DMU A1, Florida
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Hog
- Group
- Zone A
- Area
- 4,779 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
Season & harvest data is published for no species so far. Deer, Turkey, Hog also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedFlorida DMU A1 is the southernmost deer management unit in the state, covering the vast Everglades ecosystem across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Collier, and Broward counties, with Big Cypress WMA as the crown jewel of public hunting land. Access is a genuine barrier — much of the unit is roadless swamp reachable only by airboat or on foot, keeping pressure extremely low and rewarding self-sufficient hunters willing to put in the work. Antlerless deer harvest is prohibited in DMU A1, antler regulations are strict (3 points or 10-inch main beam), and the area supports healthy populations of whitetail deer, Osceola turkey, and wild hog in one of the most unique hunting environments in North America.
Low-elevation subtropical swamp, cypress domes, wet prairies, sawgrass marsh, and hardwood hammocks comprising the Everglades and Big Cypress ecosystems. Elevations rarely exceed a few feet above sea level. Flooding is seasonal and extensive — terrain shifts dramatically between dry season (Nov-Apr) and wet season (May-Oct). Deer concentrate on elevated hammocks, cypress heads, and dry prairie islands during wet season. The landscape is defined by Big Cypress National Preserve and the broader Everglades basin spanning Collier, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Broward counties.
low
No antlerless deer may be taken in DMU A1 — this is a bucks-only unit. All antlered deer must have at least one antler with 3 or more points (each measuring 1 inch or more) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more. Statewide bag limit: 5 deer total per season with a maximum of 2 antlerless (moot here since antlerless is prohibited). Quota permits required at Big Cypress WMA for all deer seasons.
DEER (Zone A): Archery Aug 2–Aug 31 (crossbow included through Sept 5). Muzzleloader Sept 6–Sept 19. General gun Sept 20–Oct 19 and Nov 22–Jan 4. ANTLERLESS PROHIBITED in DMU A1 — bucks only, minimum 3 points on one side or 10-inch main beam. Big Cypress WMA quota permits required for all seasons; airboat/vehicle hunts require additional quota permits. TURKEY (Osceola — Florida subspecies, Grand Slam qualifier): Fall Oct 5–Oct 18 and Nov 21–Jan 3 (Zone A). Spring by quota permit at Big Cypress; special-opportunity permits required east of US Hwy 27. Bag limit: 2 bearded turkeys combined spring and fall. HOG: Year-round on most WMAs except spring turkey season. No hunting license required for hogs but WMA management area permit required. Quota/daily permits may be required at Big Cypress depending on method. BEAR: Not present in DMU A1 — no bear hunting here.
One of the most remote and physically demanding hunting environments in the Southeast. Airboat access to Big Cypress opens vast roadless swamp holding deer with virtually no hunting pressure in the backcountry. The only place on Earth to hunt Osceola turkey — a Grand Slam must-have. Year-round hog hunting available. Dry-season deer hunting on cypress hammock islands is a uniquely Florida experience. Low competition due to access barriers.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about DMU A1— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about DMU A1.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: FWC official Deer Management Units. Community info last updated 23d ago.