General Information
Find Florida migratory bird hunting regulations including season dates, bag limits, shooting hours and more.
The possession of a hunting license does not authorize a person to trespass onto private land. Obtain landowner’s permission before entering private land. Trespassing while possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon is a felony punishable by imprisonment up to five years and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
It is illegal in Florida for convicted felons to possess firearms, including muzzleloading guns, unless they have had their civil rights restored or the firearm qualifies as an antique firearm under Florida Statute 790.001(1). Properly licensed convicted felons may hunt with bows, crossbows, air guns or antique firearms per Florida Statute 790 during hunting seasons when such devices are legal for taking game. The 2015 Florida Statutes Title XLVI, Section, 790.001(1) states "Antique firearm means any firearm manufactured in or before 1918 (including any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap or similar early type of ignition system) or replica thereof, whether actually manufactured before or after the year 1918, and also any firearm using fixed ammunition manufactured in or before 1918, for which ammunition is no longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade." Convicted felons should be aware that being in a location where a firearm is present may constitute constructive possession of that firearm. Constructive possession occurs when the person knows about the firearm and is in a position to exert control over that firearm or where they have concealed the firearm. Possession may also be joint, that is, two or more persons may jointly possess a firearm, exercising control over it, each person is considered to be in possession.
Persons who own, lease or otherwise have written permission to take deer on properties of at least 640 contiguous acres, or not less than 150 contiguous acres if adjoining land with a current Antlerless Deer Permit or Private Lands Deer Management Permit, may apply for antlerless deer permits and tags to authorize the harvest of a specific number of antlerless deer on the enrolled property during the established deer hunting season. A group with adjoining lands may apply together, provided the total combined acreage meets the acreage requirements.
Learn more about the Antlerless Deer Permit Program and the Private Lands Deer Management Permit Program.
Free-ranging, unprotected non-native deer of either sex may be harvested during established seasons for taking deer and are not subject to antler requirements, bag or possession limits, and harvest reporting requirements.
On private property with landowner permission, wild hogs may be hunted year-round day or night without restriction (i.e., by all lawful methods with no bag/possession limits, no size limits and no licenses/permits required).
Wild hogs may be trapped. Trapped animals may not be released on public lands and may only be released on private property with landowner permission. Persons wishing to transport or hold live wild hogs must first obtain applicable permits from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
Wild hogs may only be taken on wildlife management areas during specified seasons, where bag and size limits may apply. For more information on hunting wild hogs on WMAs, consult the specific WMA brochure for the area you want to hunt.
Learn more about hunting wild hogs.
One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset except when hunting wild turkeys during spring wild turkey season or hunting migratory game birds.
Shooting hours during spring wild turkey season on private lands and most wildlife management areas are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. On some WMAs, spring wild turkey shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.
See the Florida Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations for shooting hours and more.
Review the WMA regulations brochure for the area you want to hunt to verify shooting hours, season dates and other rules.
It is unlawful to hunt deer or to accompany another person hunting deer on public lands unless each person is wearing a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material as an outer garment. Such clothing must be worn above the waistline and can include a head covering. This rule does not apply during an archery-only season, or when hunting on private lands at any time.
Dogs may be used as an aid in taking game mammals and game birds, unless otherwise prohibited. Persons owning or using dogs shall not knowingly or negligently permit such dogs to trail, pursue or otherwise molest wildlife during closed seasons. When using archery equipment and muzzleloaders during their respective archery, crossbow and muzzleloading gun seasons, the taking of deer by the use or aid of dogs is prohibited. Dogs on leashes may be used to trail wounded game mammals during all seasons. Taking turkeys by aid of dogs at any time is prohibited. Hunters who use dogs for hunting, including bird dogs or retrievers, are required to have their dogs wear collars that identify their owner’s name and address. This regulation also requires dog hunters to possess landowners’ written permission before using their dogs to pursue game on private property. On private land rabbit, raccoon, opossum, skunk, nutria, beaver, coyote, hog, fox and bobcat may be chased throughout the year with free running dogs. For more information, contact an FWC regional office.
Statewide deer-dog registration
Deer hunters using dogs on private properties in Florida must obtain a no-cost registration from the FWC. Registration requirements apply to the deer-dog training season and during any open deer hunting season when it is legal to take deer with dogs. Applications must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the final day of general gun season in the hunting zone where the property is situated. To comply with the registration rule, deer-dog hunters on private lands must have registration numbers on their dogs’ collars; possess copies of the registration; and keep their dogs on registered properties. Find more information and apply.
Deer Dogs
Deer dogs can be trained during closed seasons when dogs are constantly attached to leashes or ropes in the hands of their trainers for training purposes. Deer dogs are permitted to run free for training purposes only during deer-dog training seasons. Taking deer or any other wildlife with a gun is prohibited while training deer dogs.
Remote Tracking Devices
All dogs not under physical restraint used for pursuing deer, wild hog, fox, or coyote must be equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction. Removing, tampering, or otherwise interfering with any collar or tag (including remote tracking and behavior correction devices) of a dog used for hunting without the owner’s permission is prohibited. Violating this rule is a second-degree misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to $500. For more information, contact an FWC regional office.
Bird Dogs
On private lands during closed seasons, bird dogs may be trained with pistols firing blanks or balls or by taking pen-raised quail (with shotguns only), when birds have been banded with owners’ names prior to releasing them.
Fox Dogs
Foxes cannot be killed but may be chased year-round with dogs. For more information, see the furbearer regulations.
New WMA deer-dog permit
Individuals hunting deer with dogs on WMAs must now obtain a no-cost permit from FWC. This new requirement applies during any season when
it is legal to take deer with dogs on WMAs and during a WMA’s deer-dog training season. For more information on this new requirement, go to MyFWC.com/Deer.
Taking game on lands or waters upon which corn, wheat, grain, food or other substances have been deposited by means other than normal
agricultural harvesting or planting is prohibited.
- Except non-migratory game may be hunted in proximity of year-round game-feeding stations on private lands, provided the feeding station has been maintained with feed for at least six months prior to taking game.
- However, feeding deer within the CWD Management Zone outside of the deer season is prohibited. View the FWC map of the zone for more information.
- Wild turkey may not be taken if the hunter is less than 100 yards from a game feeding station when feed is present.
- Placing, offering or allowing the placement of feed or garbage that is likely to create or creates a public nuisance by attracting bears is prohibited after receiving written notification from the FWC. The intentional feeding of bears is prohibited.
Buying or selling game is prohibited except as provided for on licensed game farms (see Rule 68A-12.011, F.A.C.) and hunting preserves (see Rule 68A-12.010) at www.flrules.org. When lawfully taken, the feathers or skins of resident game birds or the skins of deer, squirrels, or rabbits may be sold.
Log and Report
After harvesting a deer or wild turkey and prior to moving it from the point of harvest, all hunters must record their harvest in a harvest log AND report it to the FWC’s harvest reporting system 1) within 24 hours of harvest, or 2) prior to final processing, or 3) prior to the deer or wild turkey or any parts thereof being transferred to a meat processor or taxidermist, or 4) prior to the deer or wild turkey leaving the state, whichever occurs first.
Harvested deer and wild turkey may be logged via:
- GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or
- FWC Fish|Hunt Florida App or
- Paper harvest log
Harvested deer and wild turkey may be reported via:
- GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or
- FWC Fish|Hunt Florida App or
- Calling 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356) anytime day or night
Reporting is not complete until a confirmation number is given and recorded. An FWC Customer ID number is needed when reporting deer and wild turkey harvest and can be found by logging into a customer account or creating a new account at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Learn more about harvest reporting at MyFWC.com/HarvestReport.
Wild turkey and deer
The skull plate with any attached antler (if applicable) shall remain with all deer taken within the state; and the head and beard (if applicable) shall remain with all wild turkeys harvested during any season when taking unbearded hens is prohibited. The hunter or possessor must retain such evidence of legal harvest and must be able to provide the hunter’s
full name and either customer ID number or harvest confirmation number until harvested deer or wild turkey arrives at a meat processor,
taxidermist, home of its possessor or until it has been cooked.
Deer and wild turkeys may be dismembered in the field or at camp; however, anyone who possesses the whole carcass or any portions thereof must be able to provide the hunter’s full name and either customer ID number or harvest confirmation number. This identifying information must be readily traceable to the portion of the animal bearing evidence of legal harvest — deer skull plate; turkey head and beard (if applicable).
Once a harvested deer or wild turkey is logged and reported through the FWC’s harvest reporting system and prior to the harvest animal being transferred to another party (including taxidermists, meat processors or anyone else), the deer or wild turkey, or portions or parts thereof, must be labeled with:
- First and last name and address of the person who harvested it
- The harvest reporting confirmation number.
This labeling must remain on the deer or wild turkey, or portions or parts thereof, until final processing or until stored at the permanent residence of its possessor.
In addition, the above information must be readily traceable to the portion or portions of the animal bearing the sex identification. Positive identification of the sex of deer and wild turkey must remain on all harvested animals so long as such deer and/or wild turkey: 1) is kept in the field or camp, or 2) is en route to a meat processor, taxidermist or the permanent residence of its possessor, or 3) until the harvested animal has been cooked or is stored at the permanent residence of its possessor.
As an alternative to labeling, a processor may use a logbook and numbering or other tracking system. The logbook shall contain the same information that is required on the label (first and last name and the harvest reporting confirmation number).
- A person may transport the possession limit of lawfully taken game.
- A person may at any time possess mounted specimens of lawfully taken game, including the heads, antlers, hides/skins, feathers or feet.
- Lawfully taken game may be shipped by the person who took such game provided that each package shall be marked on the outside to show the names and addresses of both the shipper and the addressee, and the numbers and kinds of game contained therein.
It is illegal to import into Florida or possess whole carcasses or high-risk carcass parts of any species of the family Cervidae (deer, elk, moose, caribou) originating from anywhere outside of Florida or from the CWD Management Zone. The only exception to this rule is deer harvested from a property in Georgia or Alabama that is bisected by the Florida state line AND under the same ownership may be imported into Florida.
Under these rules, people may import into Florida or from the CWD Management Zone:
- De-boned meat
- Finished taxidermy mounts
- Clean hides and antlers
- Skulls, skull caps and teeth if all soft tissue has been removed
Find more information about carcass importation requirements and see this video and infographic.
Visit MyFWC.com/CWD for more information about chronic wasting disease.
It is unlawful for anyone to throw or dump trash or in any way litter highways, public lands and waters of the state or private properties.
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) purchased after July 1, 2002 must be titled with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. ATVs and OHMs must be titled when used for recreational purposes on lands within the state that are available for public use and that are owned, operated or managed by federal, state, county or municipal governmental entities. Applications for title may be made at county tax collectors’ offices.
Using tree stands to take wildlife is permitted.