Hunting Rule Changes

At the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) February 2026 meeting, Commissioners approved rule changes related to 2026-2027 hunting seasons, including many dealing with FWC-managed lands. Below is a summary of the substantive changes. Most rules will take effect July 1, 2026.

About the Rulemaking Process
Rule change proposals are based on requests from staff, cooperators and stakeholders. The FWC seeks input on proposed changes throughout the rulemaking process to achieve regulations based on hunter preference and sound science to ensure sustainability. Learn more about the rulemaking process.

Summary of Substantive Hunting Rule Changes

68A-4.001 General Prohibitions

License requirements for non-resident hunters – prohibit the take of game and furbearers by non-residents unless they possess a valid, non-resident annual hunting license as provided in 379.354(5)(h), Florida Statutes, unless exempt from these requirements by 379.353 F.S.

68A-9.007 Special-use Permits; Short-term Use Permits; Fees; Special-Opportunity Hunting and Fishing

OHV Hunting Permit – establish a non-transferrable OHV Hunting Permit with an annual fee of $100 and require a Management Area Permit to apply (unless exempt).

68A-13.007 Hunting Regulations on Public Small Game Hunting Areas

Hunting Equipment on PSGHAs – establish that tree stands, elevated shooting platforms, and unattended ground blinds may not be placed on a PSGHA until after 8:00 a.m. the day before any hunt and must be removed from the area by 6:00 p.m. the day after the end of every hunt, unless otherwise provided by area rule.
Labeling Tree Stands, Elevated Shooting Platforms, Trail Cameras, and Ground Blinds on PSGHAs – require PSGHA users to obtain a Go Outdoors Florida customer identification number and permanently attach this number in a legible and conspicuous manner to all tree stands, elevated shooting platforms, trail cameras, and ground blinds before leaving any of these items unattended on a PSGHA, prohibit tampering with or removal of this identifying information without the owner’s permission, and establish that FWC and cooperator staff may remove any of these items if they are not properly labeled.
Nighttime Hunting Restriction on Guns Equipped with Thermal or Night-vision Devices on PSGHAs – prohibit the take of wildlife on PSGHAs at night (from 30 minutes after sunset through 30 minutes before sunrise) with a gun equipped with a thermal, night-vision, or similar device.

68A-15.004 General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas

Baits, Lures, and Visual Attractants for Trapping on WMAs – due to the delayed effective date of 12-31-2026 for Rule 68A-32.002, F.A.C., remove language that would have allowed baits, lures, and visual attractants to be used for trapping furbearers and nutria pursuant to Rule 68A-32.002, F.A.C., on WMAs with established trapping seasons, unless prohibited by area-specific rule.
Chasing Coyote and Bobcat during Special-Use Other (SUO) Fox Hunts – allow bobcat and coyote to be chased by free-running dogs during permitted SUO fox hunts.
Crossbows and Airbows during the Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season on WMAs – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the hybrid “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season on applicable WMAs, unless otherwise provided by area rule.
Ground blinds on WMAs – establish that ground blinds may not be left unattended on a WMA until 8:00 a.m. the day before each hunt and must be removed from the area before 6:00 p.m. the day after the end of every hunt, unless otherwise provided by area rule.
Nighttime Hunting Restriction on Guns Equipped with Thermal or Night-Vision Devices on WMAs – prohibit the take of wildlife on WMAs at night (from 30 minutes after sunset through 30 minutes before sunrise) with a gun equipped with a thermal, night-vision, or similar device.
OHV Hunting Permits on WMAs – establish that FWC will include permit conditions and may revoke permits or deny applications to protect natural and cultural resources, minimize user conflicts, or maintain public safety.

68A-15.005 Quota Permits and Special-Opportunity Permits

Active Participation by Assistants of Permanently Disabled Quota Hunters – allow quota permit and guest permit holders who also possess a valid Alternative Mobility Permit, Mobility-Impaired Certification Card, or Persons with Disabilities Hunting and Fishing License to have an assistant who may actively participate in a quota hunt (call game, set up decoys, retrieve game, etc.) but may not harvest wildlife.
General Gun-Dog Permits for Blackwater WMA – prohibit residents from transferring Blackwater general gun-dog permits to nonresidents.
Hunting Guests for Mobility-Impaired Hunters during Quota Hunts that Allow Exemptions – allow certified mobility-impaired hunters and Alternative Mobility Permit holders to bring a guest hunter on quota hunts that allow exemptions.

68A-15.006 Regulations Relating to Miscellaneous Areas

Babcock Ranch Preserve Tier I Hunt Area – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Babcock Ranch Preserve Tier II Hunt Area – cause the general wildlife management area regulations found in Rule 68A-15.004, F.A.C., not in conflict with area-specific regulations, to apply to this area.
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Area – allow the take of crows during the entire second phase of the crow season; cause the general wildlife management area regulations found in Rule 68A-15.004, F.A.C., not in conflict with area-specific regulations, to apply to this area.
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Area, Rolling Meadows Unit – allow the take of crows during the entire second phase of the crow season.
Kissimmee River Public Use Area – allow the take of crows during the entire second phase of the crow season; cause the general wildlife management area regulations found in Rule 68A-15.004, F.A.C., not in conflict with area-specific regulations, to apply to this area.

Southwest Region

68A-15.061 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Southwest Region – revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the Southwest Region as follows:

Arbuckle WMA – establish a new 4-day (Fri.-Mon.) youth turkey hunt (5 no-cost quota permits, no exemptions), with a bag limit of one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota permit; and waive all check station and daily quota permit requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Babcock Webb WMA – allow hunting during the muzzleloading gun season within the field trial and Boy Scout areas, provided the take of quail is prohibited and access shall be on foot (pedestrian) only; prohibit the take of wildlife with dogs during the muzzleloading gun season; and waive all check station and daily quail permit requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Babcock Webb, Yucca Pens Unit WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Chassahowitzka WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Creek Ranch WMA – establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (1,342 acres) in Polk County as follows: 4-day family hunt (two 2-day hunts, 2 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 4-day family small game season (two 2-day hunts, 2 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 4-day youth turkey hunt (two 2-day hunts, 2 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); year-round fishing and frogging; prohibit trapping; allow hunting of all legal game, fish, frogs, and furbearers; the bag limit for deer will be 1 antlered or 1 antlerless deer per quota permit during the family hunt (only youth hunters may take antlerless deer); the bag limit for wild turkey will be 1 gobbler or bearded turkey per youth turkey quota permit; prohibit the harvest of antlered deer not having at least 1 antler with 3 or more points or a 10-inch main beam (except by persons less than 16 years of age); prohibit the harvest of antlerless deer, except during the family hunt; prohibit the harvest of wild turkey, except during the youth turkey hunts; allow the take of wild hog (no bag limit or size restriction) during all area-specific hunting seasons, except the youth turkey hunts; allow public access year-round from 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset; allow entry into and exit from the area at the designated entrance only; prohibit the use of tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), swamp buggies, airboats, recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles; allow access only by foot, horseback, or bicycle, during non-hunting periods; during hunting periods, allow vehicle access only on roads indicated on the brochure map but only for authorized quota hunters and their guests, and only from 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset one day prior to and during each family hunt and family small game hunt and from 4:30 a.m. until 1.5 hours after sunset during youth turkey hunts; allow bicycles to be operated only on roads indicated on the brochure map and multi-use trails only; allow horses only on roads indicated on the brochure map and designated multi-use trails only; allow tree stands, ground blinds, and elevated shooting platforms on the area beginning 8 a.m. one day before each hunt and removed by 1.5 hours after sunset the last day of each hunt; limit access to quota permit holders, their guests, and one additional non-hunting guest per quota permit during the family hunt, family small game and youth turkey hunts; hunting with dogs is prohibited, except any dog may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, migratory birds, and non-protected birds) during the family hunt and family small game season; prohibit camping; and prohibit fires.
Croom WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Green Swamp WMA – prohibit camping equipment, defined as any item or structure intended for or capable of providing overnight shelter, accommodation, or extended occupancy, on the area outside of established permitted camping periods; establish a 4-day (Fri.-Mon.) youth turkey hunt (100 no-cost quota permits, no exemptions), allow camping at both campsites during the youth turkey hunt, allow vehicle to be operated after 8:00 a.m. until 1.5 hours after sunset one day prior to the youth turkey hunt, and allow vehicle access to the designated camp sites any time after 8 a.m. one day prior to the youth turkey hunt until 1.5 hours after sunset on the last day of the hunt or season; require that an individual possess a valid management area permit in order to obtain a camping permit on the area, except those individuals exempt from wildlife management area permit requirements; establish that an issued camping permit will be invalid if the permitted site is not occupied by a tent, trailer or self-propelled camping vehicle with the permit attached; and waive all check station and daily quota permit requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Green Swamp, West Unit WMA – allow the use of dogs to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel, and migratory birds in season) and non-protected birds during the Family small game season; replace the issuance of 80 daily “Wild Hog” permits during the small game season with the establishment of a daily quota of 80 (for wild hog and small game) and 40 (for small game only) during the small game season and only issue these daily quota permits when the check station is staffed; require that during open hunting seasons, an individual possess a valid management area permit in order to camp on the area, except those individuals exempt from wildlife management area permit requirements; and waive all hunt headquarters requirements whenever the hunt headquarters is not staffed.
Lower Hillsborough WMA – requires that during open hunting seasons, an individual possess a valid management area permit in order to camp on the area, except those individuals exempt from wildlife management area permit requirements.
Upper Hillsborough WMA – require that during open hunting seasons, an individual possess a valid management area permit in order to camp on the area, except those individuals exempt from wildlife management area permit requirements; and waive all check station and daily quota permit requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.

North Central Region

68A-15.062 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - North Central Region – revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the North Central Region as follows:

Belmore WMA – increase hunting opportunities by allowing hunting on Thursdays during the small game season.
Camp Blanding WMA – reduce the number of quota permits issued for the family hunt from 40 quota permits to 30 quota permits and increase the bag limit to one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit during the family hunt; and require area users to have a Florida-National Guard issued permit as specified by the Installation Commander.
Catlett WMA – establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (1,563 acres) in Clay County as follows: 12-day archery season (three 4-day hunts, 5 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 3-day muzzleloading gun season (5 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 2-day family hunt (5 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 6-day archery/muzzleloading gun season (two 3-day hunts, 5 no-cost quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); ~85-day small game season (no quota); 4-day youth spring turkey season (5 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 9-day spring turkey season (three 3-day hunts, 5 no cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); migratory bird season during timeframes that coincide with other open seasons; allow fishing and frogging year-round; prohibit trapping; allow hunting of all legal game, wild turkey (gobbler or bearded turkeys only), fish, frogs, and furbearers; the bag limit for deer will be 1 antlered deer and 1 antlerless deer during the archery season and the family hunt, 2 antlered deer per permit but only 1 per person during the muzzleloading gun season and the archery/muzzleloading gun season; the bag limit for wild turkey will be 1 per quota permit during spring turkey season; prohibit the harvest of antlered deer not having at least 1 antler with 3 or more points or a main beam length of 10 inches or more (except by persons less than 16 years of age); prohibit the harvest of antlerless deer, except during archery season and the family hunt; allow the take of wild turkey during spring turkey seasons only (gobbler or bearded turkeys only); allow take of wild hog during small game season and all quota hunts (except youth and spring turkey) with no bag limits or size restrictions; allow public access year-round from 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset; prohibit motor vehicles, except street legal vehicles are allowed from one and one-half hours before sunrise until one and one-half hours after sunset on named and numbered roads and parking areas as indicated on the map; prohibit public access other than by foot or bicycle during non-hunting periods; prohibit horses; prohibit airboats, ATVs, side-by-sides, unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles; require vehicles to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance; prohibit hunting with dogs, with the following exceptions; dogs may be used to hunt migratory birds whenever their respective statewide seasons overlap with area-specific seasons; dogs may be used to hunt small game (gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, quail, and rabbits) during the small game seasons; allow tree stands, ground blinds, and elevated shooting platforms on the area 8 a.m. one day before each hunt and removed by the last day of every hunt; prohibit camping and fires; prohibit non-hunter access during spring youth turkey hunts; and require area users to have a Florida-National Guard issued permit as specified by the Installation Commander.
Cypress Creek WMA – prohibit camping, except by permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District on SRWMD-managed lands, and only allow nighttime access on the portions of the area that is managed by SRWMD but only by persons in possession of a Special Use Authorization from the SRWMD; and remove the summer nighttime raccoon hunting season.
Devils Hammock WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Flying Eagle WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Goethe WMA – shift the archery season to occur one week earlier.
Gulf Hammock WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Holton Creek WMA – require all users to enter and exit at a designated entrance, the Florida Trail or the Suwannee River; and waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Homosassa WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
J.P. Hall Bayard Point WMA – allow horses during hunting seasons.
Lochloosa WMA – allow horses during the general gun season.
Lochloosa Slough WMA – establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (5,247 acres) in Alachua County as follows: 9-day archery season (three 3-day hunts, 10 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 3-day muzzleloading gun season (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 2-day family hunt (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 9-day general gun season (three 3-day hunts, 10 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 12-day small game season (four 3-day hunts, no quota); 4-day youth turkey hunt (5 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 12-day spring turkey season (three 4-day hunts, 5 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); allow fishing and frogging year-round; prohibit trapping; allow hunting of deer, grey squirrel, rabbit, wild hog, wild turkey (gobblers or bearded turkeys only), fish, and frogs; prohibit the take of furbearers; the bag limit for deer will be 1 antlered deer and 1 antlerless deer during the archery season and family hunt and 1 antlered deer per quota permit during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; prohibit the harvest of antlered deer not having at least 1 antler with 3 or more points or a 10-inch main beam (except by persons less than 16 years of age); prohibit the harvest of antlerless deer, except during archery season and the family hunt; allow the take of wild turkey during the spring turkey season only (gobbler or bearded turkeys only); the bag limit for wild turkey will be 1 gobbler or bearded turkey per spring or youth turkey quota permit; allow the take of wild hog during small game season and all quota hunts (except youth and spring turkey) with no bag limits or size restrictions; allow public access year-round; prohibit hunting in Area 2 (located south of SE 177th St); allow access from 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset for individuals participating in designated hunting seasons in designated hunting areas, all other public access must be during posted hours at designated access points; allow street legal vehicle access on named and numbered roads as indicated on the brochure map is allowed 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset, but only by individuals participating in the archery, muzzleloading, family hunt, general gun, youth turkey, and spring turkey hunts and only on hunt days and the day before each hunt; prohibit vehicles except at the designated parking areas; prohibit the use of tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), swamp buggies, airboats, recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, and e-bikes; allow access only by foot, horseback, vessel or bicycle, year-round in area 2 and during non-hunting periods in area 1; require vehicles to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance; prohibit operating vehicles in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic; prohibit hunting with dogs, except rabbit dogs and squirrel dogs, and retrievers may be used to hunt gray squirrel and rabbits during the general gun and small game seasons; allow tree stands, ground blinds, and elevated shooting platforms on the area beginning 8 a.m. one day before each hunt and require that these items be removed from the area the last day of each hunt; prohibit camping; and prohibit fires.
Potts WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.

Northwest Region

68A-15.063 Specific regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northwest Region - revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the Northwest Region as follows:

Apalachee WMA – allow motorized vehicles one day prior to each spring turkey hunt to provide more access during scouting periods.
Apalachicola WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Apalachicola WMA, Bradwell Unit – extend the small game season by adding two 9-day hunts (one in January and one in February); and shift the second-to-last family hunt to run Saturday-Monday (instead of Friday-Sunday), so it ends on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and shift the last 3-day family hunt to end on President’s Day, instead of beginning the last Saturday in January and ending the following Monday.
Aucilla WMA, Pinhook Still Hunt Area – convert the existing 19-day small game and 16-day wild hog-still seasons (35 days of small game, furbearer, and wild hog hunting) into a small game season that runs from the day after the last day of the general gun season until the first Sunday in March (98 days of small game, furbearer, and wild hog hunting).
Beaverdam Creek WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Blackwater WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; allow wild hog to be hunted throughout the wild hog-dog season in the portion of the West Boundary Forest lying south of Springhill Road; and establish a Fox, Raccoon, Opossum, and Bobcat season throughout the Dog Hunt Area (Dog Hunt Area and Fox Hunt Area) from May 1 through the 1st Sunday in March.
Blackwater WMA, Hutton Unit – increase the spring turkey quota from 10 permits to 15 permits for each of the three 3-day spring turkey hunts.
Box-R WMA – establish a 2-day family hunt (10 no-cost quota permits, no exemptions), with a bag limit of three antlered deer per quota permit (but no more than one per person), beginning the Saturday following the last general gun hunt; establish two additional 4-day spring turkey hunts (five no-cost quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions) running Friday-Monday on the second and fourth weekends of the season; and remove the daily quota and check station requirements for the wild hog-still season and add these seven days of wild hog, small game, and furbearer hunting opportunity to the small game season.
Chipola River WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Chipola River WMA, Dudley Road Area – establish a 3-day muzzleloading gun season (five no-cost quota permits, no exemptions), with a bag limit of two antlered deer (but no more than one per person); establish a 13-day family hunt (one 4-day hunt and three 3-day hunts, three no-cost quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions), with a bag limit of two antlered deer and one antlerless deer per quota permit (but no more than one deer per person); establish a 4-day archery/muzzleloading gun season (two 2-day hunts, five no-cost quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions), with a bag limit of two antlered deer (but no more than one per person); establish a 6-day youth turkey hunt (three 2-day hunts, five no-cost quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions), with a bag limit of one gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit; limit public access to individuals participating in the hunt during quota hunts; prohibit motorized vehicles, except individuals participating in quota hunts or scouting activities may operate street-legal vehicles on named or numbered roads from one week prior to the first day until one day after the last day of their permitted hunt; prohibit public access during nighttime hours, except individuals participating in quota hunts may access the area at any time during their permitted hunt.
Choctawhatchee River WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; convert the existing 37-day non-quota spring turkey season in the south zone of the area into a 9-day quota period (one 4-day hunt and one 5-day hunt, 25 no-cost quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions, with a bag limit of one gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit) followed by a 28-day non-quota hunt, to address crowding complaints; and prohibit hunting with centerfire and rimfire rifles and pistols, muzzleloading guns, and shotgun slugs in specified portions of the area.
Econfina Creek WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; and prohibit hunting with centerfire and rimfire rifles and pistols, muzzleloading guns, and shotgun slugs in specified portions of the area.
Eglin Air Force Base WMA – prohibit the take of wildlife with a gun along or across a road, the Florida Trail, or a designated biking trail and define “road” as, “any established, maintained, or regularly used route intended for four-wheeled motorized vehicle travel including but not limited to gravel, dirt, sand, or paved surfaces; and to include access roads, logging roads, and utility rights-of-way; and prohibit the take of wildlife with centerfire rifles or shotgun slugs when hunting deer or wild hog with the aid of dogs.
Escambia River WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Escribano Point WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Garcon Point WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Joe Budd WMA – prohibit horses, except on named or numbered roads and designated trails, to align FWC rules with those of the Florida Forest Service (FFS); prohibit the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; and remove the access restriction during shooting hours in spring turkey season.
Juniper Creek WMA – shift the second-to-last family hunt to run Saturday-Monday (instead of Friday-Sunday), so it ends on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and shift the last 3-day family hunt to end on President’s Day, instead of beginning the last Saturday in January and ending the following Monday.
Lafayette Creek WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; prohibit horses; and prohibit motorized vehicles, except street legal vehicles may be operated on named or numbered roads from three days prior to the first day of archery season until three days after the last day of spring turkey season.
Ochlockonee River WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; and increase the quota from 10 permits to 15 permits for each of the six 2-day spring turkey hunts.
Perdido River WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Pine Log WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; and eliminate the check station and associated requirements.
Plank Road WMA – establish an additional 3-day wild hog-still hunt per month from May through September.
Point Washington WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Talquin WMA – increase the quota from 10 permits to 15 permits for each of the six 2-day spring turkey hunts.
Tate’s Hell WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Tate’s Hell WMA, Womack Creek Unit – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
Telogia Creek WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; eliminate check station requirements; shift small game season dates to avoid overlap with deer seasons and prohibit hunting with dogs during general gun season, except bird dogs and retrievers for taking small game (gray squirrel, quail, rabbits, and migratory game birds in season; and shift the second and third general gun hunts to always begin on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, respectively, to consistently provide hunting opportunities during holidays.
Tyndall Air Force Base WMA – establish the final seven days of the Zone D muzzleloading gun season as open on the area, in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander, to align FWC rules with those of the U.S. Department of Defense; extend the small game season to open the second Saturday in October instead of the second Saturday in November; and prohibit hunting with dogs, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt migratory birds in season, to align FWC rules with those of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Wakulla WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; and extend the small game season by 7 days so it ends the first Sunday in March instead of the last Sunday in February.
Yellow River WMA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; and establish an additional 3-day wild hog-still hunt per month from May through September.

South Region

68A-15.064 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - South Region – revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the South Region as follows:

Allapattah Flats WMA – establish a 3-day general gun hunt (50 no-cost quota permits, no exemptions), with a bag limit of one antlered deer per quota permit, to be held the Friday-Sunday before Christmas.
Dinner Island Ranch WMA, Caracara Unit – prohibit parking a vehicle outside the designated parking areas as indicated on the hunt map, except for individuals participating in the mobility-impaired hunt.
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA – shift the general gun-vehicle season to begin four weeks later.
Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Management Area, Okeechobee Unit – shift the second and third general gun hunts to each begin seven days earlier.
Holey Land WMA – shift the general gun-vehicle season to begin four weeks later.
J.W. Corbett WMA – allow camping until seven days after the close of general gun season to provide campers more time to remove their equipment; allow individuals participating in the 9-day dog training season to operate street-legal vehicles, side-by-sides, and swamp buggies on Stumper’s Grade and numbered trails and to operate swamp buggies off-road and off-trail in the portion of the area lying south and east of Stumper’s Grade; prohibit motorized vehicles (other than street-legal vehicles on named roads), except by OHV Hunting Permit (vehicle access allowances and related requirements for hunters will be specified in permit conditions); prohibit the discharge of a bow, crossbow, or airgun and the possession of harvested wildlife throughout the closed-to-hunting portion of the Bruce Bowman Archery Still Hunt Area; remove any mention of Camp M from rule; and remove the 3-day limit for camping at half of Camp B during archery season.
Okaloacoochee Slough WMA – reduce the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun quotas from 185 to 165 to address crowding concerns from area hunters.
Picayune Strand WMA – establish a 2-day family hunt (50 no-cost quota permits, no exemptions), with a bag limit of two antlered deer per quota permit but no more than one per person, to be held between the muzzleloading gun and general gun mobility-impaired seasons and allow quota permit holders and their guests to operate swamp buggies and side-by-sides on designated roads in that portion of the area east of and including Miller Blvd. and south of and including Berson Blvd. during (and one week prior to) the family hunt.
Rotenberger WMA – shift the general gun-vehicle season to begin four weeks later.

Northeast Region

68A-15.065 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northeast Region – revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Northeast Region as follows:

Buck Lake WMA – allow walk-in access only (prohibit motorized access completely) for the small game and wild hog hunts (quota permit not required); change vehicle access from open gates to issuing gate lock combinations on quota permits to provide quota permit hunters and guests only with vehicle access (through locked gates) during quota hunts; and allow horses during hunting seasons.
Caravelle Ranch WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Deep Creek WMA – allow horses during hunting seasons.
Dunns Creek WMA – allow horses during hunting seasons.
Fort Drum WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed; and allow horses during hunting seasons.
Guana River WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Half Moon WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA – expand the raccoon night hunting dates from three 3-day weekends to three full weeks that overlap with the area’s small game season; and require a permit to camp in designated hunter campground during hunting seasons on the area; and waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Lake George, Dexter Mary Farms Unit WMA – modify the current small game schedule (two 16-day hunts/32 days total) to eight 4-day weekend hunts (32 days total still) with a Thurs – Sun format to capture the higher attendance days and potentially increase opportunities and hunter participation rates as well as accommodate WHM staffing issues for the area; and waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Lake Panasoffkee WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Rice Creek WMA – allow horses during hunting seasons; and require hunters to enter and exit the area from designated entrances only.
Richloam WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Richloam, Baird Unit WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Rock Springs Run WMA – convert the first two days currently designated for small game hunting (quota: 50 participants) into a standard WMA 2-day youth spring turkey hunt (quota: 10 permits, no exemptions); remove the requirement to park only in designated parking areas; and waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Salt Lake WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Seminole Forest WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Seminole Ranch WMA – allow horses during hunting seasons.
Silver Springs Forest WMA – allow antlerless deer to be taken during the family hunt to allow for more opportunity for youth hunters to harvest a deer. The area bag limit would be 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per permit, one deer per person per day.
Three Lakes WMA – require a permit to camp in designated hunter campground during hunting seasons on the area; and waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Three Lakes, Prairie Lakes Unit WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
Triple N Ranch WMA – waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.
William Beardall Tosohatchee WMA – remove the requirement to park only in designated parking areas during the hunting season (would still be required during non-hunting dates); and waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.

Wildlife and Environmental Areas

68A-17.004 General Regulations Relating to Wildlife and Environmental Areas

Baits, Lures, and Visual Attractants for Trapping on WEAs – due to the delayed effective date of 12-31-2026 for Rule 68A-32.002, F.A.C., remove language that would have allowed baits, lures, and visual attractants to be used for trapping furbearers and nutria pursuant to Rule 68A-32.002, F.A.C., on WEAs with established trapping seasons, unless prohibited by area-specific rule.
Chasing Coyote and Bobcat during Special-Use Other (SUO) Fox Hunts – allow bobcat and coyote to be chased by free-running dogs during permitted SUO fox hunts.
Crossbows and Airbows during the Archery/Muzzleloading Gun Season on WEAs – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the hybrid “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season on applicable WEAs, unless otherwise provided by area rule.
Ground Blinds on WEAs – establish that ground blinds may not be left unattended on a WEA until 8:00 a.m. the day before each hunt and must be removed from the area before 6 p.m. the day after the end of every hunt, unless otherwise provided by area rule.
Nighttime Hunting Restriction on Guns Equipped with Thermal or Night-vision Devices – prohibit the take of wildlife on WEAs at night (from 30 minutes after sunset through 30 minutes before sunrise) with a gun equipped with a thermal, night-vision, or similar device.
OHV Hunting Permits on WEAs – establish that FWC will include permit conditions and may revoke permits or deny applications to protect natural and cultural resources, minimize user conflicts, or maintain public safety.

68A-17.005 Specific regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas – revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) as follows:

Southwest Region

• None.

North Central Region

• Santa Fe Swamp WEA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
• Suwannee Ridge WEA – require hunters to enter and exit at a designated entrance; and waive all check station requirements whenever the check station is not staffed.

Northwest Region

• Apalachicola River WEA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season; and convert the Northwest Florida Water Management District still-hunt acres lying west of the Chipola River into dog-hunt acres.
• L. Kirk Edwards WEA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the “Archery/Muzzleloading Gun” season.
• St. Andrew’s Flatwoods WEA – establish rules and regulations for a new WEA (115 acres in Bay County) as follows: prohibit taking wildlife with a gun; prohibit fishing and frogging; prohibit the possession of any animal, except dogs on a leash; prohibit access other than by foot; and prohibit public access during nighttime hours.

South Region

• CREW WEA – prohibit the take of wildlife with a gun within 100 yards of designated campsites.

Northeast Region

• None