Season Dates and Bag Limits by Zone

2013-14 Season Dates | Hunting Zone Map

2013-2014 Florida Hunting Season Dates

Seasons and dates are not applicable to wildlife management areas and other lands managed by the Commission.

Species

Zone/
statewide

Archery Season (A)

Crossbow Season (C)

Muzzleloading Gun Season(M)

General Gun Season (D)

Deer (1)

Must have $5 Deer Permit as well as hunting license to hunt deer.

Zone A

Aug. 3 - Sep. 1

Antlered or antlerless deer by bow only

Aug. 3 - Sep. 1

Antlered or antlerless deer by crossbow or bow only

Sep. 2-6

Antlered deer only by crossbow or bow

Sept. 7-20

Antlered deer only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow

Sept. 21 - Oct. 20 and Nov. 23 - Jan. 5

Antlered deer entire season; antlerless deer may be taken Nov. 23-29 by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows (2)

Zone B

Oct. 19 - Nov. 17

Antlered or antlerless deer by bow only

Oct. 19 - Nov. 17

Antlered or antlerless deer by crossbow or bow only

Nov. 18-22

Antlered deer only by crossbow or bow

Nov. 23 - Dec. 6

Antlered deer only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow

Dec. 7 - Feb. 23

Antlered deer entire season; antlerless deer may be taken Dec. 26-Jan. 1 by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows

Zone C

Sept. 14 - Oct. 13

Antlered or antlerless deer by bow only

Sept. 14 - Oct. 13

Antlered or antlerless deer by crossbow or bow only

Oct. 14-18

Antlered deer only by crossbow or bow

Oct. 19 - Nov. 1

Antlered deer only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow

Nov. 2 - Jan. 19

Antlered deer entire season; antlerless deer may be taken Nov. 23-29 by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows

Zone D

Oct. 26 - Nov. 27

Antlered or antlerless deer by bow only

Oct. 26 - Nov. 27

Antlered or antlerless deer by crossbow or bow only

Dec. 2-6

Antlered deer only by crossbow or bow

Dec. 7-13 and Feb. 24 - Mar. 2

Antlered deer only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow

Nov. 28 - Dec. 1 and Dec. 14 - Feb. 23

Antlered deer entire season; antlerless deer may be taken Dec. 26-Jan. 1 by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows

Bag Limit

During Archery Season and first phase of Crossbow Season, daily bag limit is: 2 deer, either of which can be antlered or antlerless

During Antlerless Deer Season (Nov. 23-29 in zones A and C; Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 in zones B and D), daily bag limit is: 2 deer, only 1 of which may be antlerless

During all other seasons (including second phase of Crossbow Season), daily bag limit is 2 antlered deer, and antlerless deer may be taken by antlerless deer permit only.

Possession limit: 4 deer

Fall turkey (gobblers and bearded only) (T)

Zone A

Aug. 3 - Sep. 1

by bow only

Aug. 3 - Sep. 6

by crossbow or bow only

Sept. 7-20

by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only

Oct. 7-20 and Nov. 23 - Jan. 5

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone B

Oct. 19 - Nov. 17

by bow only

Oct. 19 - Nov. 22

by crossbow or bow only

Nov. 23 - Dec. 6

by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only

Dec. 7 - Feb. 2

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone C

Sept. 14 - Oct. 13

by bow only

Sept. 14 - Oct. 18

by crossbow or bow only

Oct. 19 - Nov. 1

by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only

Nov. 2 - Dec. 29

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone D (3)

Oct. 26 - Nov. 27

by bow only

Oct. 26 – Nov. 27 and Dec. 2-6

by crossbow or bow only

Dec. 7-13

by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only

Nov. 28 – Dec. 1 and Dec. 14 – Jan. 19

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Bag Limit

Fall turkey:

Daily bag limit: 1

Season and possession limit: 2 for all fall seasons combined

Quail (D)

Zone A

Aug. 3 - Sep. 1

by bow only

Aug. 3 - Sep. 6

by crossbow or bow only

Sept. 7-20

by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only

Nov. 9 - Mar. 2

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone B

Oct. 19 - Nov. 8

by bow only

Oct. 19 - Nov. 8

by crossbow or bow only

Nov. 9 - Mar. 2

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone C

Sep. 14 - Oct. 13

by bow only

Sep. 14 - Oct. 13

by crossbow or bow only

Oct. 19 - Nov. 1

by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only

Nov. 9 - Mar. 2

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone D

Oct. 26 - Nov. 8

by bow only

Oct. 26 - Nov. 8

by crossbow or bow only

Nov. 9 - Mar. 2

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Bag Limit

Quail:
Daily bag limit: 12
Possession Limit: 24

Gray Squirrel (D)

Zone A

Aug. 3 - Sep. 1

by bow only

Aug. 3 - Sep. 6

by crossbow or bow only

Sept. 7-20

by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only

Oct. 12 - Mar. 2

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone B

Oct. 12 - Mar. 2

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone C

Sept. 14- Oct. 11

by bow only

Sept. 14 - Oct. 11

by crossbow or bow only

Oct. 12 - Mar. 2

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone D

Oct. 12 - Mar. 2

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Bag Limit

Squirrel:
Daily bag limit: 12
Possession limit: 24

Spring turkey (gobblers and bearded only) (4)

Youth Spring Turkey Hunt (5)

Spring Turkey Season (T)

Zone A

Feb. 22-23

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Mar. 1 - Apr. 6

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zones B, C, D except Holmes County

March 8-9

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

March 15 - April 20

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Holmes County

March 8-9

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

March 15 - 30

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Bag Limit

Spring Turkey Daily bag limit: 1

Season and possession limit: 2 for spring season

Holmes Daily bag and season limit:1

Rabbit

Statewide

Year-round by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols (D)

Bag Limit:

Daily bag limit: 12
Possession limit: 24

Wild hog

Statewide

Year-round by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols. Hunting license not required. Wild hogs also may be trapped but cannot be transported alive without permit from the Florida Dept. of Agriculture at 850-410-0900. (D)

Bag Limit: No Limits

Bobcat (D)(F)

Otter (F)

Statewide

Dec. 1 - March 1

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Those with a hunting license may possess no more than 1 bobcat and 1 otter pelt between April 1 and Nov. 30, 2013, unless pelt has FWC tag. Also, otter and bobcat pelts may not be taken out of Florida unless tagged. Bobcats may be chased with dogs year-round.

Bobcat: No Limits

Otter: No Limits

Raccoon, opossum, coyote, beaver, skunk, nutria

Statewide

Year-round

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols (D)(F)

Hunting raccoons or opossums at night is allowed, but only .22-caliber rimfire firearms (other than .22-magnums) or single-shot .410-gauge shotguns (using shot not larger than size 6) may be used. Hunting raccoons or opossums by displaying or using lights from moving vehicles, vessels or animals is prohibited. It is illegal to transport wild-trapped live raccoons within, into or from the state, except by FWC permit or authorization.

Bag Limit: No limits on any species

Deer-dog training

Zone A

Aug. 17 - Sep. 5

Those with a hunting license may train or toughen free-running deer dogs on private property during daylight hours, after first registering (at no cost) the tract of land with the FWC. While training, all deer dogs must have their FWC-issued registration number, along with the owner’s name and address on their collars. Copies of the registration must be in the hunter’s possession when training deer dogs.

Zone B

Nov. 2-21

Zone C

Sept. 28 - Oct. 17

Zone D

Oct. 26 - Nov. 14

(A) Must have $5 Archery Season Permit as well as hunting license. It is prohibited to use bows equipped with sights or aiming devices with electronic computational capabilities or light (laser) projection during Archery Season.

(M) Must have $5 Muzzleloading Gun Season Permit as well as hunting license. The only muzzleloaders that can be used during Muzzleloading Gun Season are those that take black powder or a non-nitro-cellulose substitute and are fired by wheel lock, flintlock, percussion cap or centerfire primer (including 209 primers). Muzzleloaders using smokeless powder, those that can be loaded from the breech or those with self-contained cartridge ammunition capabilities are not legal during Muzzleloading Gun Season.

(D) Free-running dogs may be used for hunting but must wear collars listing the owner’s name and address. When using dogs to hunt deer on private property, hunters must first register with the FWC (at no cost) the tract of land they have permission to hunt, and all deer dogs must have their FWC-issued registration number on their collars. Copies of the registration also must be in hunter’s possession when using dogs to pursue deer.

(T) Must have Turkey Permit ($10 for residents, $125 for nonresidents) as well as hunting license to hunt turkeys.

(F) Furbearers may be taken with live traps and snares, but must have $26 Trapping License. Live traps and snares must be checked at least every 24 hours. Using or possessing steel or leg-hold traps where wildlife might be found is prohibited, unless authorized by permit from the FWC executive director. Trapping License also is required to sell hide and meat of furbearing mammals year-round, but otter and bobcat pelts may be sold to licensed fur dealers or agents from Dec. 1 through March 31 only. It is illegal to transport wild-trapped live raccoons within, into or from the state, except by FWC permit or authorization.

(1) Antlered deer –Deer having at least one antler 5 or more inches in length visible above the hairline. Antlerless deer –Deer (except spotted fawns) that do not have antlers or have antlers less than 5 inches in length. It is illegal to take spotted fawns.

(2) No antlerless deer may be taken on that portion of the eastern Everglades south of Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) and east of Everglades National Park; or in Collier County south of I-75 during Antlerless Deer Season.

(3) In Holmes County, there is no fall harvest of turkeys allowed.

(4) When hunting spring turkeys on wildlife management areas, only shotguns and muzzleloading shotguns using shot no larger in diameter than No. 2 may be used. Bows and crossbows, where allowed, also may be used. All rifles, pistols, buckshot and slugs are prohibited. This rule does not apply to hunting spring turkeys on private lands.

(5) Only youths under 16 years old are allowed to harvest a turkey while supervised by an adult, 18 years or older. However, adult supervisors with a hunting license and turkey permit are allowed to “call in” the turkey and otherwise participate in the hunt, but they are not permitted to harvest one. Any turkey harvested during the Youth Spring Turkey Hunt counts toward the youth hunter’s spring season limit of 2.