STA Waterfowl Hunting
The FWC works in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District to offer and manage hunting opportunities at stormwater treatment areas (STAs) as part of Florida’s wildlife management area system.
New Process for Issuing STA Waterfowl Standby Opportunities
Starting with the 2022-23 season, waterfowl hunting opportunities created by permit holders who don’t show up for morning STA hunts will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis via weekly online drawings. These online drawings will be conducted until all permits are gone. Hunters may obtain a maximum of one opportunity per hunt day (one for Friday, one for Saturday, and one for Sunday) during each weekly issuance period.
- Remember, being awarded a standby opportunity does not guarantee a person on a standby list will get the opportunity to participate in the specified STA morning hunt.
- Those issued a standby opportunity will be provided a document with information about their place on the standby list so they can evaluate the likelihood of replacing a no-show hunter. Recipients can access this document by logging into their GoOutdoorsFlorida.com account, similar to limited entry/quota permits.
- Standby hunters on the posted list who show up on the morning of the hunt but are not needed to replace a no-show permittee may stay at the check station and replace hunting parties as they leave the area.
Note: Standby opportunities will not be available for return/reissue.
Online drawings for standby opportunities will be conducted on Tuesdays and the application period will occur in intervals, beginning at 6 p.m. (see exact schedule below). To apply, login to your account at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
- Early Duck - Sept. 13 and Sept. 20
- 6 p.m. ET – Friday hunts
- 6:15 p.m. ET – Saturday hunts
- 6:30 p.m. ET – Sunday hunts
- Regular Season A – Nov, 15, Nov. 22, and Dec. 6
- 6 p.m. ET – Friday hunts
- 6:15 p.m. ET – Saturday hunts
- 6:30 p.m. ET – Sunday hunts
- Regular Season B – Dec. 13, Dec. 20 and Dec. 27
- 6 p.m. ET – Friday hunts
- 6:15 p.m. ET – Saturday hunts
- 6:30 p.m. ET – Sunday hunts
- Regular Season C – Jan. 3, Jan. 10, Jan. 17 and Jan. 24
- 6 p.m. ET – Friday hunts
- 6:15 p.m. ET – Saturday hunts
- 6:30 p.m. ET – Sunday hunts
- Veteran and Active Military – Jan. 31
- 6 p.m. ET – Friday hunts
- 6:15 p.m. ET – Saturday hunts
- 6:30 p.m. ET – Sunday hunts
Note: Standby opportunities will not be available for return/reissue.
New Process for Checking Ordered Results for STA Hunts
Starting with the 2022-2023 season, those issued a waterfowl permit or standby opportunity at an STA can check their place in line by logging into their account at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com and reviewing the document. Ordered lists will no longer be posted on this webpage.
See information under "STA News and Updates" regarding new parking and access requirements.
STA News and Updates
A-1 FEB
- Due to ongoing construction, the following portions of A-1 FEB are closed to all public access until further notice:
- Northwest levee
- All of western levee (including two boat ramps)
- To promote participation, a quota permit is not required for Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Days or designated Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.
- Adult supervisors accompanying youth hunters on Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days and nonhunting guests accompanying veterans and active military during Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Days must have a hunting license and required permits (unless exempt) to assist hunters with activities such as setting up decoys, calling and retrieving birds. However, nonhunting guests accompanying or assisting hunters may not harvest or attempt to harvest waterfowl.
- Learn more about Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Days and Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.
- Hunting Egyptian geese is allowed beginning with the 2022-23 waterfowl hunting season.
STAs
- The South Florida Water Management District's major construction project at STA 2 is ongoing. Similar to last year, this will result in a reduced number of permits, though additional access will be available in Cell 4.
- New requirements for entering the marsh take effect for the 2022-23 waterfowl hunting season. The SFWMD and the FWC are testing the following strategies to better balance STA function with hunter access and hunters will have opportunities to provide feedback.
- At STA-1W West, STA 2, and STA 3/4, hunters must enter the marsh from their assigned parking spot.
- At STA 5/6, hunters must enter the marsh from their assigned levee.
- Adult supervisors accompanying youth hunters on Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days and nonhunting guests accompanying veterans and active military during Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Days must have a hunting license and required permits (unless exempt) to assist hunters with activities such as setting up decoys, calling and retrieving birds. However, nonhunting guests accompanying or assisting hunters may not harvest or attempt to harvest waterfowl.
- Limits on group size have been removed from designated Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.
- A quota permit is not required for designated Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.
- Learn more about Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Days and Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.
- Hunting Egyptian geese is allowed beginning with the 2022-23 waterfowl hunting season.
NOTE: Please visit the links below for regulations brochures, parking maps, and other notices regarding specific areas open to hunting at the STAs during the upcoming season.
FAQs
Waterfowl permit holders checking in after 4:30 a.m. will forfeit their permits and those on the standby list who arrive after 5 a.m. will forfeit their opportunity. However, permit holders and those on standby who arrive after their respective check-in times and forfeit their permit/opportunity can still be selected to enter the area to hunt on a first-come, first-served basis under the following conditions: 1) the quota has not been met when the standby process concludes at 5 a.m. or 2) as a replacement hunter if another hunter leaves the area early.
The check-in period for morning STA waterfowl permit holders runs from 4 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. The check-in period for standby opportunity holders runs from 4:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.
The afternoon check-in period runs from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. There are no standby opportunities issued for afternoon hunts. Afternoon hunts use an on-site, walk-in lottery to reissue forfeited permits.
Egyptian geese may be harvested at A-1 FEB and the STAs in accordance with each area’s season dates and allowed methods of harvest. Egyptian geese are a non-protected species and therefore have no bag limit.