Hunting Rule Changes

At the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) March 2022 meeting, Commissioners approved rule changes related to 2022-2023 hunting seasons including many dealing with FWC-managed lands, and deer and wild turkey management. Below is a summary of those changes. Most rules will take effect July 1, 2022.

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 Hunting Rule Changes

68A-1.004 – Definitions

Game birds – modify to include only those species with established open seasons, except for those non-native species already listed as “generally considered game.”
Game mammals – modify to include only those species with established open seasons, except for those non-native species already listed as “generally considered game.”
Legal game – define more generally as game mammals, game birds, and crows; and include wild turkey, wild hog, and nonprotected birds and mammals.
Migratory game birds – modify to include only those species of game birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Nonprotected birds – update to include African and Eurasian collared-doves, common pigeon (rock dove), and Egyptian goose; and change “English sparrow” to “house sparrow” and “starling” to “common starling” to match currently accepted common names.

68A-9.004 Permits for Hunting or Other Recreational Use on Wildlife Management Areas

Grove Park WMA – increase the cost of each Grove Park WMA Recreational Use Permit from $595 to $690/each.
Gulf Hammock WMA – increase the cost of each Gulf Hammock WMA Recreational Use Permit from $417 to $432.

68A-12.001 Definitions

Taxidermist – any person that prepares and preserves whole specimens, hides, or parts of wildlife or fish as part of a commercial enterprise.
Processor – any person that butchers or produces consumable meat products from the whole carcass or parts of a game animal as part of a commercial enterprise.
Final processing – the act of packaging game meat, meat cuts, or products for storage or preparation of the meat for consumption.

68A-12.003 Protection of Certain Deer and Turkey; Tagging of Deer, Bear, and Turkey; Deer and Wild Turkey Harvest Reporting; Evidence of Sex Required

Wild Turkey Harvest Reporting – this rule requires all hunters to report all harvested wild turkey to a telephone or internet-based harvest reporting system within 24 hours of harvest and to use a harvest log to record harvest prior to moving the wild turkey from the point of harvest.
Hunters will report turkey harvest via FWC's current reporting options (24/7 phone, online, and Fish|Hunt app).
The rule takes effect for the 2022 fall turkey season and the 2023 spring turkey season.

68A-12.004 Possession or Sale of Birds or Mammals; Taxidermy Operations and Mounting Requirements

Handling and Transportation of Harvested Deer - establish or amend regulations regarding labeling, transportation, storage, and recordkeeping requirements for harvested deer and clarify that processors, storage facilities, and taxidermists are not subject to possession limits for deer. Find more information about these rule amendments.

68A-12.010 Regulations Governing the Operation of Private Hunting Preserves

Handling and Transportation of Harvested Deer - update existing rule language to clarify requirements pertaining to labeling, transportation, and storage for carcasses of deer taken on game preserves.

68A-13.001 Open Season for Taking Game; Bag and Possession Limits - exempt processors, storage facilities, and taxidermists from possession limits for harvested deer and cross-reference this rule with other existing rules providing exemptions to possession limits for harvested deer.

68A-13.003 – Hunting Regulations for Ducks, Geese, and Coots

Hunting non-native geese – allow the take of non-native geese.

68A-13.004 Hunting Regulations for Non-Migratory Game and Issuance of Antlerless Deer Permits and Private Lands Deer Management Permits

Holmes County Turkey Bag Limits - establish turkey bag limits for Holmes County consistent with statewide rules: daily bag, 2; spring season bag, 2; all fall seasons combined bag, 2; possession limit, 2.
Holmes County Fall Turkey Seasons - establish that turkey may be hunted during archery, crossbow, muzzleloading gun, and fall turkey seasons consistent with Zone D statewide regulations.
- Zone D fall turkey season occurs first 41 days of Zone D antlered deer season.
- During Zone D muzzleloading gun season turkey may be harvested only during the first 7 days.

Antlerless Deer Permit Program - allow antlerless deer permits to be issued to properties (not less than 150 contiguous acres) if they adjoin land with a current Private Lands Deer Management Permit.

Quail Season End Date – establish that the statewide quail season ends the first Sunday in March consistent with gray squirrel season. This minor change would prevent quail season from occasionally ending on leap day (February 29) one week earlier than gray squirrel season.

68A-15.004 General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas – allow take of nonprotected birds, such as collared doves and Egyptian goose, during established area seasons, with no bag or size limit, using methods of take as allowed by season.

68A-15.006 Regulations Relating to Miscellaneous Areas – allow take of nonprotected birds, such as collared doves and Egyptian goose, during established area seasons, with no bag or size limit, using methods of take as allowed by season.

Northwest Region

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

Apalachicola WMA – during the deer dog training season allow training to occur during nondaylight hours.
Apalachicola WMA, Bradwell Unit - clarify rule language regarding the open season for wild hog-still season to include a hunt the third weekend in July.
Blackwater WMA - increase the general gun dog season quota from 400 to 450 per hunt; increase the family hunt quota from 100 to 150; and remove dog collar rules conflicting with and redundant to 68A-12.007.
Econfina Creek WMA – establish that individuals participating in waterfowl hunting are exempt from quota permit requirements.
Eglin Air Force Base WMA - clarify that it is prohibited to take wildlife with a gun on, from or across road 204 (south of Range Road 314) and that portion of Range Road 211 west of Silver Creek to Range Road 610; prohibit the take of wildlife with shotguns using slugs or number 2 or larger shot during small game season; and remove dog collar rules redundant to 68A-12.007.
Joe Budd WMA – update rule language to conform with the new definition of legal game.
Juniper Creek WMA – update to allow take of nonprotected birds in response to rule change for WMAs.
Plank Road WMA – update rule language to conform with the new definition of legal game.
Tate’s Hell WMA – increase the general gun still quota from 175 to 185 and the spring turkey quota from 200 to 205.
Tate’s Hell WMA, St. James Island Unit – establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (8,182 acres) in Franklin County as follows:

Seasons:

Archery: 12-day season (four 3-day hunts, 25 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
Muzzleloading gun: 6-day season (two 3-day hunts, 25 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
Family hunt: 4-day season over Thanksgiving holiday (15 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions)
General gun: 9-day season (three 3-day hunts, 25 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
Small game: 35-day season (no quota) and allow hunting of doves, ducks, geese, coot, snipe and woodcock during statewide seasons (no quota)
Youth turkey: 2-day season (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions)
Spring turkey: 12-day season (six 2-day hunts, 7 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
Fishing and frogging: allowed year-round

Legal to Hunt:

Allow hunting of all legal game, turkey (gobbler or bearded turkeys only), fish, frogs, and furbearers
The bag limit for deer will be 1 deer per quota permit during the archery season, 1 antlered deer per quota permit during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons, and 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but no more than 1 per person, during the family hunt
The bag limit for turkey will be 1 per quota permit
Prohibit the harvest of antlered deer not having at least 1 antler with 3 or more points or a 10” main beam (except by persons less than 16 years of age)
Allow the harvest of antlerless deer during archery season
Allow take of turkey during archery, youth turkey, and spring turkey seasons only (gobbler or bearded turkeys only)
Allow take of wild hog during small game season and during all quota hunts (except youth and spring turkey) with no bag limits or size restrictions

General Area Rules:

Allow public access year-round
Motor vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads and shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances as indicated on the hunt map
Airboats, off-highway vehicles (including ATVs, side-by-sides, and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles), swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles are prohibited
Prohibit hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season
Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt doves, ducks, geese, and coots during their respective statewide seasons and any dog may be used to hunt small game (gray squirrel, migratory birds, quail, and rabbits) during small game season
Allow camping using tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles by permit only and only in designated campsites
Tyndall Air Force Base WMA – establish the West End Unit into the WMA; allow hunting with crossbows during archery season at the discretion of the installation commander; establish a bag limit of 3 deer (but no more than 2 antlerless deer), all seasons combined except on the Flightline Unit where statewide bag limits for deer shall apply; within the East and West units, establish that the take of deer not having 4 or more points on one side is prohibited (or as otherwise specified by the installation commander); and prohibit the take of deer with ammunition other than slugs/single projectiles when hunting with shotguns or muzzleloading guns.
Yellow River WMA – prohibit the use of centerfire rifles for hunting during the small game season.

North Central Region

68A-15.062 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - would adjust how season dates are described to better conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the North Central Region as follows:

Andrews WMA – eliminate the zone tag requirement for the wild hog-still season.
Bayard WMA – establish a 15-day small game season (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only); allow the use of any dog to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel, and migratory game birds) during small game season; prohibit the use of vehicles during small game season; and allow the use of horses in Areas 2, 3 and 4 during small game season.
Camp Blanding WMA – clarify that the wild hog-dog season hunts begin 1.5 hours after sunset on the first day of each hunt and end 1.5 hours before sunrise the last day of each hunt; clarify that wild hog may be taken only at night with the aid of a light, dogs and a firearm; and clarify that hunting of wild hog by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat or animal is prohibited.
Cedar Key Scrub WMA – remove the quota permit requirement during general gun season.
Cypress Creek WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during small game season and summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)) by individuals possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District; and remove the unintended allowance to hunt with dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less.
Devil’s Hammock WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)) by individuals possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Flying Eagle WMA – allow veterans or active duty members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) to take waterfowl during the Veterans and Military Waterfowl Days.
Grove Park WMA – allow any dog to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season; and (via rule change for Lochloosa WMA) allow persons possessing a valid Grove Park Wildlife Management Area recreational user permit to drive all-terrain vehicles on Fish Camp Road to access Grove Park Wildlife Management Area.
Gulf Hammock WMA – improve the wildlife management area quota permit application process by changing the Gulf Hammock WMA recreational use permit (GHWMA RUP) Phase III Leftovers application period begin date from June 17 to May 21 each year so new GHWMA RUP applicants can see the GHWMA RUP drawing results before the conclusion of Phase I Application period for other WMA quota permits (May 15 through June 15).
Hatchet Creek WMA – allow veterans or active-duty members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) to take waterfowl during the Veterans and Military Waterfowl Days; and prohibit the use of vehicles during the Veterans and Military Waterfowl Days.
Holton Creek WMA – prohibit the use of horses the day before each mobility-impaired season hunt; and allow the take of non-protected birds.
Homosassa WMA – establish nighttime raccoon hunting during the last 23 days of small game season by individuals who possess a special use permit from the Florida Forest Service.
Jennings Forest WMA – correct a previous rule change processing error to return to the wild hog-still season to a 3-day hunt.
Little River WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)) by individuals possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District; and expand the quail hunting opportunity during small game season from 16 to 27 days by allowing quail hunting for three 9-day periods (one period each in November, December, and January, respectively).
Lochloosa WMA – allow persons possessing a valid Grove Park Wildlife Management Area recreational user permit to drive all-terrain vehicles on Fish Camp Road to access Grove Park Wildlife Management Area.
Log Landing WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during small game season and summer months ((opening the third Friday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)) by individuals possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Lower Econfina River WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)) by individuals possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Mallory Swamp WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)) by individuals possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Middle Aucilla WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)) by individuals possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Osceola WMA – allow dogs under physical restraint in the still hunt area year-round; and change the 10-day deer-dog training season schedule from a Sunday through Tuesday to Saturday through Monday (shift one day earlier); and prohibit deer-dog training in the Big Gum Swamp Wilderness during deer-dog training season.
Steinhatchee Springs WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)) by individuals possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Thomas Creek WMA, Kings Road Unit – remove the unintended allowance to hunt with dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less.
Troy Springs WMA – allow the use of dogs to take squirrel, rabbit, and quail during small game season; and establish quail hunting for 18 days during small game season by allowing quail hunting for three 6-day periods (one period each in November, December, and January, respectively).

Northeast Region

68A-15.065 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - would adjust how season dates are described to better conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the Northeast Region as follows:

Bull Creek/Herky Huffman WMA - clarify the rule language by replacing “walk in” with “nonmotorized” when referring to access.
Etoniah Creek WMA –allow motorized vehicles on all named and numbered roads year-round from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset.
Guana River WMA – allow public access at the Roscoe Boulevard Extension entrance 24/7 during periods when the upland portion is closed to scouting and hunting; clarify the rule language by replacing “walk in” with “nonmotorized” when referring to access.
Half Moon WMA – shift opening times earlier for entrance gate(s) to increase access during spring turkey scout days.
Lake Panasoffkee WMA – shift hunt dates for small game and wild hog hunts to allow for nonhunting weekends for other recreational users in January, February and March.
Ocala WMA – allow coyotes to be pursued during the established fox and bobcat season, day or night, in the designated portion of the Pipeline Unit; clarify that any dog may be used to take small game during the small game season in the Church Lake and Pipeline Units; clarify that migratory birds and waterfowl may be taken during the established statewide seasons; and delete unnecessary rule language relating to transporting dogs on the area.
Richloam WMA, Baird Unit - shift opening times earlier for entrance gate(s) to increase access during spring turkey scout days.
Seminole Forest WMA – add wild hog as legal to take during the small game season.
Seminole Ranch WMA – increase the small game season daily quota from 25 to 50 for each of the 4 small game hunts.
Silver Springs Forest WMA – establish a 7-day wild hog quota hunt (20 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) in August (no dogs, no night hunting, centerfire rifles allowed); and extend the small game season from 18 days to 29 days to increase opportunity.
Tosohatchee WMA – shift opening times earlier for entrance gate(s) on nonhunting dates to increase access (6 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.); and allow hunting equipment to be taken onto the area the Monday prior to each hunt.
Triple N Ranch WMA – remove the registration requirement for people entering the area for purposes other than hunting; and update camping language to accommodate hikers on the Florida National Scenic Trail.
Upper St. John’s River Marsh WMA - clarify the rule language by replacing “walk in” with “nonmotorized” when referring to access.

Southwest Region

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

Avon Park Air Force Range WMA – discontinue designated dog hunt areas and instead select units prior to the limited entry quota hunts based on military scheduling needs and allow treestands to be erected in the selected limited entry quota areas; require that hunting equipment be removed from the WMA by 6 p.m. 7 days following the close of any hunt season; and remove the prohibition on taking wildlife in the Sandy Point Wildlife Refuge.
Chassahowitzka WMA – allow hunting equipment to be taken on to the WMA from 8 a.m. 7 days prior to the opening of each season and require its removal from the WMA by 6 p.m. 7 days after the last day of each season.
Croom WMA - shift the first 3-day spring turkey hunt to occur 3 days earlier to open the third Saturday in March (Saturday through Monday) and shift the second and third 3-day hunts to occur 7 days earlier (Tuesday through Thursday). The proposed shifts would minimize the overlap with the Citrus WMA and Chassahowitzka WMA spring turkey season dates.
Everglades Headwaters WMA, Hatchineha Unit – restrict bicycles (including class 1 e-bikes) to named roads, bicycle trails or designated multi-use trails; and update rule language to conform with the new definition of legal game.
Green Swamp WMA, West Unit –begin wild hog still hunt 1 day later (change from Friday through Sunday to Saturday through Monday format) and allow hunting small game in season during the wild hog still hunt season.
Hilochee WMA, Osprey Unit – allow the use of any dog during the wild hog-dog season; allow the use of any dog to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel, and migratory game) during the small game season; and remove 15-inch shoulder height restriction for dogs used for hunting.
KICCO WMA –allow the use of any dog to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel, and migratory game) during small game season.
Orange Hammock WMA – update rule language to conform with the new definition of legal game.
Weekiwachee WMA – update rule language to conform with the new definition of legal game.

South Region

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

Allapattah Flats WMA – establish a 2-day youth spring turkey hunt opening the last Saturday in February (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions).
Big Cypress WMA – establish a 2-day youth spring turkey hunt (except in quota units) opening the last Saturday in February; allow hunting of migratory birds during statewide seasons; allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting migratory birds during their respective statewide seasons; and align bicycle rules with those of the National Park Service.
Big Cypress WMA, Addition Unit – establish a 2-day youth spring turkey hunt opening the last Saturday in February (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions).
Big Cypress WMA, Bear Island Unit – establish a 2-day youth spring turkey hunt opening the last Saturday in February (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); and establish two consecutive spring turkey hunts (one 4-day hunt followed by one 5-day hunt) beginning the first Saturday in March (50 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions) followed by one 28-day nonquota spring turkey hunt.
Big Cypress WMA, Corn Dance Unit – allow hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season.
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA – allow wild hog to be dismembered before checking at the check station; and allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting waterfowl and snipe during their respective statewide seasons.
Everglades Headwaters WMA, Kissimmee Bend Unit – shift the two general gun hunts ahead one week and move the 3-day family hunt back three weeks to Thanksgiving weekend (Friday-Sunday); increase archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun quotas from 10 to 13 and the family hunt, spring, and youth turkey quotas from 5 to 7; align bicycle rules with those of cooperators; prohibit public access from 1/2 hours after sunset to 1/2 hours before sunrise, except for individuals who possess a camping permit and those participating in hunts; and allow motor vehicle access by individuals who possess a camping permit.
Holey Land WMA – allow wild hog to be dismembered before checking at the check station; and allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting waterfowl and snipe during their respective statewide seasons.
J. W. Corbett WMA – allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting coots, doves, ducks, geese, and snipe during their respective statewide seasons; limit motor vehicle access on Trail 6 to persons legally participating in hunts during established seasons and provide an alternate route for motor vehicles to access the L-8 Levee Road; allow only street legal vehicles to be operated outside designated hunting seasons; allow only those persons participating in hunts to possess or operate unlicensed and unregistered motor vehicles; and prohibit all methods of take except bows (and crossbows by disabled crossbow permit) in the Bruce Bowman Archery Still Hunt Area.
Okaloacoochee Slough WMA – allow wild hog to be dismembered before checking at the check station; and relocate the 2-day family hunt to begin the Saturday 9 days after Thanksgiving Day instead of the third Saturday in September.
Picayune Strand WMA – allow hunting of released quail during small game season in designated portions of the South Golden Gates Estates Tract by permit only; allow off-road vehicle access (the same as that provided to quota hunt participants) to those legally participating in a released quail hunt; and extend the small game season to February 15.
Rotenberger WMA – allow wild hog to be dismembered before checking at the check station; and allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting waterfowl and snipe during their respective statewide seasons.
Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA – update language regarding vehicle use to reflect change from “numbered” to “named” trails; and allow horses to be used on named trails.

Wildlife and Environmental Areas

68A-17.004 General Regulations Relating to Wildlife and Environmental Areas – allow take of nonprotected birds, such as collared doves and Egyptian goose, during established area seasons, with no bag or size limit, using methods of take as allowed by season.

68A-17.005 Specific regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas

The proposed rule amendment would adjust how season dates are described to better conform to calendar year changes, adjust specific area regulations regarding the use of centerfire rifles during small game season in response to proposed changes in rule 68A-17.004, F.A.C., and revise specific area regulations on wildlife and environmental areas (WEAs) as follows:

North Central Region

Lafayette Forest WEA – replace the wild hog-still season quota hunts (two 5-day hunts in January and February) with small game season hunts on the same days.
Santa Fe Swamp WEA – update rule language to conform with the new definition of legal game.
Suwannee Ridge WEA – update rule language to conform with the new definition of legal game.
Watermelon Pond WEA – update rule language to conform with the new definition of legal game.

South Region

CREW WEA – allow wild hog to be hunted during small game season; and allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting small game during general gun season.
DuPuis WEA – allow hunting of migratory birds during statewide seasons; and allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting migratory birds during their respective statewide seasons.
Hungryland WEA – allow only equestrian trailers to be used at Gate 8 and the associated parking area; and prohibit possession of recreational off-highway vehicles (side-by-sides).
Southern Glades WEA – allow any dog to be used for hunting coots, ducks, geese, and snipe during their respective statewide seasons; and allow all vessels (except airboats) in canals.