Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 must complete a hunter safety course before purchasing a hunting license enabling them to hunt without supervision. Children under age 16 may hunt with adult supervision without having to take a hunter safety course. Persons 16 and older who have not completed a hunter safety course can request a deferral from the hunter safety certification requirement when purchasing their hunting license. This enables them to purchase a license and hunt within the supervision of a mentoring adult who is at least 21 years old. Persons needing proof of course completion can print a duplicate certification card at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety.
Everyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course before purchasing a Florida hunting license that enables them to hunt without adult supervision. To learn more about these and other programs, visit MyFWC.com/HunterSafety.
Anyone 16 years old or older and born after May 31, 1975, can purchase a hunting license and hunt under the supervision of a qualified hunter without having to complete a state's hunter safety certification. When purchasing your hunting license, check the box requesting a deferral from the hunter safety certification requirement. Hunters requesting this deferral need to be supervised by an adult, 21 years old or older, who has a valid hunting license and has met the hunter safety requirement.
New and experienced hunters are encouraged to take a hunter safety course to learn more about conservation and safe, responsible hunting. In addition, successfully completing a hunter safety course is required before anyone 16 years old and older is allowed to hunt without being under the supervision of an adult 21 years old or older.
Anyone under 16 years of age can hunt with an air gun (air or gas-operated) or firearm only when supervised by a parent or an adult who is acting with consent of the minor’s parent or guardian.
See Section 790.22, Florida Statues for additional info.
The term shall include taking, attempting to take, pursuing, hunting, molesting, capturing, or killing any wildlife or freshwater fish, or their nests or eggs by any means whether or not such actions result in obtaining possession of such wildlife or freshwater fish or their nests or eggs.
Rifles, shotguns, pistols, air guns, longbows, compound bows, recurve bows, crossbows and birds of prey (falcons, hawks and great horned owls) may be used. Hand-held releases may be used. Arrows or bolts used to take deer or wild turkeys must be equipped with broadheads having at least two sharpened edges with minimum widths of 7/8 inch. Only pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns firing arrows or single bullets can be used in taking deer and turkey. Must be at least .30-caliber for deer and .20-caliber for turkey. PCP air guns are commercially-manufactured air guns that are charged from an external high compression source, such as an air compressor, air tank or external hand pump and are specifically designed to propel a bolt, arrow or other projectile commonly used for hunting.
Muzzleloading guns firing single bullets must be at least .30-caliber or larger. Muzzleloading guns firing two or more balls must be 20-gauge or larger. Muzzleloading guns designed to allow accelerant (gun powder) to be loaded at the breech may be used during muzzleloading gun seasons.
The possession of a hunting license does not authorize a person to trespass onto private land. Obtain landowner’s permission before entering private land. Trespassing while possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon is a felony punishable by imprisonment up to five years and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
It is illegal in Florida for convicted felons to possess firearms, including muzzleloading guns, unless the convicted felon has had his/ her civil rights restored by the state's Clemency Board or the firearm qualifies as an antique firearm under Florida Statute 790.001(1). Properly licensed convicted felons may hunt with bows, crossbows, air guns or antique firearms per Florida Statute 790 during hunting seasons when such devices are legal for taking game. The 2015 Florida Statutes Title XLVI, Section, 790.001(1) states "Antique firearm means any firearm manufactured in or before 1918 (including any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap or similar early type of ignition system) or replica thereof, whether actually manufactured before or after the year 1918, and also any firearm using fixed ammunition manufactured in or before 1918, for which ammunition is no longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade." Convicted felons should be aware that being in a location where a firearm is present may constitute constructive possession of that firearm. Constructive possession occurs when the person knows about the firearm and is in a position to exert control over that firearm or where they have concealed the firearm. Possession may also be joint, that is, two or more persons may jointly possess a firearm, exercising control over it, each person is considered to be in possession.
Persons who own, lease or otherwise have written permission to take deer on properties of at least 640 contiguous acres, or not less than 150 contiguous acres if adjoining land with a current Antlerless Deer or Private Lands Deer Management permit, may apply for antlerless deer permits and tags to authorize the harvest of a specific number of antlerless deer on the enrolled property during the established deer hunting season. A group with adjoining lands may apply together, provided the total combined acreage meets the acreage requirements. For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Deer.
On private property with landowner permission, wild hogs may be hunted year-round day or night without restriction (i.e., by all lawful methods with no bag/possession limits, no size limits and no licenses/permits required). They also may be trapped but cannot be transported alive without a Feral Swine Dealer Permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which is available by calling 850-410-0900. Wild hogs can be taken on WMAs only during specified seasons, where permit, method of take and bag limit requirements may apply. For more information on hunting wild hogs on WMAs, consult the specific WMA brochure for the area you want to hunt.
One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset except when hunting wild turkeys during spring turkey season. Shooting hours during spring turkey season on private lands and most WMAs are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. On some WMAs, spring turkey shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.
It is unlawful 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 can include a head covering. This rule does not apply during an archery-only season, or when hunting on private lands at any time.
Dogs may be used as an aid in taking game mammals and birds, wild hogs and furbearers, unless otherwise prohibited. Persons owning or using dogs shall not knowingly or negligently permit such dogs to trail, pursue or otherwise molest wildlife during closed seasons. When using archery equipment and muzzleloaders during their respective archery, crossbow and muzzleloading gun seasons, the taking of deer by the use or aid of dogs is prohibited. Dogs on leashes may be used to trail wounded game mammals during all seasons. Taking wild turkeys by aid of dogs at any time is prohibited. Hunters, who use dogs for hunting, including bird dogs or retrievers, are required to have their dogs wear collars that identify their owner’s name and address. This regulation also requires dog hunters to possess landowners’ written permission before using their dogs to pursue game, wild hogs or furbearers on private property. On private land, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, skunk, nutria, beaver, coyote, wild hog, fox and bobcat may be chased throughout the year with free running dogs.
Remote tracking and behavior correction devices: All dogs not under physical restraint used for pursuing deer, wild hog, fox, or coyote must be equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking AND behavior correction. Removing, tampering, or otherwise interfering with any collar or tag (including remote tracking and behavior correction devices) of a dog used for hunting without the owner’s permission is prohibited.
For more information, contact an FWC regional office (see Introduction).
Deer dogs: Deer dogs can be trained during closed seasons when dogs are constantly attached to leashes or ropes in the hands of their trainers for training purposes. Deer dogs are permitted to run free for training purposes only during deer-dog training seasons (see Deer Seasons & Bag Limits). Taking deer or any other wildlife with a gun is prohibited while training deer dogs.
Statewide deer-dog registration: Deer hunters using dogs on private properties in Florida must obtain a no-cost registration from the FWC. Registration requirements apply to the deer-dog training season and during any open deer hunting season when it is legal to take deer with dogs. Applications must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the final day of general gun season in the hunting zone where the property is situated. To comply with the registration rule, deer-dog hunters on private lands must have registration numbers on their dogs’ collars; possess copies of the registration; and keep their dogs on registered properties. For more information and to apply go to MyFWC.com/Deer.
New WMA deer-dog permit: Individuals hunting deer with dogs on WMAs must now obtain a no-cost permit from FWC. This new requirement applies during any season when it is legal to take deer with dogs on WMAs and during a WMA’s deer-dog training season. For more information on this new requirement, go to MyFWC.com/Deer.
Bird dogs: On private lands during closed seasons, bird dogs may be trained with pistols firing blanks or balls or by taking pen-raised quail (with shotguns only), when birds have been banded with owners’ names prior to releasing them.
Fox dogs: Foxes cannot be killed, but may be chased year-round with dogs (see Furbearer regulations on Furbearer Regulations).
Taking game on lands or waters upon which corn, wheat, grain, food or other substances have been deposited by means other than normal agricultural harvesting or planting is prohibited.
Buying or selling game is prohibited except as provided for on licensed game farms (see Rule 68A-12.011, F.A.C.) and hunting preserves (see Rule 68A-12.010). When lawfully taken, the feathers or skins of resident game birds or the skins of deer, squirrels, or rabbits may be sold.
After harvesting a deer or wild turkey and prior to moving it from the point of harvest, all hunters must log their harvest. All hunters must report their harvest to the FWC’s harvest reporting system within 24 hours of harvest and prior to final processing of the deer or wild turkey, any parts of it being transferred to another person including meat processors and taxidermists, or the deer or wild turkey leaving the state. Hunters can obtain printable harvest logs and get more information on harvest reporting at MyFWC.com/HarvestReport. Harvest may be reported online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or through the Fish|Hunt FL mobile app. Hunters can also report harvest by calling 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356) anytime day or night. Reporting is not complete until a confirmation number is given and recorded. An FWC Customer ID number is needed when reporting deer or wild turkey harvest and can be found by logging into a customer account or creating a new account at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Free-ranging, unprotected non-native deer of either sex may be harvested during established deer seasons using the allowed methods of take and are not subject to antler regulations, bag or possession limits, and harvest reporting requirements.
Deer and wild turkeys may be dismembered in the field or at camp; however, anyone who possesses the whole carcass or any portions thereof must be able to provide the hunter’s full name and either customer ID number or harvest confirmation number. This identifying information must be readily traceable to the portion of the animal bearing evidence of legal harvest — deer skull plate; turkey head and beard (if applicable).
The skull plate with any attached antler (if applicable) shall remain with all deer taken within the state; and the head and beard (if applicable) shall remain with all wild turkeys harvested during any season when taking unbearded hens is prohibited. The hunter or possessor must retain such evidence of legal harvest and must be able to provide the hunter’s full name and either customer ID number or harvest confirmation number until harvested deer or wild turkey arrives at a meat processor, taxidermist, home of its possessor or until it has been cooked.
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) purchased after July 1, 2002, must be titled with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. ATVs and OHMs must be titled when used for recreational purposes on lands within the state that are available for public use and that are owned, operated or managed by federal, state, county or municipal governmental entities. Applications for title may be made at county tax collectors’ offices.
Do you need a duplicate hunter safety card?
You can obtain a duplicate hunter safety card at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety. If you do not have Internet access or are unable to print the duplicate card, contact an FWC regional hunter safety office (see Introduction).
Hunting out of state for deer, elk, moose or caribou, or in the CWD Management Zone
It is illegal to bring into Florida or possess whole carcasses or certain carcass parts of any species of the family Cervidae (deer, elk, moose, caribou) originating from anywhere outside of Florida. The export of whole carcasses or certain carcass parts originating from the CWD Management Zone is also prohibited. Visit MyFWC.com/Deer for more information about these requirements. Visit MyFWC.com/CWD for more information on chronic wasting disease and for a map of the CWD Management Zone.