As any licensed hunter knows, Florida hunting areas are divided into four lettered zones. Dates, rules and regulations vary throughout them.
Below is a list of hunting seasons and limits broken down by zone for every animal Florida Wildlife Commission allows to be hunted.
For each season, permitted weapons include those that came prior to the start date. For example, the end of crossbow season and start of muzzleloading gun season does not mean that crossbows and bows are no longer permitted for use, but that hunters can begin to use muzzleloading guns if they wish.
For more information, including permitting processes, management unit exemption dates and other animal-specific regulations, visit MyFWC.com/hunting/season-dates/.
Note: * denotes a management unit-specific exemption, for which details can be found on the FWC website.
DEER
Zone A: Archery (Aug. 1 to 30, antlered deer only*); Crossbow (Aug. 1 to Sept. 4, antlered deer only*); Muzzleloading gun (Sept. 5 to 18, antlered deer only); General gun (Sept. 19 to Oct. 18 and Nov. 21 to Jan. 3, antlered deer only*).
Zone B: Archery (Oct. 17 to Nov. 15, antlered or antlerless deer); Crossbow (Oct. 17 to Nov. 15, antlered or antlerless deer; Nov. 16 to 20, antlered deer only); Muzzleloading gun (Nov. 21 to Dec. 4, antlered deer only); General gun (Dec. 5 to Feb. 21, antlered deer only*).
Zone C: Archery (Sept. 19 to Oct. 18, antlered or antlerless deer); Crossbow (Sept. 19 to Oct. 18, antlered or antlerless deer; Oct. 19 to 23, antlered deer only); Muzzleloading gun (Oct. 24 to Nov. 6, antlered deer only*); General gun (Nov. 7 to Jan. 24, antlered deer only*).
Zone D: Archery (Oct. 24 to Nov. 25, antlered or antlerless deer); Crossbow (Oct. 24 to Nov. 25, antlered or antlerless deer; Nov. 30 to Dec. 4, antlered deer only); Muzzleloading gun (Dec. 5 to 11 and Feb. 22 to 28, antlered deer only); General gun (Nov. 26 to 29 and Dec. 12 to Feb. 21, antlered deer only).
Bag limit: two per day
Possession limit: four
FALL TURKEY
Zone A: Archery (Aug. 1 to 30); Crossbow (Aug. 1 to Sept. 4); Muzzleloading gun (Sept. 5 to 18); General gun (Sept. 19 to Oct. 18 and Nov. 21 to Jan. 3).
Zone B: Archery (Oct. 17 to Nov. 15); Crossbow (Oct. 17 to Nov. 20); Muzzleloading gun (Nov. 21 to Dec. 4); General gun (Dec. 5 to Jan. 31).
Zone C: Archery (Sept. 19 to Oct. 18); Crossbow (Sept. 19 to Oct. 23); Muzzleloading gun (Oct. 24 to Nov. 6); General gun (Nov. 7 to Jan. 3).
Zone D: Archery (Oct. 24 to Nov. 25); Crossbow (Oct. 24 to Nov. 25 and Nov. 30 to Dec. 4); Muzzleloading gun (Dec. 5 to 11); General gun (Nov. 26 to 29 and Dec. 12 to Jan. 17).
Bag limit: two per day
Possession limit: two for all fall seasons combined
GRAY SQUIRREL
Zone A: Archery (Aug. 1 to 30); Crossbow (Aug. 1 to Sept. 4); Muzzleloading gun (Sept. 5 to 18); General gun (Oct. 10 to March 6).
Zone B: General gun (Oct. 10 to March 6).
Zone C: Archery (Sept. 19 to Oct. 9); Crossbow (Sept. 19 to Oct. 9); General gun (Oct. 10 to March 6).
Zone D: General gun (Oct. 10 to March 6).
Bag limit: 12 per day
Possession limit: 24
QUAIL
Zone A: Archery (Aug. 1 to 30); Crossbow (Aug. 1 to Sept. 4); Muzzleloading gun (Sept. 5 to 18); General gun (Nov. 14 to March 6).
Zone B: Archery (Oct. 17 to Nov. 13); Crossbow (Oct. 17 to Nov. 13); General gun (Nov. 14 to March 6).
Zone C: Archery (Sept. 19 to Oct. 18); Crossbow (Sept. 19 to Oct. 23); Muzzleloading gun (Oct. 24 to Nov. 6); General gun (Nov. 14 to March 6).
Zone D: Archery (Oct. 24 to Nov. 13); Crossbow (Oct. 24 to Nov. 13); General gun (Nov. 14 to March 6).
Bag limit: 12 per day
Possession limit: 24
BEAR
Bear season will be held from Oct. 24 to 30 in all four management units. Must have special-use permit and hunting license to hunt bears.
SPRING TURKEY
South of State Road 70: Youth hunt (Feb. 27 to 28); Spring season (March 5 to April 10). All legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols are permitted.
North of State Road 70 (except Holmes County): Youth hunt (Mar. 12 to 13); Spring season (March 19 to April 24). All legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols are permitted.
Holmes County: Youth hunt (Mar. 12 to 13); Spring season (March 19 to April 3). All legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols are permitted.
Bag limit: two per day (one in Holmes County)
Possession limit: two for spring season (one in Holmes County)
BOBCAT
Bobcat season is Dec. 1 to March 31. All legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols are permitted. There are no bag or season limits. Dogs may be used to chase bobcats year-round. Licensed hunters may possess one pelt between April 1 and Nov. 30, unless it has a CITES tag. Untagged pelts may not be taken out of Florida.
OTTER
Otter season is Dec. 1 to March 1. All legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols are permitted. There are no bag or season limits. Licensed hunters may possess one pelt between April 1 and Nov. 30, unless it has a CITES tag. Untagged pelts may not be taken out of Florida.
YEAR-ROUND HUNTS
Wild hog, raccoon, opossum, coyote, beaver, skunk and nutria may be hunted year-round with no bag limits. All legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols are permitted.
Wild hogs do not require a hunting license and may be trapped but not transported alive without FDA permit.
Raccoons and opossums may be hunted at night, but only with .22-caliber rimfire (excluding magnums) or single-shot .410-gauge shotguns (shot size 6 or lower). Hunting them using lights on moving vehicles or animals is prohibited. Raccoons trapped in the wild may not be transported without FWC permit.
Rabbit may be hunted year-round with all legal rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and pistols. The bag limit is 12 per day, with a possession limit of 24.
