Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area is the closest large public hunting ground to Fort Myers and Punta Gorda. FWC describes it as about 15 miles northwest of Fort Myers, or five miles from Punta Gorda, and says it covers 75,000 acres (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026).
FWC says the area is popular with hunters from all over south Florida, with peak use during the general gun season quota hunt. It lists these seasons (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026):
FWC adds that deer and northern bobwhite populations are on the rise after habitat management. Its hog page ranks Babcock/Webb among the top Southwest Region areas by harvest, behind Green Swamp and Green Swamp West (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026).
Non-exempt hunters must apply for and hold a quota permit to hunt during archery and general gun seasons (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). Quail can be hunted across most of the area with first-come, first-served daily quail quota permits.
The posted 2026-2027 application windows for statewide quota hunts, which cover archery and general gun, were (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026):
Those windows have closed as of this post. The leftovers phase is the only one that could still have permits, and I did not check availability. FWC’s WMA hunt calendar shows each year’s hunt days.
Babcock/Webb’s page also names the 885-acre Punta Gorda Water Treatment Facility Public Small Game Hunting Area. Dove hunts and wild hog management hunts there require quota hunt permits (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026).
To hunt a WMA you need a hunting license and a management area permit, and often other permits depending on species and season (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). The management area permit is $26.50 annual, and the resident hunting license is $17.00 annual. FWC’s Babcock/Webb page also says a Daily-Use Permit is required to enter the area unless you have a Wildlife Management Area Permit, and it does not list the daily fee on the page I fetched.
During scheduled hunt days FWC encourages all visitors to wear daylight fluorescent orange.
This is the rule that gets people in trouble. FWC says ORV use and damage on Babcock/Webb have increased sharply over the past 10 years, citing modified trucks, side-by-sides and large swamp buggies (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). Its guidance is to stay on the road when taking part in a hunting season that allows ORV use, and to follow all rules. Persons who damage habitat, state property, gates or fences are subject to arrest. FWC’s page says “No Vehicles Beyond This Point” signs are often ignored and that officer presence is increasing. Report violations to the Wildlife Alert Hotline: 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
Which seasons allow ORV use, and which vehicles, is in the area’s regulations brochure, which I could not read. Do not rely on a forum post for it.
Primitive sites at the Webb Lake campground are available during hunting seasons. Outside them, camping is allowed weekends from 5 p.m. Friday to 9 p.m. Sunday and on four holidays. Camping is prohibited on the Yucca Pens Unit, and all campers need a free permit through the online reservation system (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). Webb Lake is 395 acres, with three boat ramps and no gasoline-powered motors. The Cecil M. Webb Shooting Range, open in daylight only, is on the area.
Babcock/Webb, including the Yucca Pens Unit, is on FWC’s list of Commission-managed lands where nonnative reptiles like pythons can be humanely killed year-round with no license or permit, under Executive Order 23-16 (FWC python page, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). See our python post for details.
FWC’s brochure search tool did not load for me. Specific access gate locations, the exact hunt dates, ORV vehicle limits and bag limits are therefore unverified here. FWC says to select an entrance on its entrance finder map for directions. Start there and with the brochure for both the main unit and the Yucca Pens Unit.