Introduction to Special-Opportunity Hunts

Office of Licensing and Permitting
Florida Quota Hunt
(850) 488-3641

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has scheduled some special hunting opportunities for sportsmen. These special-opportunity hunts make available large areas with lots of game and low hunter quotas and provide excellent opportunities to bag trophy deer, wild hogs, quail, wild turkeys or doves. Hunters looking for a truly "special" hunt with a high chance of seeing and bagging game should look no further.

If this type of hunting sounds exciting to you, read on for application and permit information.

Permit application periods

Deer, Hog, Quail and Turkey Hunts

Typically the demand for the deer, hog, quail and turkey hunts is greater than the number of slots available, so a random drawing is conducted to select hunters. Hunters can submit as many applications as they want, and many hunters increase their chances by submitting several applications for their dream hunt. There is a $5 non-refundable application fee that must be submitted with each separate application.

Successful applicants will be mailed an invoice with a deadline for purchasing their special-opportunity permit. If the selected applicant does not purchase the special-opportunity permit by the deadline, the FWC will offer the permit to another randomly selected applicant.

Dove Hunts

Quality dove hunting opportunities are in high demand, but are often hard to find. That's why the FWC is proud of its successful efforts to deliver great dove hunting opportunities at sites throughout the state. The friendly social atmosphere surrounding dove hunts is the perfect setting for friends and family, including youngsters, to hunt together. Why choose a special-opportunity dove hunt? Because these hunts open the gates to larger areas with lots of game and low hunter quotas.

Buy a special-opportunity dove club (annual) permit for $150 and save more than 50 percent over the cost of purchasing daily permits for an entire hunting season. These non-transferable permits enable the holder and a youth (under age 16) to participate in all scheduled hunts for a particular field, usually, six to eight hunts per dove field over the course of the three phases of the dove season. When an adult hunter with a club permit is accompanied by a youth, they both may take a bag limit. Dove club permit applications will be available in July. Starting the 2010-2011 hunting season, all of the Dove Club and Daily Dove Permits will be issued as random drawing instead of a first-come, first-served (FCFS). 

Special-opportunity daily dove hunt permits are available two weeks before the opening day of the first phase of the dove season. A $45.50 combination (youth/adult) permit allows an adult and a youth (under age 16) to hunt together on a half-day hunt and for each to harvest a daily bag limit of birds. A $35.50 special-opportunity daily dove permit enables an adult and a minor (under age16) to hunt together, but only permits one daily bag limit of birds to be harvested between them. Beginning in late September, up-to-date information on dove field conditions and dove densities can be found at the Dove Hunter's Hotline.

These special-opportunity hunts are provided in cooperation with the Florida Division of Forestry, Manatee County, South Florida Water Management District, South West Florida Water Management District and the St. Johns River Water Management District. The FWC is very appreciative of their cooperation and support for these truly special hunts.