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GENERAL INFORMATION
FLORIDA HUNTING
Hunting General Information
This portion of
the hunting handbook is provided as a convenient
reference to inform sportsmen about some of the
new regulations or existing regulations that
have changed significantly since last season.
There are many regulation changes not listed
here. Hunters still are responsible for learning
all requirements and regulations pertaining to
the type of hunting or wildlife-related activity
they pursue. If current legislation becomes law,
the cost of a 10-Day Non-resident Hunting
License will increase from $26.50 to $46.50. The
cost of a Turkey Permit for non-residents will
increase from $5.00 to $100.00. Major changes to
wildlife management area regulations can be
found on page 8.
Shooting Hours
for Resident Game Birds and Game Mammals:
One-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour
after sunset—except when hunting turkeys during the
spring turkey season. Shooting hours during spring
turkey season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset
and on WMAs, shooting hours are one-half hour before
sunrise to 1 p.m.
Shooting Hours
for Migratory Game Birds: One-half hour
before sunrise until sunset, except the first
phase of the dove season, when shooting hours
are noon until sunset. See the “Dove, Snipe,
Woodcock, Rail, Moorhen, Crow and Early Duck
Seasons” and the “Waterfowl and Coot Seasons”
brochures, for migratory game bird hunting
regulations.
Hunter Orange
Requirement: It is unlawful for any person
to hunt deer, or to accompany another person hunting
deer, on public lands unless each person is wearing a
minimum of 500 square inches of daylight
fluorescent-orange material as an outer garment. Such
clothing must be worn above the waistline and may
include a head covering. This rule does not apply during
archery season.
Hunting Dogs:
Dogs may
be used as an aid to taking game mammals and
game birds, other than turkeys, unless otherwise
prohibited. No person owning or having the care
of any dog shall knowingly or negligently permit
such dog to trail, pursue or otherwise molest
game during the closed season. While archery or
muzzleloading gun hunting during archery and/or
muzzleloading gun seasons, the taking of deer or
wild hog by the use or aid of dogs is
prohibited. During archery or muzzleloading gun
season, dogs on leashes may be used for trailing
wounded game mammals. Taking turkeys with dogs
at any time is prohibited.
The FWC has
adopted a rule that addresses hunter
responsibility regarding the use of dogs in the
pursuit of game. This rule requires hunters
using dogs, including those using bird dogs or
retrievers, to have their dogs wear collars that
identify the owner. This rule also requires dog
hunters to possess written permission from
landowners before allowing their dogs to pursue
game on a landowner’s property. If you have
questions or need additional information
regarding this rule, contact the FWC regional
office in your area.
Bird Dogs:
Bird dogs may be trained during closed seasons
with the aid of a pistol firing a blank or ball;
or by taking pen-raised quail on private lands
(by aid of a shotgun only) when such quail have
been banded with the name of the owner prior to
their release.
Bird-dog training
is allowed during specific periods on Fred C.
Babcock/Cecil M. Webb, Blackwater, Apalachicola,
Point Washington, Twin Rivers Blue Springs Unit,
Cary and Citrus wildlife management areas.
Deer Dogs:
Deer dogs may be trained during the closed
season for taking deer when such dogs are
constantly attached to a leash or rope in the
hands of the trainer. Deer dogs are allowed to
run free for training purposes only during the
deer-dog training season. The
possession of any gun while training deer dogs
is prohibited.
Fox Dogs:
Fox may not be killed, but may be chased by the
use of dogs year-round. The possession of a gun
while hunting fox is prohibited. See “Furbearer
Season” page 19.
Taking turkey by
aid of a dog is prohibited at any time.
Buying or
Selling Game: Selling or purchasing game is
prohibited except for pen-raised game produced
on a licensed game farm that is identified and
handled as provided by law. When lawfully taken,
the feathers or skins of nonprotected or
resident game birds or the skins of deer, squirrels,
rabbits or wild hog may be sold.
Baiting or
Luring: Taking any game on any land or
waters upon which corn, wheat, grain or any other food
or substance has been deposited by other than normal
agricultural harvesting or planting is prohibited,
except as noted below.
- Resident game and wild hogs, other than turkeys,
may be hunted in proximity of year-round
game-feeding stations on private lands, provided
that feeding stations were established at least six
months prior to taking resident game.
- Turkeys may not be taken over baited areas; or
when the hunter is within 100 yards of a
game-feeding station.
In addition to normal agricultural harvesting or
planting methods, mourning and white-winged doves may be
hunted over agricultural crops that have been harvested
or manipulated and over natural vegetation that has been
manipulated.
Sex Evidence:
Positive evidence of sex identification,
including the head, shall remain on deer taken or killed
within the state and on all turkeys taken during any
gobbler season when taking of turkey hens is prohibited,
so long as such deer or turkey is kept in camp or forest
or is enroute to the domicile of its possessor or until
such deer or turkey has been cooked or stored at the
domicile of its possessor.
Dividing
Carcasses: Deer and turkeys may be
dismembered in field or camp, however tags must be
attached to each portion identifying names, addresses
and hunting license numbers (if hunting licenses are
required) of the persons who harvested them with date
and location at which they were taken. These tags must
be readily traceable to the portion of the animal
bearing sex identification. On some WMAs, deer and hogs
cannot be dismembered until checked at designated check
stations.
Transport of
Game: Game may be transported only as
personal baggage in numbers consistent with possession
limits. Common carriers may transport lawfully taken
game in packages bearing owners names and addresses, as
long as they are marked to show numbers and species of
game contained.
Littering:
It is unlawful for anyone to throw or dump trash
or in any way litter highways, public lands and waters
of the state or private properties (without landowner
permission).
Motor Vehicles:
It is the intent of the Legislature that all
off-highway vehicles purchased after the
effective date, July 1, 2002, of the “Florida
Off-Highway Vehicle Titling Act” and all
off-highway vehicles operated on public lands be
titled to allow for easy determination of
ownership. Any all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or
off-highway motorcycle (OHM) that is used for
recreational purposes on lands within the state
that are available for public use and that are
owned, operated or managed by a federal, state,
county or municipal governmental entity must be
titled with the Department of Highway Safety and
Motor Vehicles. Applications for title can be
made through county tax collectors offices.
In the
South Region, the taking of wildlife from any
tracked vehicle not in compliance with FWC Rule
68A-11.005 is prohibited. Contact the South
Region office in West Palm Beach (561) 625-5122
for details. See specific wildlife management
area regulations for additional information
concerning motor vehicles.
Use
of Structures on Vehicles: In the South
Region, taking wildlife is prohibited from conveyances
having a structure capable of bearing the weight of a
person if that structure is more than eight feet wide
and more than six feet higher than the lowest bottom
surface of such conveyances.
Tree Stands: Using
tree stands to take wildlife is permitted. It is
prohibited, however, to drive any metal object such as
nails, screws or spikes into trees on WMAs.
Permanent Duck Blinds:
Hunters are encouraged not to build permanent duck
blinds on public water bodies. These type blinds reduce
aesthetic value for some people, are potential
navigational hazards and can lead to territorial
conflicts among hunters. Furthermore, constructing
permanent blinds in sovereign waters is in violation of
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
regulations. Blinds posing navigational hazards in
public waters are subject to removal. Instead, hunters
should consider using temporary blinds made from
vegetation such as palm fronds, reeds or dog fennel or
use portable boat blinds.
Chronic Wasting
Disease: FWC has initiated a comprehensive
monitoring program to make sure CWD is not
already in Florida. We are asking the general
public to keep their eye out for deer showing
symptoms indicative of CWD. If you see or
kill a sickly, extremely skinny deer, do not touch the
animal. Document the location of the animal and
immediately contact the FWC at 1-866-CWD WATCH
(293-9282).
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