Camp Blanding Wildlife Management Area is a very different kind of public wildland: its pine flatwoods, sandhills and Black Creek headwaters share space with an active military training installation. That means a beautiful day of birding or hiking starts with more preparation than simply pulling into a trailhead.
As of September 1, 2026, every Camp Blanding WMA visitor—including wildlife viewers, hikers, anglers and quota-hunt permit holders—must have a recreational access permit through the Camp Blanding iSportsman portal before entering. The system is a military-access requirement; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission still sets the WMA’s hunting, fishing and area-use rules.
Start your iSportsman account well ahead of your visit
First, create a free account in Camp Blanding’s iSportsman portal and select your visitor status carefully. Civilian and DoD-dependent users must complete the required FDLE background-check process. Visitors age 17 and under still need their own iSportsman accounts and permits, but do not undergo the background check. Guests are not simply covered by another person’s account: each guest must register, complete the applicable steps and obtain the no-cost guest pass.
While a background check is pending, complete the required Camp Blanding safety tasks, including the UXO (unexploded ordnance) safety briefing and background-check acknowledgment. Do not wait until the morning you hope to hike. A permit may not appear for purchase until the background check, safety briefs and required account details are complete.
Once approved, acquire the permit that matches your activity. The General WMA Access permit includes Florida Trail access. There is also a Florida Trail-only option, but that limited permit does not authorize wandering elsewhere in the WMA. Permit fees and categories are displayed in iSportsman; purchases are nonrefundable, so make sure you have selected the right access option before checking out.
Do not skip the in-person pass step
After completing the online process, visit the Provost Marshal Office at the Main Gate welcome center to have your WMA pass made. Bring an unexpired government-issued ID; a driver license, passport, birth certificate, school ID or military ID is accepted for verification. Visitors who choose a status other than “Civilian or DoD Dependent” should also be ready to show the supporting credential for that status.
The office’s listed hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 904-682-3566 before making the trip to confirm staff are available to print cards. This is especially important for weekend visitors: handle the card step on a weekday before your planned outing.
Build your vehicle pass, then check the map
Add the vehicle you will use to your iSportsman account and print your permits. The second page is the vehicle pass, which must be displayed on the dashboard. If it does not generate, revisit the vehicle section of your account and make sure a default vehicle has been selected. You can add more than one vehicle, but print a pass for the vehicle you are actually driving that day.
Next, check iSportsman’s Area Status, interactive map and alerts—not just once when planning, but again immediately before leaving home. Camp Blanding WMA covers more than 56,000 acres, but some acreage is permanently unavailable because of military operations. Training and security needs can also close individual zones or the entire WMA with little notice. On the iSportsman map and status list, areas shown in red are closed for military-training conflicts. A valid permit never overrides a posted or online closure.
Check in and out correctly
iSportsman is also used to document where visitors are recreating. Follow the portal’s check-in instructions for the zone you will use. At walk-in access points, check into the zone before entering. Where an FWC check station is operating, every visitor—including children and guests—must show the Camp Blanding WMA badge; follow the station’s directions before proceeding to the relevant zone. On the way out, leave through the appropriate gate or check station first, then check out in iSportsman.
Plan like you are visiting a working WMA
Wildlife viewing and hiking are allowed only in areas open for recreation. The WMA’s mature pines can support red-cockaded woodpeckers, while the southern sandhills are good country for deer and turkey—but this is not an off-leash dog park or a backcountry campground. Dogs are prohibited for non-hunting uses, camping and ATVs are prohibited, and the artillery impact area is strictly off-limits. Do not assume the pass provides access to Kingsley Lake; it applies to the WMA and includes Lowry and Magnolia lakes, not Kingsley Lake.
Before choosing a route, read the current Camp Blanding WMA regulations brochure and map, particularly during hunting seasons. Roads, entry points, vehicle rules and recreation access can differ by season and zone. Practical takeaway: get your card and dashboard pass in advance, then make the Area Status page your final stop before every Camp Blanding visit.
