26–October 25

General Gun Season

November 14–January 10 (Pipeline, Lake Delancy and Hopkins Prairie units)

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

Muzzleloading Gun Season

October 30–November 1 (Hopkins Prairie, Lake Delancy and Church Lake units)

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

TurkeyYouth Turkey: March 12–15 Spring Turkey: March 25–28 , April 1–4 , 8 - 11 , 15 - 18Spring

Spring Turkey Season

Youth Turkey: March 12–15 Spring Turkey: March 25–28 , April 1–4 , 8 - 11 , 15 - 18

BearDec 5–27

Details & restrictions

Taking bear with the aid of dogs is prohibited.

Season

Dec 5–27

RaccoonRelated rules in 1 area-wide period

Details & restrictions

Raccoon and opossum may be hunted at night by the aid of light and dogs, with a .

OpossumRelated rules in 1 area-wide period

Details & restrictions

Raccoon and opossum may be hunted at night by the aid of light and dogs, with a .

Fox, Raccoon, Opossum and Bobcat SeasonNovember 14–April 18 (Pipeline and Church Lake Units)

Season

November 14–April 18 (Pipeline and Church Lake Units)

Details & restrictions

Legal to Hunt - Fox, raccoon, opossum, bobcat and coyote may be hunted in accordance with the season-specific regulations set forth below. Bobcat may be harvested only from Dec. 1 through Mar. 1. Raccoon, opossum and coyote may be harvested each day of the season. Killing fox is prohibited.

Regulations Unique to Fox, Raccoon, Opossum, Bobcat and Coyote Season - 1. From November 14 through March 1 only: Raccoon and opossum may be hunted at night by the aid of light and dogs, with a .22 rimfire firearm other than .22 magnum, or a single shot .410 gauge shotgun using shot no larger than No. 6. in the Pipeline and Church Lake Units ONLY. 2. Raccoons may be chased, with the use of free-running dogs, in that portion of the Pipeline Unit south of S.R. 40 and west of S.R. 19, from March 8 through April 18 . 3. Fox, bobcat and coyote may be chased 24 hours a day, with the use of free-running dogs, in that portion of the Pipeline Unit south of S.R. 40 and west of S.R. 19, from January 11 through April 18 .

Other Hunt Periods2 periods

Area-wide hunt periods not tied to one species.

General Gun Season - Church Lake Unit

General Gun Dog: November 14–22 General Gun Still: November 28–December 6

Details & restrictions

1. Hunting deer with dogs is allowed from November 14–22 only. 2. A WMA deer-dog hunting permit is required to hunt deer with the aid of dogs.

Small Game Season

December 7–March 7 (Church Lake Unit) January 11–March 7 (Pipeline, Lake Delancy and Hopkins Prairie units)

1. Hunting with centerfire rifles is prohibited. 2. Taking bear with the aid of dogs is prohibited.

General Restrictions4 items

Archery Season: 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).
General Gun Season: 1. Hunting deer with dogs is allowed in the Pipeline Unit only. 2. In the Pipeline Unit ONLY, fox, coyote and bobcat (beginning December 1) may be chased 24 hours a day with free-running dogs. 3. A WMA deer-dog hunting permit is required to hunt deer with the aid of dogs. 4. Bear may be chased with the use of free-running dogs in the designated deer training area during the established deer and bear dog training season only. Killing bear is prohibited.
Muzzleloading Gun Season: 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.

Official Sources2 sources