Spring turkey hunting season has 2 new rules
News Release
Monday, February 14, 2011
Media contact: Tony Young, 850-488-7867
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) reminds hunters that there are changes this spring
turkey season.
Because of safety concerns among Florida's turkey
hunters, the FWC passed a rule that limits the methods of take
allowed during spring turkey hunts on wildlife management areas
(WMAs). The new rule restricts guns to shotguns and muzzleloading
shotguns (using shot no larger than No. 2) and allows bows and
crossbows. All rifles, pistols, buckshot and slugs are prohibited
during spring turkey hunts on WMAs.
The exceptions are on Joe Budd, Raiford and Santa
Fe Swamp, where muzzleloading rifles are still allowed because
spring turkey hunting on these areas is restricted to primitive
guns only.
This rule does not apply to turkey hunting on
private lands.
The second new rule established a special two-day
youth turkey hunt on private lands the weekend prior to the opening
of spring turkey season in each hunting zone. In Zone A (the
southern portion of Florida, south of State Road 70), this youth
turkey hunting weekend is Feb. 26-27. In the remainder of the
state, this special youth hunt is March 12-13.
Only those under 16 years old may harvest a turkey
while supervised by an adult, 18 years or older. And as long as the
adult supervisor doesn't actively participate in the hunt, no
license or permit is required for either youth or adult.
If the adult wants to help "call in" a turkey, set
out decoys or participate otherwise, he or she needs a hunting
license ($17 for residents, $46 for a 10-day nonresident license)
and turkey permit ($10 for residents, $125 for nonresidents).
Nevertheless, only the youth can pull the trigger. And any turkey
harvested counts toward the youth hunter's spring season limit of
two.
This spring, the youth turkey hunt applies only to
private property, the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Area, the Kissimmee
River Public Use Area and Lake Monroe WMA.
Persons with Disabilities