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NEW CROSSBOW SEASON GIVES HUNTERS MORE
OPPORTUNITY
October 2, 2006
Contact: Tony Young (850) 488-7867
Crossbow hunters and bowhunters will be happy to
know the new crossbow season is just around the corner.
The new season, established for this year,
provides additional opportunities for hunters wishing to use
crossbows. It also lengthens the overall hunting season and
extends the number of days conventional bowhunters can use their
bows, since bows now are legal for taking game during all
hunting seasons.
The added season is limited to private lands and
restricts harvest to bucks only. Crossbow season does not apply
to wildlife management areas.
The season is between the archery season and
muzzleloading gun season in the South and Central hunting zones.
Crossbow season lasts five days and runs Oct. 9-13 in the South
Hunting Zone and Oct. 23-27 in the Central Zone.
In the Northwest Hunting Zone, the season runs
one week: from the Monday following Thanksgiving (Nov. 27)
through Dec. 3.
The most common game to take during crossbow
season are deer, wild hogs and bearded turkeys.
Only bucks with at least one antler five inches
or more in length can be taken, and the daily bag limit is two.
Antlerless deer may be taken only by hunters holding antlerless
deer permits.
On private lands, there are no bag or size
limits on wild hogs and, with landowner permission, they can be
taken year-round.
Only one turkey may be taken per day, and there
is a two-bird fall-season limit. Turkeys may not be harvested in
Holmes County during any fall season, including crossbow season.
Hunters cannot use dogs during crossbow season
to take deer, hogs or turkeys, and when hunting such game,
broadheads must have at least two sharpened edges with a minimum
width of 7/8 inch.
Besides a Florida hunting license, hunters must
purchase a $5 crossbow season permit to hunt during crossbow
season. Hunters holding a sportsman’s, gold sportsman’s,
military gold sportsman’s or sportsman’s 64 license do not need
to buy the crossbow season permit if their license runs through
the season.
For more information on the new crossbow season,
call Tony Young at (850) 488-7867 or visit
MyFWC.com/hunting.
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