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Season Dates and Species

Hunting Zones and Deer Management Units
Maps and Boundaries

Antler Regulations by DMU

DMU A 1-3 | DMU B1 | DMU C 1-6 | DMU D 1-2

2024-2025 Florida Resident Game and Furbearer Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits

Seasons, dates and bag limits do not apply to wildlife management areas.

2024-2025 Florida migratory bird hunting season dates and bag limits

 

Only bows may be used.

Only crossbows and bows may be used.

Only muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows may be used. Only muzzleloading guns designed to have projectiles (bullets) loaded through the muzzle and fired by wheel lock, flintlock, percussion cap or centerfire primer (including 209 primers) may be used. Muzzleloading guns designed to allow accelerant (gun powder) to be loaded at the breech may be used during muzzleloading gun seasons.

Centerfire rifles, shotguns, centerfire pistols, muzzleloaders, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, crossbows and bows may be used.

Live traps and snares (including power snares) can be used to take furbearers and wild hogs, but must be checked every 24 hours. The use of steel leg-hold traps, dog-proof raccoon traps and body-grip (conibear) traps is prohibited, except when permitted by the FWC.
 

ANTLERED DEER - antler regulations vary by deer management unit.

Find hunting zone map and DMU-specific antler regulations

Zone A

  • Archery season: Aug. 3 – Sept. 1
  • Crossbow season: Aug. 3 – Sept. 6
  • Muzzleloading gun season: Sept. 7-20
  • Youth deer hunt weekend: Sept. 14-15 (1)
  • General gun season:
    • Sept. 21 – Oct. 20
    • Nov. 23 – Jan. 5

Zone B

  • Archery season: Oct. 19 – Nov. 17
  • Crossbow season: Oct. 19 – Nov. 22
  • Muzzleloading gun season: Nov. 23 – Dec. 6
  • Youth deer hunt weekend: Nov. 30 – Dec. 1 (1)
  • General gun season: Dec. 7 – Feb. 23

 

Zone C

  • Archery season: Sept. 14 – Oct. 13
  • Crossbow season: Sept. 14 – Oct. 18
  • Muzzleloading gun season: Oct. 19 – Nov. 1
  • Youth deer hunt weekend: Oct. 26-27 (1)
  • General gun season: Nov. 2 – Jan. 19

Zone D

  • Archery season: Oct. 26 – Nov. 27
  • Crossbow season: Oct. 26 – Nov. 27, Dec. 2-6
  • General gun season: Nov. 28 – Dec. 1, Dec. 14 – Feb. 23
  • Youth deer hunt weekend: Dec. 7-8 (1)
  • Muzzleloading gun season: Dec. 7-13, Feb. 24 – March 2

ANTLERLESS DEER – deer (except spotted fawn) without antlers or antlers less than 5 inches

Zone A

  • Archery season:
    • DMU A2: Aug. 3-11
    • DMU A3: Aug. 3-18
  • Crossbow season:
    • DMU A2: Aug. 3-11
    • DMU A3: Aug. 3-18
  • Youth deer hunt weekend:
    • DMU A2 and DMU A3: Sept. 14-15 (1)
  • General gun season:
    • DMU A2: Nov. 23-24
    • DMU A3: Nov. 23-26

Zone B

  • Archery season: Oct. 19 – Nov. 17
  • Crossbow season: Oct. 19 – Nov. 17
  • Youth deer hunt weekend: Nov. 30 – Dec. 1 (1)
  • General gun season: Dec. 27-29

Zone C

  • Archery season: Sept. 14 – Oct. 13
  • Crossbow season: Sept. 14 – Oct. 13
  • Muzzleloading gun season: DMU C5: Oct. 19-20
  • Youth deer hunt weekend: Oct. 26-27 (1)
  • General gun season:
    DMU C1: Nov. 22-25
    DMU C2: Nov. 22-24
    DMU C3: Nov. 22-24
    DMU C4: Nov. 22-25
    DMU C5: Nov. 2-3, Nov. 16-17
    DMU C6: Nov. 22-25

Zone D (NEW CHANGES)

DMU D1:

  • Archery season: Oct. 26 – Nov. 27
  • Crossbow season: Oct. 26 – Nov. 27
  • Youth deer hunt weekend: Dec. 7–8 (1)
  • General gun season: Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, Dec. 28–29

DMU D2

  • Archery season: Oct. 26 – Nov. 27
  • Crossbow season: Oct. 26 – Nov. 27, Dec. 2–6
  • General gun season: Nov. 28 – Dec. 1, Dec. 14 – Feb. 23
  • Youth deer hunt weekend: Dec. 7–8 (1)
  • Muzzleloading gun season: Dec. 7–13, Feb. 24 – March 2

Bag Limit

Daily bag limit: 2 deer

  • During those portions of archery and crossbow seasons when antlerless deer can be taken, either deer may be antlered or antlerless.
  • During those portions of muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons when antlerless deer may be taken, only 1 deer may be antlerless.
  • During all other seasons, only antlered deer may be taken. Antlerless deer can only be taken by antlerless deer permit/tag.

Possession limit: 4 deer

Annual bag limit: 5 deer of which only 2 can be antlerless. However, on lands outside the WMA system in DMU D2, 3 of the 5 deer may be antlerless.

NOTE: Deer taken on private lands under the Antlerless Deer Permit Program (antlerless deer only), Private Lands Deer Management Permit Program and Deer Depredation Permit Program and on licensed game farms and hunting preserves are excluded from bag (daily and annual) and possession limits. Any deer testing positive for CWD also is excluded from all bag limits.

Deer Dog Training Season

Zone A: Aug. 17 – Sept. 5

Zone B: Nov. 2-21 

Zone C: Sept. 28 – Oct. 17

Zone D: Oct. 26 – Nov. 14

(1) Youth deer hunt weekend

Youth 15-years-old and younger can harvest any deer except spotted fawn, but youth must be supervised by an adult, 18 years or older. Youth may use any legal method of take (including dogs) for deer, with a limit of 1 deer for the weekend that counts towards the youth’s annual statewide bag limit. This weekend does not apply to wildlife management areas.
Learn more about the youth deer hunting weekend.

TURKEY (gobblers and bearded turkeys only)

Fall Seasons

Daily bag limit: 2 turkeys

Season and possession limit: 2 for all fall seasons combined

Zone A

  • Archery season: Aug. 3 – Sept. 1
  • Crossbow season: Aug. 3 – Sept. 6
  • Muzzleloading gun season: Sept. 7-20
  • Fall turkey season: Oct. 7-20, Nov. 23 – Jan. 5 (2)

Zone B

  • Archery season: Oct. 19 – Nov. 17
  • Crossbow season: Oct. 19 – Nov. 22
  • Muzzleloading gun season: Nov. 23 – Dec. 6
  • Fall turkey season: Dec. 7 – Feb. 2 (2)

Zone C

  • Archery season: Sept. 14 – Oct. 13
  • Crossbow season: Sept. 14 – Oct. 18
  • Muzzleloading gun season: Oct. 19 – Nov. 1
  • Fall turkey season: Nov. 2 – Dec. 29 (2)

Zone D

  • Archery season: Oct. 26 – Nov. 27
  • Crossbow season: Oct. 26 – Nov. 27, Dec. 2-6
  • Muzzleloading gun season: Dec. 7-13
  • Fall turkey season: Nov. 28 – Dec. 1, Dec. 14 – Jan. 19 (2)

Spring seasons (2)

Daily bag limit: 2 turkeys

Season and possession limit: 2 for all spring seasons

North of State Road 70

South of State Road 70

(2) Fall and spring turkey seasons - Shotguns, rifles, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, pistols, muzzleloaders, crossbows or bows may be used.

(3) Youth turkey hunt weekend – Youth 15-years-old and younger can harvest turkey, but youth must be supervised by an adult, 18 years or older. However, adult supervisors with a hunting license and turkey permit can “call in” the turkey and otherwise participate in the hunt, but they cannot shoot or shoot at turkey. Learn more about the Youth turkey hunt weekend.

QUAIL

Statewide Nov. 9 – March 2

Daily bag limit: 12

Possession limit: 24

Rifles, shotguns, pistols, muzzleloaders, air guns, crossbows and bows may be used. Quail may also be taken during archery, crossbow and muzzleloading gun seasons using the respective methods of take allowed during those seasons. 

BOBCAT

Statewide Dec. 1 – March 31

OTTER

Statewide Dec. 1 – March 1

Bobcats and otters may be taken by rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, air gun, crossbow or bow.

Bag limits: No limit on bobcats and otters

may be taken year round by rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, air gun, crossbow or bow.

Daily bag limits: 12 gray squirrels; 12 rabbits. No limits on other species.

Possession limits: 24 gray squirrels; 24 rabbits. No limits on other species.