2014-2015 Florida Hunting Season Dates

April 29, 2014

2014-2015 Florida Hunting Season Dates

Seasons and dates are not applicable to wildlife management areas and other lands managed by the Commission.

Species Zone/
statewide
Archery Season (A) Crossbow Season (C) Muzzleloading Gun Season(M) General Gun Season (D)
Deer (1)Must have $5 Deer Permit as well as hunting license to hunt deer.
Zone A (1) Aug. 2 -31
Antlered or antlerless deer by bow only
Aug. 2 – 31
Antlered or antlerless deer by crossbow or bow onlySep. 1-5

Antlered deer only by crossbow or bow

Sept. 6-19Antlered deer only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow Sept. 20 – Oct. 19 and Nov. 22 – Jan. 4
Antlered deer entire season; antlerless deer may be taken Nov. 22-28 by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows (2)
Zone B (1) Oct. 18 – Nov. 16Antlered or antlerless deer by bow only Oct. 18 – Nov. 16Antlered or antlerless deer by crossbow or bow onlyNov. 17-21

Antlered deer only by crossbow or bow

Nov. 22 – Dec. 5
Antlered deer only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow
Dec. 6 – Feb. 22
Antlered deer entire season; antlerless deer may be taken Dec. 26-Jan. 1 by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows
Zone C (1) Sept. 13 – Oct. 12Antlered or antlerless deer by bow only Sept. 13 – Oct. 12Antlered or antlerless deer by crossbow or bow onlyOct. 13-17

Antlered deer only by crossbow or bow

Oct. 18 – 31
Antlered deer only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow
Nov. 1 – Jan. 18
Antlered deer entire season; antlerless deer may be taken Nov. 22-28 by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows
Zone D (4) Oct. 25 – Nov. 26Antlered or antlerless deer by bow only Oct. 25 – Nov. 26Antlered or antlerless deer by crossbow or bow onlyDec. 1-5

Antlered deer only by crossbow or bow

Dec. 6-12 and Feb. 23 – Mar. 1
Antlered deer only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bowIn DMU-D2 (north of I-10), antlerless deer also may be taken Dec. 6-7.
Nov. 27 – 30 and Dec. 13 – Feb. 22
Antlered deer entire season by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows.For antlerless deer season dates, see (4) at the bottom of the page.
Bag Limit

During Archery Season and first phase of Crossbow Season, daily bag limit is: 2 deer, either of which can be antlered or antlerless

During Antlerless Deer Season daily bag limit is: 2 deer, only 1 of which may be antlerless

During all other seasons (including second phase of Crossbow Season), daily bag limit is 2 antlered deer,  and antlerless deer may be taken by antlerless deer permit only.

Possession limit: 4 deer


Fall turkey (gobblers and bearded only) (T) Zone A Aug. 2 – 31
by bow only
Aug. 2 – Sep. 5
by crossbow or bow only
Sept. 6-19
by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only
Oct. 6-19 and Nov. 22 – Jan. 4
by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols
Zone B Oct. 18 – Nov. 16by bow only Oct. 18 – Nov. 21
by crossbow or bow only
Nov. 22 – Dec. 5
by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only
Dec. 6 – Feb. 1
by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols
Zone C Sept. 13 – Oct. 12by bow only Sept. 13 – Oct. 17
by crossbow or bow only
Oct. 18 – 31
by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only
Nov. 1 – Dec. 28
by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols
Zone D (5) Oct. 25 – Nov. 26by bow only Oct. 25 – Nov. 26 and Dec. 1-5by crossbow or bow only Dec. 6-12by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only Nov. 27 – 30 and Dec. 13 – Jan. 18by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols
Bag Limit

Fall turkey:

Daily bag limit: 2

Season and possession limit: 2 for all fall seasons combined


Quail (D)  Zone A Aug. 2 – 31
by bow only
Aug. 2 – Sep. 5
by crossbow or bow only
Sept. 6-19by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only Nov. 8 – Mar. 1
by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols
Zone B Oct. 18 – Nov. 7
by bow only
Oct. 18 – Nov. 7
by crossbow or bow only
Nov. 8 – Mar. 1
by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols
Zone C Sep. 13 – Oct. 12by bow only Sep. 13 – Oct. 17
by crossbow or bow only
Oct. 18 – 31
by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only
Nov. 8 – Mar. 1
by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols
Zone D Oct. 25 – Nov. 7
by bow only
Oct. 25 – Nov. 7
by crossbow or bow only
Nov. 8 – Mar. 1
by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols
Bag Limit Quail:
Daily bag limit: 12
Possession Limit: 24

 


Gray Squirrel (D)

 

Zone A Aug. 2 – 31

by bow only

Aug. 2 – Sep. 5

by crossbow or bow only

Sept. 6-19

by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow only

Oct. 11 – Mar. 1

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone B Oct. 11 – Mar. 1

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone C Sept. 13- Oct. 10

by bow only

Sept. 13 – Oct. 10

by crossbow or bow only

Oct. 11 – Mar. 1

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Zone D Oct. 11 – Mar. 1

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Bag Limit Squirrel:
Daily bag limit: 12
Possession limit: 24

 


Spring turkey

gobblers and bearded only)

(6)

Youth Spring Turkey Hunt (7) Spring Turkey Season (T)
South of State Road 70 Feb. 28-Mar. 1

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Mar. 7 – Apr. 12

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

North of State Road 70 except Holmes County March 14-15

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

March 21 – April 26

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Holmes County March 14-15

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

March 21 – Aprl 5

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Bag Limit Spring Turkey Daily bag limit: 2

Season and possession limit: 2 for spring season

Holmes Daily bag and season limit:1


Rabbit Statewide Year-round by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols (D)

Bag Limit:

Daily bag limit: 12
Possession limit: 24

Wild hog Statewide Year-round by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols.  Hunting license not required. Wild hogs also may be trapped but cannot be transported alive without permit from the Florida Dept. of Agriculture at 850-410-0900. (D)

Bag Limit: No Limits

Bobcat (D)(F)

 

Statewide Dec. 1 – March 31

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Those with a hunting license may pos­sess no more than 1 bobcat and 1 otter pelt between April 1 and Nov. 30, 2013, unless pelt has FWC tag.  Also, otter and bobcat pelts may not be taken out of Florida unless tagged.  Bobcats may be chased with dogs year-round.

 

Bobcat: No Limits

 

Otter (F) Statewide Dec. 1 – March 1

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols

Those with a hunting license may pos¬sess no more than 1 otter pelt between April 1 and Nov. 30, unless pelt has CITES tag.  Also, otter pelts may not be taken out of Florida unless tagged.

 

Otter: No Limits

Raccoon, opossum, coyote, beaver, skunk, nutria Statewide

 

Year-round

by all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols (D)(F)

Hunting raccoons or opossums at night is allowed, but only .22­-caliber rimfire firearms (other than .22-mag­nums) or single-shot .410-gauge shotguns (using shot not larger than size 6) may be used.  Hunting raccoons or opossums by displaying or using lights from moving vehicles, vessels or animals is prohibited.  It is illegal to transport wild-trapped live raccoons within, into or from the state, except by FWC permit or authorization.

Bag Limit: No limits on any species

Deer-dog training Zone A Aug. 16 – Sep. 4
Those with a hunting license may train or toughen free-running deer dogs on private property during daylight hours, after first registering (at no cost) the tract of land with the FWC.  While training, all deer dogs must have their FWC-issued registration number, along with the owner’s name and address on their collars.  Copies of the registration must be in the hunter’s possession when training deer dogs.

 


(A)           Must have $5 Archery Season Permit as well as hunting license.  It is prohibited to use bows equipped with sights or aiming devices with electronic computational capabilities or light (laser) projection during Archery Season.

(C)           Must have $5 Crossbow Season Permit as well as hunting license.

(M)          Must have $5 Muzzleloading Gun Season Permit as well as hunting license.  The only muzzleloaders that can be used during Muzzleloading Gun Season are those that take black powder or a non-nitro-cellulose substitute and are fired by wheel lock, flintlock, percussion cap or centerfire primer (including 209 primers).  Muzzleloaders using smokeless powder, those that can be loaded from the breech or those with self-contained cartridge ammunition capabilities are not legal during Muzzleloading Gun Season.

(D)           Free-running dogs may be used for hunting but must wear collars listing the owner’s name and address.  When using dogs to hunt deer on private property, hunters must first register with the FWC (at no cost) the tract of land they have permission to hunt, and all deer dogs must have their FWC-issued registration number on their collars.  Copies of the registration also must be in hunter’s possession when using dogs to pursue deer.

(T)           Must have Turkey Permit ($10 for residents, $125 for nonresidents) as well as hunting license to hunt turkeys.

(F)           A trapping license ($26.50) is required when trapping furbearers and when selling the pelts or meat of furbearing mammals, whether taken by trap, snare or gun.  For trapping regulations and CITES tag requirements, see page 26.

(1)           Antlered deer – Deer having at least one antler 5 or more inches in length visible above the hairline.

(2)           Antlerless deer – Deer (except spotted fawns) that do not have antlers or have antlers less than 5 inches in length.                                                                                                                                                   It is illegal to take spotted fawns.

(3)           No antlerless deer may be taken on that portion of the eastern Everglades south of Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) and east of Everglades National Park; or in Collier County south of I-75 during Antlerless Deer Season.

(4)           Zone D has been split into 2 Deer Management Units (DMUs) with Interstate 10 being the dividing line.  Changes have been made to antler regulations and antlerless deer season.

  • North of I-10 is DMU-D2, and all antlered deer must have at least 3 points (1 inch or more in length) on one side OR have an antler with a main beam length of 10 inches or more to be legal to take.  However, youth 15-years-old and younger can take any antlered deer (1). Antlerless deer (2) season in D2 is Nov. 29-30, and Dec. 6-7 (during muzzleloading gun season), 20-21 and 27-28.
  • South of I-10 is DMU-D1, and all antlered deer must have at least 2 points (1 inch or more in length) on one side to be legal to take.  However, youth 15-years-old and younger can take any antlered deer (1). Antlerless deer (2) season in D1 is Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 27-28.

(5)           In Holmes County, there is no fall harvest of turkeys allowed.

(6)           When hunting wild turkeys during the spring season on wildlife management areas, only shotguns and muzzleloading shotguns using shot no larger in diameter than No. 2 may be used.  Bows and crossbows, where allowed, also may be used.  All rifles, pistols, buckshot and slugs are prohibited.  This rule does not apply on private lands.

(7)           Only youths under 16 years old are allowed to harvest a turkey while supervised by an adult, 18 years or older.  However, adult supervisors with a hunting license and turkey permit are allowed to “call in” the turkey and otherwise participate in the hunt, but they are not permitted to harvest one.  Any turkey harvested during the Youth Spring Turkey Hunt counts toward the youth hunter’s spring season limit of 2.

 

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Must have $5 Archery Season Permit as well as hunting license. It is prohibited to use bows equipped with sights or aiming devices with electronic computational capabilities or light (laser) projection during Archery Season.

(C)           Must have $5 Crossbow Season Permit as well as hunting license.

(M)          Must have $5 Muzzleloading Gun Season Permit as well as hunting license. The only muzzleloaders that can be used during Muzzleloading Gun Season are those that take black powder or a non-nitro-cellulose substitute and are fired by wheel lock, flintlock, percussion cap or centerfire primer (including 209 primers). Muzzleloaders using smokeless powder, those that can be loaded from the breech or those with self-contained cartridge ammunition capabilities are not legal during Muzzleloading Gun Season.

(D)           Free-running dogs may be used for hunting but must wear collars listing the owner’s name and address. When using dogs to hunt deer on private property, hunters must first register with the FWC (at no cost) the tract of land they have permission to hunt, and all deer dogs must have their FWC-issued registration number on their collars. Copies of the registration also must be in hunter’s possession when using dogs to pursue deer.

(T)           Must have Turkey Permit ($10 for residents, $125 for nonresidents) as well as hunting license to hunt turkeys.

(F)           A trapping license ($26.50) is required when trapping furbearers and when selling the pelts or meat of furbearing mammals, whether taken by trap, snare or gun. For trapping regulations and CITES tag requirements, see page 26.

(1)           Antlered deer – Deer having at least one antler 5 or more inches in length visible above the hairline.

(2)           Antlerless deer – Deer (except spotted fawns) that do not have antlers or have antlers less than 5 inches in length.                                                                                                                                                   It is illegal to take spotted fawns.

(3)           No antlerless deer may be taken on that portion of the eastern Everglades south of Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) and east of Everglades National Park; or in Collier County south of I-75 during Antlerless Deer Season.

(4)           Zone D has been split into 2 Deer Management Units (DMUs) with Interstate 10 being the dividing line. Changes have been made to antler regulations and antlerless deer season.

  • North of I-10 is DMU-D2, and all antlered deer must have at least 3 points (1 inch or more in length) on one side OR have an antler with a main beam length of 10 inches or more to be legal to take. However, youth 15-years-old and younger can take any antlered deer (1). Antlerless deer (2) season in D2 is Nov. 29-30, and Dec. 6-7 (during muzzleloading gun season), 20-21 and 27-28.
  • South of I-10 is DMU-D1, and all antlered deer must have at least 2 points (1 inch or more in length) on one side to be legal to take. However, youth 15-years-old and younger can take any antlered deer (1). Antlerless deer (2) season in D1 is Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 27-28.

(5)           In Holmes County, there is no fall harvest of turkeys allowed.

(6)           When hunting wild turkeys during the spring season on wildlife management areas, only shotguns and muzzleloading shotguns using shot no larger in diameter than No. 2 may be used. Bows and crossbows, where allowed, also may be used. All rifles, pistols, buckshot and slugs are prohibited. This rule does not apply on private lands.

(7)           Only youths under 16 years old are allowed to harvest a turkey while supervised by an adult, 18 years or older.  However, adult supervisors with a hunting license and turkey permit are allowed to “call in” the turkey and otherwise participate in the hunt, but they are not permitted to harvest one.  Any turkey harvested during the Youth Spring Turkey Hunt counts toward the youth hunter’s spring season limit of 2.

 

 

 

 

 

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