State guide

Public land that may allow hunting in Florida

132 named public land units in Florida from PAD-US 4.1: 57 state wildlife & game areas, 40 forests & grasslands, 27 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 1 BLM units, 1 lake & reservoir project lands, 1 state trust / land board tracts, 5 other public land units. The largest are Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area, Apalachicola National Forest, Ocala National Forest.

132listed areas
4.3Macres (approx.)
57state wildlife & game areas

2026 deer season opening dates by state. For Florida, check the agency link below.

Regulations & licenses: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

This site does not list seasons, bag limits, license or permit rules. Those change every year and differ by area. Check them with the state agency before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.

Check regulations with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Where the listed areas are

State wildlife & game areas (57)Forests & grasslands (40)Wildlife refuges & WPAs (27)BLM public land (1)Lake & reservoir project land (1)State trust land (1)Other public land (5)

One dot per area at its reference point; larger dots are larger areas. Outline: U.S. Census Bureau.

Acres by land type

Approximate acres for the portion of each unit inside Florida.

Photos from Florida public lands

All photo credits

National Forest land
Apalachicola National Forest
576,444 acres
Photo: US Forest Service - Southern Region · public domain · original source

Public-domain photos by U.S. federal agencies, taken in the place named on each card.

All 132 areas, largest first

Land type Manager PAD-US access Minimum size

State wildlife / game area
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area
669,520 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Broward County, Miami-Dade County + 1 more
Restricted access
National Forest land
Apalachicola National Forest
576,444 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Liberty County, Wakulla County + 3 more
Open access
National Forest land
Ocala National Forest
384,735 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Marion County, Lake County + 1 more
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Key West National Wildlife Refuge
213,437 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Monroe County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State forest
Blackwater River State Forest
206,255 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County
Open access
State forest
Tate's Hell State Forest
204,530 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Franklin County, Liberty County
Open access
State forest
Withlacoochee State Forest
165,519 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Citrus County, Sumter County + 3 more
Open access
National Forest land
Osceola National Forest
160,037 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Columbia County, Baker County
Open access
National Forest land
Pinhook Purchase Unit
96,448 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Columbia County, Baker County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
86,679 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wakulla County, Jefferson County + 1 more
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Big Bend Wildlife Management Area
81,916 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Taylor County, Dixie County
Restricted access
State forest
Picayune Strand State Forest
74,021 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Collier County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Fred C. Babcock-Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area
67,372 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Charlotte County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area
63,547 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Osceola County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area
62,912 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Franklin County, Gulf County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
J. W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area
60,959 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Palm Beach County
Restricted access
State forest
Goethe State Forest
52,938 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Levy County, Alachua County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
51,340 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Dixie County, Levy County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Aucilla Wildlife Management Area
45,256 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Jefferson County, Taylor County
Restricted access
State forest
John M. Bethea State Forest
37,746 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Baker County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Holey Land Wildlife Management Area
34,798 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Palm Beach County, Broward County
Restricted access
State forest
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest
32,312 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Hendry County, Collier County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area
29,745 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Palm Beach County, Broward County
Restricted access
State forest
Seminole State Forest
28,987 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Lake County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area
28,844 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Orange County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
28,145 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Citrus County, Hernando County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area
27,499 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Hernando County
Restricted access
State forest
Tiger Bay State Forest
27,288 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Volusia County
Open access
State forest
Lake Wales Ridge State Forest
26,842 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Polk County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
26,343 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Collier County
Restricted access
State forest
Jennings State Forest
24,062 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Clay County, Duval County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Herky Huffman/Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area
23,503 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Osceola County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area
21,705 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Hendry County
Restricted access
State forest
Lake George State Forest
21,234 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Volusia County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
20,988 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Collier County
Restricted access
State forest
Lake Talquin State Forest
19,416 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Gadsden County, Leon County + 1 more
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
19,295 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Volusia County, Lake County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area
18,376 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Glades County
Restricted access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Seminole Recreation Area
17,716 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area
17,082 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Martin County, Palm Beach County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management Area
16,427 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Osceola County
Restricted access
State forest
Twin Rivers State Forest
15,378 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Madison County, Hamilton County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Yucca Pens Unit
15,046 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Lee County, Charlotte County
Restricted access
State forest
Point Washington State Forest
14,976 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Walton County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area
14,333 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Highlands County, Polk County
Restricted access
State forest
Cary State Forest
13,291 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Duval County, Nassau County
Open access
State forest
Belmore State Forest
12,277 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Clay County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
12,210 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Franklin County
Restricted access
State forest
Charles H. Bronson State Forest
11,781 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Seminole County, Orange County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Snipe Island Unit
11,737 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Taylor County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Box-R Wildlife Management Area
11,184 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Franklin County, Gulf County
Restricted access
State forest
Four Creeks State Forest
10,558 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Nassau County
Open access
State forest
Little Big Econ State Forest
10,206 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Seminole County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hilochee Wildlife Management Area
9,968 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Lake County, Polk County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Half Moon Wildlife Management Area
9,639 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Sumter County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Guana River Wildlife Management Area
9,129 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · St. Johns County
Restricted access
State forest
Etoniah Creek State Forest
8,990 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Putnam County
Open access
State forest
Myakka State Forest
8,201 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Sarasota County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
National Key Deer Refuge
8,070 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Monroe County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Spirit of the Wild Wildlife Management Area
7,651 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Hendry County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Tenoroc Fish Management Area
7,519 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Polk County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge
7,373 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Monroe County
Restricted access
State forest
Pine Log State Forest
7,162 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Bay County, Washington County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge And Conservation Area
7,032 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Okeechobee County, Polk County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge
6,605 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Monroe County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
T. M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area
6,503 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Brevard County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge
6,436 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Brevard County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Osprey Unit
6,110 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Polk County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Caravelle Ranch Wildlife Management Area
5,654 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Putnam County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
J. N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
5,458 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Lee County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area
5,038 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Brevard County
Restricted access
State forest
Wakulla State Forest
4,931 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Wakulla County, Leon County
Open access
State forest
Peace River State Forest
4,906 acres
State: other or unknown agency · DeSoto County
Open access
State forest
Matanzas State Forest
4,684 acres
State: other or unknown agency · St. Johns County
Open access
State forest
Indian Lake State Forest
4,475 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Marion County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area
3,867 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Monroe County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
3,863 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Palm Beach County
Restricted access
State forest
Ralph E. Simmons State Forest
3,635 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Nassau County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Andrews Wildlife Management Area
3,564 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Levy County
Restricted access
State forest
Ross Prairie State Forest
3,525 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Marion County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
3,496 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Baker County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area
3,018 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Hendry County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Joe Budd Wildlife Management Area
2,948 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Gadsden County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Tate's Hell Wildlife Management Area
2,906 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Franklin County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Yellow River Wildlife Management Area - Escribano Point
2,708 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Santa Rosa County
Restricted access
Other state land
GTMNERR - Guana River Site
2,678 acres
State: department of conservation · St. Johns County
Open access
Other state land
Cape St. George State Reserve
2,367 acres
State: department of conservation · Franklin County
Open access
State forest
Welaka State Forest
2,264 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Putnam County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lafayette Forest Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
2,138 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Lafayette County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Platt Branch Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
1,971 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Highlands County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
1,843 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Highlands County, Polk County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
L. Kirk Edwards Wildlife and Environmental Area
1,792 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Leon County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Split Oak Forest Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
1,767 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Orange County, Osceola County
Restricted access
State trust / land board land
Peace River Settlement
1,710 acres
State: land board · Polk County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Fort White Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
1,642 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Gilchrist County
Restricted access
State forest
Big Shoals State Forest
1,626 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Hamilton County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Suwannee Ridge Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
1,427 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Hamilton County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Watermelon Pond Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
1,287 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Alachua County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Grissom Parkway
1,253 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Brevard County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Crooked Lake Wildlife and Environmental Area
1,147 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Polk County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge
1,073 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Martin County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge
1,067 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Martin County
Restricted access
State forest
Newnans Lake State Forest
1,006 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Alachua County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Moody Branch Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
960 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Manatee County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
918 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Volusia County
Restricted access
Other state land
Rookery Bay Reserve Lands
917 acres
State: department of conservation · Collier County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Bullfrog Creek Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
820 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Hillsborough County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Hickey Creek Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
789 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Lee County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Bell Ridge Longleaf Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
723 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Gilchrist County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
648 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Levy County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge
585 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Lee County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Little Gator Creek Wildlife and Environmental Area
574 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Pasco County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge
503 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Lee County
Restricted access
State forest
Watson Island State Forest
480 acres
State: other or unknown agency · St. Johns County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
404 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Indian River County
Restricted access
BLM public land
BLM Southeastern States District Office Public Lands
393 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Bay County, Palm Beach County + 4 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Branan Field Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
386 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Duval County, Clay County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Perry Oldenburg Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area
368 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Hernando County
Restricted access
State forest
Deep Creek State Forest
355 acres
State: other or unknown agency · St. Johns County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge
331 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Hillsborough County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Stone Fish Management Area
251 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Escambia County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Micco Expansion
237 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Brevard County
Open access
National Forest land
Nekoosa Purchase Unit
214 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Columbia County, Baker County
Open access
Other state land
Roberts Property
181 acres
State: department of conservation · St. Johns County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ten Mile Ridge
176 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Brevard County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
166 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Brevard County, Indian River County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Makinson Island Conservation Area
146 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Osceola County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Paradise Island
131 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Osceola County
Restricted access
Other state land
Dunnellon Open Space
113 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Citrus County, Marion County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Capital Circle Office Complex Conservation Area
85 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Leon County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
76 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Citrus County
Restricted access
State forest
Holopaw State Forest
57 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Osceola County
Open access

Acreage is calculated from simplified PAD-US boundaries for the portion inside Florida. “Access” is the PAD-US public access field, not a statement about hunting. National wildlife refuges are generally coded “restricted” in PAD-US because of seasonal or area closures.