DMU A2, Florida

Pine flatwoods, wet prairies, cabbage palm hammocks, cypress strands, and freshwater marsh. Landscape is flat and low-lying with seasonal flooding common in summer and fall. Characteristic southwest Florida habitat transitions from open cattle-country prairie in Hendry and Glades counties to denser cypress and mixed hardwood near Big Cypress to the south. White-tailed deer (Florida subspecies, Odocoileus virginianus seminolus) are well distributed throughout.

Low to moderate. Private ranches dominate the landscape and limit crowding on public land. WMA quota systems keep pressure manageable; early archery and late muzzleloader seasons see lighter use than gun season weekends.

Annual bag limit is 5 deer statewide, of which no more than 2 may be antlerless. In DMU A2, antlerless deer may only be taken during the archery and crossbow seasons (limited opportunity, roughly 1–9 antlerless per year per regulation cycle). No antlerless harvest during muzzleloader or general gun seasons in A2. Antler restrictions apply statewide in Zone A: all antlered deer must have at least 3 points (each 1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a main beam of 10 inches or more. Harvest reporting required within 24 hours via the Fish|Hunt FL app or FWC hotline.

DEER (Zone A / DMU A2 2025-2026): Archery season Oct. 17 – Nov. 15; Crossbow season Oct. 17 – Nov. 20 (antlerless allowed during archery/crossbow only); Muzzleloader season Nov. 21 – Dec. 4; General gun season Nov. 21–22 (very short, weekend only); Youth deer weekend Sept. 13–14 (DMU A2/A3). WMA quota permits required at Babcock/Webb and Dinner Island Ranch for most seasons — apply through FWC quota permit system. HOG: Feral hog hunting is available year-round on most WMAs in Zone A, including Babcock/Webb and Dinner Island Ranch; specific scheduled hog hunts (still and dog) are offered as part of area hunt calendars. No bag limit on hogs on private land; WMA-specific rules apply. TURKEY (Osceola): South of SR-70 spring turkey season — Youth weekend Feb. 27 – Mar. 2, 2026; Regular season Mar. 7 – Apr. 12, 2026. Quota permits required on most WMAs; approximately 40 WMAs statewide offer non-quota hunting for portions of the season. Bag limit: 2 gobblers per season. BEAR: DMU A2 is not part of the limited black bear hunting zones (D1 and D2 in north-central Florida); no bear season in A2.

Big-bodied flatwoods bucks on lightly pressured ranchland and WMA country. Dinner Island Ranch and Babcock/Webb both produce quality deer and exceptional hog hunting. Osceola turkey hunting south of SR-70 puts this DMU in prime turkey range with a long spring season. Year-round feral hog opportunity on WMAs provides off-season action. Accessible terrain — flat and open — suits all fitness levels.