Youth Waterfowl Hunting

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

In addition to the FWC’s Special September and regular duck seasons, there are two designated statewide Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. These days are placed to offer youth hunters the best opportunity for a successful hunt. For the 2024-2025 season, the first one occurs Nov. 16, 2024 (the Saturday before the opening of the regular duck season). The other is Feb. 8, 2025, which is the second Saturday after the regular duck season closes.

Where to Hunt

Youth can hunt on private property with landowner permission and on most waterbodies that have public access (public boating landing/launch). Some public waterbodies may be closed or have restrictions so check with local law enforcement agencies or FWC regional offices prior to hunting on public waterbodies. 

The FWC also offers youth hunts at T.M. Goodwin Public Small Game Hunting Area, stormwater treatment areas (STA-1W, STA 2 and STA 3/4), Guana River - Lake Ponte Vedra PSGHA, Ocklawaha Prairie, Emeralda Marsh, and A-1 FEB Impoundment PSGHA.

Special events will be held at T.M. Goodwin, STA 1W, and Guana River - Lake Ponte Vedra hunt. These fun, family-oriented events include raffles, free food and great waterfowl hunting. For more information about the T.M. Goodwin PSGHA and STA-1W hunts, call 321-726-2862. For information on the Guana River - Lake Ponte Vedra hunt, call 904-825-6877.

Regulations Information

Only youth 15-years-old and younger are allowed to hunt ducks, light geese, Canada geese, mergansers, coots and common gallinules (moorhens), while supervised by a nonhunting adult 18 years old or older. No license or permit is required of the youth or supervising adult. However, if adult supervisors accompanying youth hunters plan to assist with activities such as setting out decoys, calling, and retrieving harvested birds, they must have a hunting license and required permits (unless exempt). Adult supervisors may not harvest or attempt to harvest waterfowl.

Bag and possession limits for each waterfowl species are the same as during the regular season. Shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset. All shotguns must be plugged to a 3-shell capacity, and only nontoxic (steel, iron, bismuth-tin, tungsten-alloy) shot maybe be used or in your possession. It is important to note that adults are not allowed to do the shooting; only the kids may harvest waterfowl during the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.

See season dates for Florida Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days and other migratory birds.