Florida has four distinct hunting zones: A, B, C, and D. Zone A includes the region south of State Road 70, which includes Lake Okeechobee. Zone B, including the Western Central part, is located north of Tampa. Zone C encircles Zone B as it stretches north of Zone A towards the panhandle. State Road 61 separates Zones D and C.
Everything you need to know about your outdoor trip is right here, including the most recent dates, game animals, bag limitations, and more.
Florida Hunting Seasons 2023-2024
Deer
Antlered
| Method (Antlered) | Zones | |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | A | 29-Jul- 27-Aug |
| B | 14-Oct - 12-Nov | |
| C | 16-Sep - 15-Oct | |
| D | 21-Oct - 22-Nov | |
| Crossbow | A | 29-Jul - 1-Sep |
| B | 14-Oct - 17-Nov | |
| C | 16-Sep - 20-Oct | |
| D | 21-Oct - 22-Nov | |
| D | 27-Nov - 1-Dec | |
| Muzzleloading gun | A | 2-Sep - 15-Sep |
| B | 18-Nov - 1-Dec | |
| C | 21-Oct - 3-Nov | |
| D | 2-Dec - 8-Dec | |
| D | 19-Feb - 25-Feb | |
| Youth deer hunt weekend | A | 9-Sep - 10-Sep |
| B | 25-Nov - 26-Nov | |
| C | 28-Oct - 29-Oct | |
| D | 2-Dec - 3-Dec | |
| General gun | A | 16-Sep - 15-Oct |
| A | 18-Nov - 7-Jan | |
| B | 2-Dec - 18-Feb | |
| C | 4-Nov - 21-Jan | |
| D | 23-Nov - 26-Nov | |
| D | 9-Dec - 18-Feb |
Antlerless
| Antlerless | Zone/DMU | |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | A2 | 29-Jul - 6-Aug |
| A3 | 29-Jul - 13-Aug | |
| B | 14-Oct - 12-Nov | |
| C | 16-Sep - 15-Oct | |
| D | 21-Oct - 22-Nov | |
| Crossbow | A2 | 29-Jul - 6-Aug |
| A3 | 29-Jul - 13-Aug | |
| B | 14-Oct - 12-Nov | |
| C | 16-Sep - 15-Oct | |
| D | 21-Oct - 22-Nov | |
| Youth deer hunt weekend | A2, A3 | 9-Sep - 10-Sep |
| B | 25-Nov - 26-Nov | |
| C | 28-Oct - 29-Oct | |
| D | 2-Dec - 3-Dec | |
| General gun | A2 | 18-Nov - 19-Nov |
| A3 | 18-Nov - 21-Nov | |
| B | 29-Dec - 31-Dec | |
| C1 | 17-Nov - 20-Nov | |
| C2 | 17-Nov - 19-Nov | |
| C3 | 17-Nov - 19-Nov | |
| C4 | 17-Nov - 20-Nov | |
| C5 | 4-Nov - 5-Nov | |
| C5 | 18-Nov - 19-Nov | |
| C6 | 17-Nov - 20-Nov | |
| D1 | 25-Nov - 26-Nov | |
| D1 | 30-Dec - 31-Dec | |
| D2 | 25-Nov - 26-Nov | |
| D2 | 16-Dec - 17-Dec | |
| D2 | 30-Dec - 31-Dec | |
| Muzzleloading gun | C5 | 21-Oct - 22-Oct |
| D2 | 2-Dec - 3-Dec |
Deer Dog Training Days
| Zones | |
|---|---|
| A | 12-Aug - 31-Aug |
| B | 28-Oct - 16-Nov |
| C | 30-Sep - 19-Oct |
| D | 28-Oct - 16-Nov |
Bag Limits
| Regular Bag Limit | ||
| Archery and Crossbow | 2 deer | Either antlered or antlerless |
| Muzzleloading Gun and General Gun (Antlerless) | 1 deer | Only 1 antlerless deer |
| Youth Deer Hunt Weekend | 1 deer | Counts towards annual bag limit |
| All Other Seasons | Only antlered deer | |
| Annual Bag Limit: | ||
| All Seasons | 5 deer | Only 2 can be antlerless |
| Youth Deer Hunt Weekend | 1 deer | Counts towards annual bag limit |
| Possession Limit: | ||
| All Seasons | 4 deer | |
Alligator
| Statewide Alligator Harvest Lottery permits | 15-Aug - 1-Nov | 2 alligators every season |
| Quota Week 1 | 15-Aug - 21-Aug | |
| Quota Week 2 | 22-Aug - 28-Aug | |
| Quota Week 3 | 5-Sep - 11-Sep | |
| Quota Week 4 | 12-Sep - 18-Sep |
Wild Hogs
| 1-Jan | 31-Dec | No limits |
Furbearers
Squirrel
| Gray Squirrel (Statewide) | 14-Oct - 3-Mar | 12 bag & 24 Possession Limits |
Bobcat
| Statewide | 1-Dec- 31-Mar | No bag & Possession Limits |
Otter
| Statewide | 1-Dec | 1-Mar | No bag & Possession Limits |
Rabbits
| Statewide | 1-Jan- 31-Dec | 12 bag & 24 Possession Limits |
Raccoons
| 1-Jan- 31-Dec | No bag & Possession Limits |
Opossums
| 1-Jan- 31-Dec | No bag & Possession Limits |
Skunks
| 1-Jan | 31-Dec | No bag & Possession Limits |
Nutrias
| 1-Jan- 31-Dec | No bag & Possession Limits |
Coyotes
| 1-Jan- 31-Dec | No bag & Possession Limits |
FL Migratory Birds Season
Coots
| 18-Nov - 26-Nov | 15 bag & 45 Possession Limits |
| 9-Dec - 28-Jan |
Duck
| Duck (W) | Teal and Wood Duck Only | Sept 16 - Sept 20 | 6 (including 2 Wood Ducks) |
| Teal Only | Sept 21 - Sept 24 | 6 | |
| General | Nov 18 - Nov 26 | 6 (including no more than 4 Mallards, 4 Sea Ducks, 3 Wood Ducks, 2 Redheads, 2 Black Ducks, 2 Canvasbacks, 1 Pintail, 1 Mottled Duck, and 1 Fulvous Whistling-Duck) | |
| General | Dec 9 - Jan 28 |
Merganser
| Common, Red-breasted, Hooded (W) | 18-Nov - 26-Nov | 5 bag & 15 Possession Limits |
| 9-Dec - 28-Jan | 5 bag & 15 Possession Limits |
Gallinule
| Common gallinule (Moorhen) | 1-Sep - 9-Nov | 15 bag & 45 Possession Limits |
Rail
| King and clapper | 1-Sep | 9-Nov | 15 bag & 45 Possession Limits |
| Sora and Virginia | 1-Sep | 9-Nov | 25 bag & 75 Possession Limits |
Snipe
| 1-Nov - 15-Feb | 8 bag & 24 Possession Limits |
Crow
| 12-Aug - 29-Oct | No bag & Possession Limits |
| 11-Nov - 18-Feb |
| Mourning and White-winged | 23-Sep - 15-Oct | 15 bag & 45 Possession Limits |
| 11-Nov - 3-Dec | ||
| 19-Dec - 31-Jan |
Woodcock
| 18-Dec - 31-Jan | No bag & Possession Limits |
Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunt
| Feb. 3 - Feb 4 |
Youth Waterfowl days
| 11-Nov |
| 10-Feb |
Quail
| Statewide | 11-Nov - 3-Mar | 12 bag & 24 Possession Limits |
Turkey
The Florida turkey season for 2023 is a great opportunity for hunters to bag a big gobbler in the sunshine state.
| Method | Zones | |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | A | 30-Jul - 28-Aug |
| B | 15-Oct - 13-Nov | |
| C | 17-Sep - 16-Oct | |
| D | 22-Oct - 23-Nov | |
| Crossbow | A | 30-Jul - 2-Sep |
| B | 15-Oct - 18-Nov | |
| C | 17-Sep - 21-Oct | |
| D | 22-Oct - 23-Nov | |
| D | 28-Nov - 2-Dec | |
| Muzzleloading Gun | A | 3-Sep - 16-Sep |
| B | 19-Nov - 2-Dec | |
| C | 22-Oct - 4-Nov | |
| D | 3-Dec - 9-Dec | |
| Fall Turkey | A | 3-Oct - 1-Oct |
| A | 19-Nov - 1-Jan | |
| B | 3-Dec - 29-Jan | |
| C | 5-Nov - 1-Jan | |
| D | 24-Nov - 27-Nov | |
| D | 10-Dec - 15-Jan |
Bag Limits
| Season | Daily Bag Limit | Maximum Bags Per Season | Approved Take Techniques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Season | 2 turkeys | 2 bags | Shotguns, rifles, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, pistols, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows |
| Spring Season | 2 turkeys | 2 turkeys | Shotguns, rifles, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, pistols, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows |
Game zone boundaries and maps.
FL Hunting Licenses & Permits
| License Type | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Resident | ||
| Gold Sportsman’s License | Annual | $100.00 |
| Youth Gold Sportsman’s License | $100.00 | |
| Military Gold Sportsman’s License | $20.00 | |
| Sportsman’s License | $80.50 | |
| Resident 64+ Silver Sportsman’s License | $13.50 | |
| Annual Hunting License | $17.00 | |
| Youth Hunting License | $17.00 | |
| Hunting/Freshwater Fishing Combination License | $32.50 | |
| Hunting/Freshwater/Saltwater Fishing Combination License | $48.00 | |
| Resident Persons with Disabilities Hunting/Fishing License | No Cost | Eligibility and application details available at MyFWC.com/ADA. |
| Florida Resident 65+ Hunting and Fishing License | No Cost | |
| Nonresident | ||
| Nonresident Annual Hunting License | Annual | $151.50 |
| Permits and Related Licenses (Resident and Nonresident) | ||
| Management Area Permit | Annual | $26.50 |
| Deer Permit | $5.00 | |
| Archery Season Permit | $5.00 | |
| Crossbow Season Permit | $5.00 | |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season Permit | $5.00 | |
| Turkey Permit (Resident) | $10.00 | |
| Turkey Permit (Nonresident) | $125.00 | |
| Florida Waterfowl Permit | $5.00 | |
| Migratory Bird Permit | Seasonal | No Cost |
| Federal Duck Stamp | Annual | $28.50 |
| Furbearer Trapping License | $26.50 | |
| Lifetime Licenses | ||
| Lifetime Sportsman’s License | Lifetime | Varies |
| Lifetime Hunting License | Varies | |
Chronic Wasting Disease
| Florida Chronic Wasting Disease | Details |
|---|---|
| What is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)? | CWD is a fatal neurological infection affecting deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer, and moose. |
| CWD Transmission | It is caused by abnormal prion proteins that lead to brain damage, resulting in abnormal behavior, emaciation, and death. |
| CWD in Florida 2023 | In June, a 4-year-old female deer in Holmes County, Florida, tested positive for CWD, the first known case in the state. |
| Other Affected Areas (States and Provinces) | CWD has been reported in several U.S. states and Canadian provinces, including Alberta, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. |
| Human Transmission Risk | No reported cases of CWD in humans, but studies suggest a potential risk to certain non-human primates. |
| Prevention Measures | Hunters in CWD-affected areas should consider testing harvested animals, avoid consuming infected meat, and follow specific handling procedures. |
| Signs of CWD in Deer | Infected animals may appear normal for an extended period, followed by extreme weight loss, abnormal behavior, and death. |
| CWD Treatment and Decontamination | There is no known cure for CWD, and decontaminating the environment is difficult and largely ineffective. |
| CWD Management Zone (Florida) | FWC established a CWD Management Zone, including parts of Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties in Florida. |
| Mechanisms of CWD Transmission | Transmission primarily occurs from animal to animal, with minimal risk of transmission from mother to fetus. CWD agent can be present in various bodily fluids. |
| Transport Restrictions | All states with CWD cases have transport restrictions in counties where the disease is reported. |
| Live Animal Testing for CWD | Currently, there is no practical live animal test for CWD diagnosis; it is diagnosed postmortem. |
| Incubation Period | The incubation period is approximately 16 months to 3 years, with clinical signs typically appearing late in the disease cycle. |
| Fatality Rate | CWD is always fatal once an animal is infected, with death occurring within months of clinical signs. |
| Prion Disease in Humans | Prion diseases in humans include Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, and others. |
| Human Exposure to CWD | While no strong evidence of CWD transmission to humans exists, human exposure to the infectious agent should be avoided. |
| CWD Hotline (Florida) | To report sick or suspicious deer, call the CWD hotline at 866-CWD-WATCH (866-293-9282). |
CWD Management Update 2023 by FWC
| CWD Management Update 2023 | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Release | 15-Sep-23 |
| Issuing Agency | Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) |
| CWD Confirmation in Holmes County | A single positive test sample for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in June 2023 |
| Purpose of Executive Order | Implement management actions to prevent the spread of CWD in Florida deer |
| Existing Regulations | • Establishment of the CWD Management Zone • Baiting and feeding restrictions • Prohibition of rehabilitating or releasing injured or orphaned deer • Export restrictions on high-risk deer parts |
| New Regulations | • Deer taken between Dec. 9-10, 2023, in Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties must be checked at FWC check stations. • Deer Management Unit (DMU) D2 allows antlerless deer take during the antlered deer open season. • Antlerless deer take allowed in Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties within DMU D1 (excluding commission-managed areas) from Dec. 9-10, 2023. |
| Public Feedback Meetings | Two further public sessions in Bonifay and Marianna to debate and receive comment on the new guidelines will be aired on The Florida Channel. |
| Importance of Early Detection and Control of CWD | Due of CWD prions' environmental persistence, prompt action is needed to avoid infection. |
| Reporting Sick or Dead Deer | Report ill, emaciated, or dead deer to the CWD hotline at 866-CWD-WATCH (866-293-9282). |
| Human and Livestock Safety Concerns | CWD has not been shown to spread naturally to people or cattle, although care is urged. The CDC advises against eating CWD-positive or ill animal meat. Handling exposed deer requires care. |
| Collaborative Efforts for CWD Control | The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Department of Health, CDC, and Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study work with FWC. |
| Additional Information | Regular updates available at MyFWC.com/CWD. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the year-round hunting opportunities in Florida?
Wild or feral pigs, the second most frequent animal killed in Florida, are one of the year-round game options there. It is crucial to remember that wild pig hunting is only permitted on privately owned property with the landowner’s permission and may be taken by any authorized weapon, including rifles, shotguns, crossbows, bows, pistols, spears, or air guns.
Is it required to wear deer tags in Florida?
It is mandatory to wear a deer tag in Florida. All antlerless animals taken in areas covered by the Antlerless Deer Permit Program must be identified with a special antlerless deer tag. Even if the harvest occurs on a day when taking antlerless deer is typically permitted, this criterion still applies. Ensuring adherence to this tagging technique helps efficiently manage and oversee the antlerless deer hunt in the allocated areas.
Is hunting permitted on Sundays in Florida?
All species are permitted to take on Sundays in Florida on private property, except bear and turkey in Game Zones 1 and 2, where it is illegal. This implies that, except for specified Game Zones, individuals may engage in hunting activities on Sundays across most of the state.
Can pythons be hunted in Florida?
Yes, pythons can be hunted in Florida; Private and Commission-managed properties allow python hunting without a permit. Python bags are unlimited. Since live transit is prohibited, pythons must be killed on-site. The FWC advocates private land python capture and humane death. The annual Florida Python Challenge® awards cash prizes to those who remove the most pythons from public lands.
Is Alligator hunting permitted in Florida?
Yes, alligator hunting is permitted in Florida and schedule for that is August 15–November 1. It requires a Statewide Alligator Harvest Permit and a current Alligator Trapping License to participate. Lottery-issued licenses are few. The FWC website accepts permit applications for the season until June 15. Visit the Alligator Hunting website for additional information and the Statewide Alligator Permit page to learn more about it.
When does the Florida Hunting Season start and end?
From September to January, the Deer game takes place. In September, there are archery and crossbow activities, and in November, there are muzzleloading gun and general gun experiences. In late November, there is a special young deer activities weekend. March has a youth turkey weekend that takes place throughout the turkey season. The period for duck and teal sightings go from September to February. Hog are scheduled for January, while bear encounters are scheduled for October through November.
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