Introduction
This publication is provided as a guide to Florida hunting laws and regulations; however, the Wildlife Code of the State of Florida is the final authority on hunting laws. The Florida Wildlife Code, Division Number 68A of the Florida Administrative Code, is available on the Florida Rules website. The FWC strives to ensure the information in this publication is accurate but assumes no liability for substantive or typographical differences between this publication and the Florida Administrative Code. If you have questions regarding hunting laws and regulations, contact an FWC regional office (see below). This publication is valid from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
Definitions
- Game—resident game birds, game mammals and migratory game birds
- Resident game birds—quail and wild turkey
- Game mammals—deer, gray squirrel, rabbit and black bear
- Migratory game birds—ducks; snow (including blue), Ross’ and Canada geese; common gallinule (moorhen); coot; snipe; rail; woodcock; and mourning and white-winged dove
- Non-migratory game—resident game birds and game mammals
- Furbearers—bobcat, otter, raccoon, opossum, coyote, beaver, skunk and nutria
Information regarding bear management is not included in this handbook. For details, please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s bear management page.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.
620 South Meridian Street
Farris Bryant Building
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
850-488-4676
800-955-8771 TDD
Commissioners
Rodney Barreto
Chairman, Coral Gables
Steven Hudson
Vice Chairman, Fort Lauderdale
Preston Farrior
Tampa
Gary Lester
Oxford
Albert Maury
Coral Gables
Gary Nicklaus
Jupiter
Sonya Rood
St. Augustine
Staff
Roger A. Young
Executive Director
Charles "Rett" Boyd
Assistant Executive Director
George Warthen
Chief Conservation Officer
FWC regional offices
Northwest Region
3911 Highway 2321
Panama City, FL 32409
850-265-3676
North Central Region
3377 East U.S. Highway 90
Lake City, FL 32055
386-758-0525
Northeast Region
1239 Southwest 10th Street
Ocala, FL 34471
352-732-1225
Southwest Region
3900 Drane Field Road
Lakeland, FL 33811
863-648-3200
South Region
8535 Northlake Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33412
561-625-5122
HuntFlorida
Stay connected by following us on Facebook and YouTube, and share our pages with your fellow hunters. For more hunting information and resources, visit the FWC Hunting webpage.
- Hunting and wildlife management area rules and regulations
- Information for new hunters
- Limited entry/quota permits
- Season dates and bag limits
- Hunter safety courses
- Youth and family hunting opportunities
- Public shooting ranges
Wildlife Alert Reward Program
Report hunting, fishing and boating violations:
- Call 888-404-FWCC (3922)
- You can report wildlife violations or suspicious activity by visiting the Wildlife Alert page on the FWC website.
Stay updated and connected by visiting the Wildlife Alert Facebook page.
Buy Your License Online!
You can buy and print your Florida hunting and fishing licenses and permits online through the Go Outdoors Florida website. The FWC also has a Fish|Hunt FL mobile app that lets you buy and store licenses and permits, report deer and wild turkey harvests, get sunrise/sunset times, access regulations and more!
Licenses also available by phone at 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356) or at a tax collector’s office or license agent.
Hunter safety course
To find available hunter safety courses in your area, visit the Hunter Safety page on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website or contact your nearest FWC regional office (see map of regional office locations above).The FWC receives financial assistance from the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The DOI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility or need more information, contact:
FWC, Office of Human Resources
620 S. Meridian St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-488-6411
or:
Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights Dept. of the Interior
1849 C St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20240
