DMU D1, Florida

Longleaf pine flatwoods, sandhill uplands, river floodplain swamps, and coastal hardwood hammocks. Major river drainages include the Escambia, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, and Holmes/Choctaw rivers. Soils are sandy and well-drained on the uplands; bottomlands hold dense hardwood cover. Habitat quality is high — longleaf pine restoration on Eglin and Blackwater has created excellent browse and mast production.

Moderate. Eglin AFB and Blackwater draw the most hunters but their sheer size disperses pressure well. Smaller WMAs and quota-only areas can feel crowded during peak general gun weeks. River-bottom tracts see lighter pressure due to access difficulty.

Annual bag limit is 5 deer, of which no more than 2 may be antlerless. Antlerless deer may be taken throughout the entire deer season in DMU D1 (no special permit required for antlerless on private land). On WMAs, consult individual area brochures — some WMAs have additional antlerless restrictions. Antler restriction: to be legal, an antlered deer must have at least one antler 5 inches or longer with at least 2 points (each point 1 inch or more). Youth hunters 15 and under may harvest one antlered deer per season meeting only the 5-inch antler length rule.

DEER — Archery: Oct 25–Nov 26; Crossbow: Oct 25–Nov 26 and Dec 1–5; Muzzleloader: Dec 6–12 and Feb 23–Mar 1; General gun: Nov 27–30 and Dec 13–Feb 22. Season runs into late February, one of the longest deer seasons in the Southeast. Rut activity in DMU D1 typically peaks November through January. HOG — Wild hogs are present throughout the unit and may be taken year-round on most WMAs during open hunting seasons; no bag limit. On Eglin, hogs may be taken during any open hunting season with the appropriate license and Eglin permit. TURKEY — Spring season (Zone D, north of SR 70): opens approximately March 21, closes approximately April 26. Only bearded turkeys or gobblers are legal. Quota permits required on many WMAs for spring turkey. Fall turkey season also available during general gun and archery seasons. BEAR — West Panhandle Bear Management Unit (~120 bears) includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, and Washington counties. This unit was NOT open to bear hunting in the 2025 season (only East Panhandle, North, Central, and South zones were open). Hunters should monitor FWC announcements for future bear season openings in this zone.

World-class longleaf pine public land hunting on Eglin AFB and Blackwater — some of the largest contiguous public hunting blocks in the Southeast. Extended deer season running from late October through late February. Strong turkey population with a late-opening Zone D spring season aligned to Panhandle gobbler activity. Year-round hog hunting on WMAs. Black bear present in the unit (West Panhandle BMU, ~120 bears); no bear season open in this zone as of 2025-26 but population is monitored. Excellent RCW and native ecosystem habitat on Eglin and Blackwater make for outstanding wildlife diversity.