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.

(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.

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.

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

(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.

(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.

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2014-2015 Florida Hunting Season Dates

2014-2015 Florida Hunting Season Dates

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

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