Where To Go Deer Hunting In Florida?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • Chassahowitzka NWR, 1502 Southeast Kings Bay Dr., Crystal River, FL 34429; 352-563-2088.
  • Ten Thousand Islands NWR, 12085 State Road 29 South, Immokalee FL 34142; 239-657-8001.
  • A.R.M. …
  • Lower Suwannee NWR, 16450 NW 31st Place, Chiefland, FL 32626; 352-493-0238.

How much does it cost to hunt deer in Florida?

Hunting Permits and Related Licenses (Resident and Nonresident) Annual 5-Year (Residents only)
Deer Permit


$5.00


$25.00
Archery Season Permit $5.00 $25.00 Crossbow Season Permit $5.00 $25.00 Muzzleloading Gun Season Permit $5.00 $25.00

What part of Florida has the best hunting?

  • Apalachicola National Forest. Located in the Florida Panhandle, this forest is just less than 600,000 acres. …
  • Roberts Ranch. Looking to spend a little time on a guided hunt? …
  • Rutting in Florida. …
  • Merritt Island NWR. …
  • T.M. …
  • Lake Okeechobee.

Can you go deer hunting in Florida?

It’s also affordable.

All you need to deer hunt is a gun or bow, a treestand or ground blind, and land to hunt on

– and Florida is blessed to have one of the largest wildlife management area (WMA) systems in the country at nearly 6 million acres.

Can you hunt deer over corn in Florida?


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

, except as noted below.

What do I need to start hunting in Florida?

Florida residents and visitors need

a Florida hunting license

, (in addition to other required permits) unless they are exempt. The limited entry permit program offers quality hunting on WMAs. Application periods begin in early spring. For some hunts/times, no quota permit is required.

Do you need a license to hunt hogs in Florida?

Wild hogs may be trapped and hunted year-round with landowner permission.

A hunting license is not required

, and a permit is not required to take wild hogs at night with a gun and light with landowner permission. Hunters may use dogs and any legal rifle, shotgun, crossbow, bow, pistol or air gun (including airbow).

What Animals Can you hunt without a license in Florida?

Eddie White, quota hunt coordinator for the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, said the following may be taken year-round on private property:

wild hogs (where hogs are not a game species), rabbits, raccoons, opossums, coyotes, nutria, skunks, armadillos and beavers

.

Do you need a license to hunt in Florida?


Florida residents and visitors are required to possess a Florida hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing license when engaged in fishing and hunting activities

. A license is required to attempt to take fish.

What county in Florida has the biggest deer?

Marion ranks as the number one county in which to find trophy bucks. In November 2015, Rick Moyer shot a buck that taped an impressive 164 B&C. Over the last five years,

Marion County

hunters have logged 130 Florida Registry bucks scoring an average of 112 B&C.

How do I go hunting in Florida?


Anyone born after May 31, 1975, who is 16 years old or older must pass a state certified hunter safety course before they can purchase a Florida hunting license

that allows them to be able to hunt unsupervised.

Where are the biggest bucks in Florida?

The official state record for Florida is a 1999 buck, a 26-point velvet-racked buck killed at

Green Swamp West Wildlife Management Area in Pasco County, just west of Orlando

. That buck tallied 206 inches even.

Is deer season open in Florida?

Archery July 31-Nov. 24** Muzzleloader Sept. 4-Feb. 27** Firearms Sept. 18-Feb. 20** Youth Hunt Sept. 11-12**, Oct. 30-31, Nov. 27-28**, Dec. 4-5**

How many deer tags can you get in Florida?

The annual statewide bag limit is

5 deer per hunter

of which no more than 2 deer can be antlerless (any deer, except a spotted fawn, without antlers or whose antlers are less than five inches in length).

Does Florida have a deer hunting season?

Florida deer hunting seasons are pretty complex. The state is divided into four zones, and dates and weapon types vary greatly for each one. In most cases, archery season is July 31 to August 29 (Zone A), October 16 to November 14 (Zone B), September 18 to October 17 (Zone C), and October 23 to November 24 (Zone D).

Can you hunt with a handgun in Florida?

Resident game birds and game mammals


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.

Is Feeding deer legal in Florida?

Any feeding, intentional or otherwise, of any wildlife, excluding birds but not limited to deer, bears, feral cats and migratory water fowl is

strictly prohibited

.

Can you hunt over a feeder in Florida?


Except for turkeys, you’re permitted to take resident game over feeding stations on private property

. It’s against the law to feed or use bait on WMAs. You may not use dogs to hunt deer or turkeys during archery season, but you may use bird dogs if you’re quail hunting.

Where can you hunt for free in Florida?

  • Chassahowitzka NWR, 1502 Southeast Kings Bay Dr., Crystal River, FL 34429; 352-563-2088.
  • Ten Thousand Islands NWR, 12085 State Road 29 South, Immokalee FL 34142; 239-657-8001.
  • A.R.M. …
  • Lower Suwannee NWR, 16450 NW 31st Place, Chiefland, FL 32626; 352-493-0238.

Can you shoot deer on your own property in Florida?

Shooting or propelling potentially lethal projectiles over or across private land without authorization to take game is considered criminal trespassing and is a felony.

Taking deer is prohibited by any method in the Florida Keys

.

How many shells can you have in a shotgun deer hunting in Florida?

These shotguns must have a capacity of

three shells or less

(counting both the magazine and the chamber). Shotguns larger than 10-gauge are prohibited. These rules also apply to hunting migratory fowl – including ducks, geese and coots – with shotguns. When taking waterfowl, only nontoxic shotgun shells are allowed.

Is an AR 15 good for hog hunting?

The Best AR-15 Caliber for Hogs. Obviously, . 223/5.56 is the most popular AR chambering, and

there are plenty of hog hunters who use these cartridges

. In fact, hundreds of hogs are harvested with them every day.

Can you eat feral hogs?


Lean feral swine are best cooked slowly, at lower temperatures than domestic pork

, in order to break down the muscle into tender morsels of porky goodness. One-inch thick steaks and chops can be grilled, sautéed or pan-seared over medium-high heat.

Where can I hunt hogs for free in Florida?

Hunt Wild Boar for Free in Florida

The

Apalachicola Wildlife Management Area (564,000 acres) in Franklin, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties

is part of the vast Apalachicola National Forest and offers good hog hunting.

How much does a Florida hunting license cost?

Resident Hunting Licenses​ Annual Resident 64 or Older Sportsman’s License (includes Freshwater Fishing and Hunting Licenses, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl Permits) $13.50
Resident Annual Hunting


$17
Resident Hunting/Freshwater Fishing Combination $32.50

Can you hunt alligators in Florida?


Alligator hunting is legal, but its not a free-for-all

. There is a specific alligator hunting season, which falls between August 15 and Nov 1 each year. Alligator hunting was established in 1988, due to the growing need for population control over the 1.3 million alligators in Florida.

Can I hunt with a blowgun in Florida?

The rabbit was shot with a blowgun dart. We talked with the FWC to find out if this is a legal way to kill animals in the state of Florida. The short answer is no.

It’s actually illegal

, and now the FWC is offering a potential reward for anyone with information on the inhumane killing.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.