Hunting Regulations in Florida
Season dates, bag limits, license fees, and tips — updated 2026-03-05
Always verify current regulations before hunting. Regulations change frequently. Visit the official Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website for the most up-to-date rules, emergency closures, and special regulations.
🎫 Hunting License Fees
2025–2026Resident License
Non-Resident License
Senior Discount
Youth
Hunting license required for ages 16+. Residents 65+ may hunt license-free with valid ID. Wild turkey permit required ($10 resident / $10 nonresident) for spring and fall turkey. Antlerless deer management hunts require special quota permits on WMAs. HIP registration and Federal Duck Stamp required for waterfowl. Mandatory harvest reporting for deer and turkey via GoOutdoorsFlorida app or phone. Florida Management Area permit required for hunting on WMAs ($26.50/year).
🦌 Season Dates & Bag Limits
| Species | Season | Bag Limit | Size Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer – Archery (Zone A) | August 2, 2025 – August 31, 2025 | 1 antlered buck per day (zone-specific antlered/antlerless limits apply annually) | Antlered deer: minimum 5 inches on at least one antler (statewide); WMA-specific restrictions may differ | Zone A early archery is unique to Florida's panhandle and north Florida — one of the earliest deer seasons in the nation. Crossbow season opens concurrently. Mandatory harvest reporting within 24 hours via app. |
| White-tailed Deer – Muzzleloader (Zone A) | September 6, 2025 – September 19, 2025 | Per zone annual limits | Antlered deer minimum antler restriction | Muzzleloader season runs approximately two weeks between archery and general gun seasons in Zone A. Inlines and scopes are permitted. |
| White-tailed Deer – General Gun (Zone A) | September 20, 2025 – January 4, 2026 | 2 antlered bucks per day; zone annual limits apply | Antlered deer minimum restriction | Zone A general gun season runs Sept 20 – Oct 19 and Nov 22 – Jan 4. Florida has multiple deer zones (A-F) with different season dates. Zones C and D (Central/South Florida) open later, typically late October through January. |
| Wild Turkey – Spring | March 7, 2026 (south of SR 70); March 14, 2026 (north Florida) – April 12, 2026 (south of SR 70); April 19, 2026 (north Florida) | 2 gobblers per season (1 per day) | Gobblers only (or bearded hens in some cases) | Youth turkey weekend: Feb 27 – March 2, 2026 (south of SR 70). Wild turkey permit ($10) required. Florida's Osceola subspecies — one of the Grand Slam four — is unique to the state and drives significant hunting tourism. Osceola range limited to peninsula south of I-10. |
| Wild Turkey – Fall | October 4, 2025 (varies by zone and WMA) – November 23, 2025 (varies) | 1 either-sex | Either sex | Fall turkey season is WMA-specific in most of Florida. Either-sex harvest. Shotgun and archery. Check individual WMA regulations as fall turkey is not uniformly available statewide. |
| Waterfowl / Duck | November 2025 (federal framework dates) – January 2026 | 6 ducks per day (species limits apply) | None | HIP registration and Federal Duck Stamp required. Florida hosts significant wintering waterfowl on the Gulf Coast, panhandle lakes, and freshwater marshes. Mottled duck (Florida's native resident duck) has special season restrictions — only 2 per day. |
| Mourning Dove | September 6, 2025 – November 16, 2025 | 15 per day | None | Three-split season structure. HIP registration required. Florida's agricultural fields in the Glades area, Highlands County, and Panhandle are top dove hunting destinations. White-winged dove is also huntable in some areas. |
| Wild Hog | Year-round | No statewide limit | None | Wild hogs are classified as a nuisance species in Florida and may be hunted year-round on private land. WMAs have specific seasons and limits. Night hunting permitted on private land. Florida has one of the largest feral hog populations in the country. |
| Small Game – Rabbit / Squirrel | October 4, 2025 – March 1, 2026 | Rabbit: 6 per day; Squirrel: 12 per day | None | Gray and fox squirrel seasons vary by zone. Rabbit (marsh and cottontail) seasons run through March 1. Swamp rabbit hunting in the panhandle is especially popular with dog hunters. |
| Osceola Wild Turkey (Special WMA hunts) | March 7, 2026 – April 19, 2026 | 1 gobbler per quota permit | Gobblers only | Osceola turkey WMA quota hunts are among the most sought-after draws in Florida. Apply through GoOutdoorsFlorida. Hunting the native Osceola subspecies on public land is a challenging and rewarding experience on WMAs like Three Lakes, Ocala National Forest, and Fisheating Creek. |
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com). Last updated: 2026-03-05. Regulations may have changed — always verify with the official agency.
About Hunting in Florida
Florida presents one of the most unique hunting environments in the United States — a subtropical peninsula where white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and massive wild hogs share habitat with alligators, black bears, and the Florida panther. The state's Zone system divides hunting seasons into distinct geographic areas, with the earliest archery deer seasons in North America opening in Zone A as early as August. Florida's prized Osceola wild turkey — one of the four turkey subspecies comprising the Grand Slam — attracts hunters from across the country each spring to the palmetto prairies and cypress swamps of central Florida.
Florida's public land hunting through the WMA system provides over 5.7 million acres of opportunity, making it one of the more generous states for public-land hunters. Mandatory harvest reporting through the GoOutdoorsFlorida app gives wildlife managers real-time data to refine seasons and bag limits. Wild hogs, classified as a nuisance species, can be hunted year-round on private land without limits — providing year-round adventure for Florida residents and visitors alike.
Best Times to Hunt in Florida
🌱 Spring
March through April is the signature Osceola turkey season — one of the most unique hunting experiences in North America. Spring wildflowers and mild temperatures make the palmetto prairies spectacular.
☀️ Summer
Summer in Florida is intense heat — but wild hog hunting continues year-round and is best done at night or very early morning. Scouting for fall deer season is productive during summer evenings.
🍂 Fall
Zone A archery opens August 2 and general gun begins in late September — the earliest firearms deer seasons in the Southeast. Dove hunting opens in September and waterfowl arrives in November.
❄️ Winter
December through January brings peak waterfowl migration, late-season deer hunting in central and south Florida zones, and excellent wild hog action during cooler temperatures.
🎯 Expert Hunting Tips for Florida
- For Osceola turkey, focus on the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park and Three Lakes WMA in Osceola County — these open palmetto flats hold high gobbler densities and minimal hunting pressure compared to private operations.
- Early archery deer in Zone A (panhandle) opens August 2 — hunt afternoons over water sources and persimmon trees during the extreme summer heat before dawn hunts become practical.
- Wild hog hunting near the Myakka River State Park region and Fisheating Creek WMA offers year-round action with large-bodied hogs and excellent public access on horseback or ATV.
- Florida waterfowl hunting peaks in December and January on the panhandle lakes — rent a jonboat for teal and ringneck ducks on Lake Seminole and the Apalachicola River floodplain.
🏛️ Official Wildlife Agency
🗺️ Nearby States (Southeast)
Also available: Fishing Regulations in Florida — season dates, bag limits, size limits, and license info.