Florida · Public Land · 2026 Edition
Florida Public Hunting Land 2026: WMAs & Access Rules
2 wildlife management areas tracked here, from 9,815 to 83,832 acres. A hunting license covers you on Florida WMA land the same as anywhere else in the state — but read the access rules below before you assume that's all you need.
01 — Wildlife management areas
| Area | County | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guana River Wildlife Management Area | St. Johns | 9,815 | Waterfowl, Deer, Turkey |
| Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area | Charlotte, Lee | 83,832 | Quail, Turkey, Deer, Small game |
Guana River is a coastal estuary marsh named among North Florida's top waterfowl destinations, with an access lockdown on quota hunt days stricter than most Florida WMAs run — the upland tract closes to the general public entirely, not just to unpermitted hunters. Babcock-Webb, at nearly 81,000 acres in Charlotte and Lee counties, is one of the biggest WMAs in the state and built its reputation on quail — first-come daily quota permits let hunters walk on without the weeks-ahead application a deer or turkey quota hunt requires. This list is a starting point, not FWC's full inventory of more than 100 wildlife management areas statewide.
02 — Access rules beyond your hunting license
Florida's WMA system runs over 6 million acres, most of it under quota permits for the popular hunts (archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, spring turkey, and the better waterfowl days) — apply through the FWC quota system ahead of time rather than expecting to walk on. Some WMAs also run everyday quail or small-game permits on a first-come, first-served daily basis, a lighter-weight system than the seasonal quota draws.
03 — Where to go next
Verified · Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · Last verified 2026-08-08
Publisher's note. WMA list and access rules read from FWC, retrieved 2026-08-08. Review due 2027-08-01. This is a starting list, not the agency's full WMA inventory — confirm current rules for a specific area before you hunt it.