Hunting Big Cypress means following two sets of rules. The land is Big Cypress National Preserve, run by the National Park Service. The hunting is run as Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area, managed cooperatively with FWC.
FWC says Big Cypress WMA consists of over 728,000 acres of the Big Cypress National Preserve, which spans parts of Collier, Dade and Monroe counties and borders Everglades National Park. The Oasis Visitor Center is on Tamiami Trail (US 41) midway between Naples and Miami (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026).
NPS says the preserve offers seasonal hunting for archery, muzzleloading and general gun, each with its own dates and rules, and that game commonly pursued includes white-tailed deer, wild turkey and wild hog (NPS, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). It says regulations change annually and refers hunters to FWC for licenses, permits, season dates and current regulations.
NPS also lists two things that are off the table:
The state side follows FWC’s license page: to hunt a WMA you need a hunting license and a management area permit, plus species and season permits as they apply (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). The resident hunting license is $17.00 annual and the management area permit is $26.50 annual. FWC’s Big Cypress page says its regulations summary brochure holds the area map, hunting seasons, permits, fees, dog rules and area regulations. That brochure is where hunt dates and any quota requirements live, and I could not load it for this post.
Hunters in Big Cypress often use ORVs on designated trails, and NPS regulates that itself (NPS, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026):
NPS handles ORV permit renewal on Recreation.gov.
FWC lists Big Cypress WMA among 32 Commission-managed lands where nonnative reptiles such as Burmese pythons may be humanely killed at any time with no license or permit, no bag limit, as long as area rules and Executive Order 23-16 are followed (FWC, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). Live transport is not allowed. Our python post covers the specifics.
NPS treats its ORV rules as the preserve’s own. They include the 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. trail hours and the requirement to enter only through designated gates, and they apply on top of anything in FWC’s brochure (NPS, retrieved Oct. 1, 2026). NPS also says the Superintendent’s Compendium holds the inspection requirements. A person who did not buy a permit through Recreation.gov but wants to operate an ORV must still review the educational materials and keep a signed Operator License in their possession while operating. Park staff and law enforcement may inspect that document at any time.
Backcountry travel in Big Cypress is demanding. FWC itself notes that winter has fewer bugs and lower water, which is why hunters pick that stretch. Tell someone your route and carry a map, because FWC says it publishes one and the NPS publishes trail maps by unit.