Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area

Managed in cooperation with the Florida Forest Service.

Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area is located east of Avon Park in Polk County, five miles south of Frostproof. Part of the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, this area was purchased to protect numerous rare and endangered plants and animals.

Hunting

Quota hunts take place on limited days. They include seasons for archery, muzzleloading gun and spring turkey. For more information on hunting at this WMA, see FWC’s regulations brochure for Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area.

Fishing

Lake Arbuckle adjoins the area, and fishing and canoeing may be enjoyed on the lake year-round. A fishing license is required. For more information, see FWC's freshwater fishing regulations.

Camping

Camping is permitted at designated sites. Camping reservations can be made through Reserve America. Hunt camp campsites do not require a reservation. Fees are required for all campsites on the WMA. For more information, call the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest at 863-589-0545 or visit the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest web page.

Recreation

For information on horseback riding, hiking and other recreation, visit the Florida Forest Service's webpage for Lake Wales Ridge State Forest.

Wildlife

Arbuckle WMA is a Great Florida Birding Trail site. Short-tailed hawks may be observed on the Paula Dockery Trail, and at Lake Arbuckle visitors will see wading birds, bald eagles, limpkins and ospreys. Arbuckle occupies a high ridge of ancient sand dunes and contains fast-disappearing pine and oak scrub, a habitat that is home to Florida scrub-jays and gopher tortoises. Other plant communities found here include pine flatwoods, sandhill and bottomland hardwoods along streams and creeks.

Add your bird observations to the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest: Arbuckle Tract eBird Hotspot.

More Information

View FWC's regulations summary brochure for Arbuckle WMA for an area map, hunting seasons, permits, fees and area regulations.