Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits

October 17, 2018
Brent Knauff
Hunting

Stay up-to-date with this list of 2018-2019 Florida Resident Game and Furbearer Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits

This information, as well as maps of hunting areas can be found on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission page, an excellent source that we recommend on our Resources page.

DEER

Antlered deer (deer that meet antler regulations within DMU)

Zone A

Archery season: July 28 – Aug. 26
Crossbow season: July 28 – Aug. 31
Muzzleloading gun season: Sept. 1-14
General gun season: Sept. 15 – Oct. 14, Nov. 17 – Jan. 6

Zone B

Archery season: Oct. 13 – Nov. 11
Crossbow season: Oct. 13 – Nov. 16
Muzzleloading gun season: Nov. 17-30
General gun season: Dec. 1 – Feb. 17

Zone C

Archery season: Sept. 15 – Oct. 14
Crossbow season: Sept. 15 – Oct. 19
Muzzleloading gun season: Oct. 20 – Nov. 2
General gun season: Nov. 3 – Jan. 20

Zone D

Archery season: Oct. 20 – Nov. 21
Crossbow season: Oct. 20 – Nov. 21, Nov. 26-30
Muzzleloading gun season: Dec. 1-7, Feb. 18-24
General gun season: Nov. 22-25, Dec. 8 – Feb. 17

Daily bag limit: 2 deer

Possession limit: 4 deer

Antlerless deer (deer without or with less than 5-inch antlers)

Zone A

Archery season: DMU A2: July 28 – Aug. 5, DMU A3: July 28 – Aug. 12
Crossbow season: DMU A2: July 28 – Aug. 5, DMU A3: July 28 – Aug. 12
General gun season: DMU A2: Nov. 17-18, DMU A3: Nov. 17-20

Zone B

Archery season: Oct. 13 – Nov. 11
Crossbow season: Oct. 13 – Nov. 11
General gun season: Dec. 28-30

Zone C

Archery season: Sept. 15 – Oct. 14
Crossbow season: Sept. 15 – Oct. 14
Muzzleloading gun season: DMU C5: Oct. 20-21
General gun season: DMU C1: Nov. 16-19

DMU C2: Nov. 16-18

DMU C3: Nov. 16-18

DMU C4: Nov. 16-19

DMU C5: Nov. 3-4, Nov. 17-18

DMU C6: Nov. 16-19

Zone D

Archery season: Oct. 20 – Nov. 21
Crossbow season: Oct. 20 – Nov. 21
Muzzleloading gun season: DMU D2: Dec. 1-2
General gun season: DMU D1: Nov. 24-25, Dec. 29-30

DMU D2: Nov. 24-25, Dec. 15-16, Dec. 29-30

Daily bag limit:

During those portions of archery and crossbow seasons when antlerless deer may be taken – 2, either of which can be antlered or antlerless.
During those portions of general gun and muzzleloading gun seasons when antlerless deer may be taken – 2, only 1 of which may be antlerless.
During all other times – 2 antlered deer. Antlerless deer may only be taken using an antlerless deer permit (tag).

Possession limit: 4 deer

Deer-dog training season

Zone A: Aug. 11-30

Zone B: Oct. 27 – Nov. 15

Zone C: Sept. 29 – Oct. 18

Zone D: Oct. 27 – Nov. 15

TURKEY (gobblers and bearded turkeys only)

Fall seasons

Zone A

Archery season: July 28 – Aug. 26
Crossbow season: July 28 – Aug. 31
Muzzleloading gun season: Sept. 1-14
Fall turkey season: Oct. 8-14, Nov. 17 – Jan. 6 (1)

Zone B

Archery season: Oct. 13 – Nov. 11
Crossbow season: Oct. 13 – Nov. 16
Muzzleloading gun season: Nov. 17 – Nov. 30
Fall Turkey season: Dec. 1 – Jan. 27 (1)

Zone C

Archery season: Sept.15 – Oct. 14
Crossbow season: Sept. 15 – Oct. 19
Muzzleloading gun season: Oct. 20 – Nov. 2
Fall turkey season: Nov. 3 – Dec. 30 (1)

Zone D (except in Holmes County, where there is no fall harvest of turkeys allowed)

Archery season: Oct. 20 – Nov. 21
Crossbow season: Oct. 20 – Nov. 21, Nov. 26-30
Muzzleloading gun season: Dec. 1-7
Fall turkey season: Nov. 22-25, Dec. 8 – Jan. 13 (1)

Daily bag limit: 2 turkeys

Season and possession limit: 2 for all fall seasons combined

Spring seasons(1)

North of State Road 70

Youth turkey weekend: March 9-10 (2)
Spring turkey season: March 16 – April 21

South of State Road 70

Youth turkey weekend: Feb. 23-24 (2)
Spring turkey season: March 2 – April 7

Daily bag limit: 2 turkeys

Season and possession limit: 2 for all spring seasons

In Holmes County, the daily bag and season limit is 1.

GRAY SQUIRREL

Statewide Oct. 13 – March 3

Daily bag limit: 12

Possession limit: 24

QUAIL

Statewide Nov. 10 – March 3

Daily bag limit: 12

Possession limit: 24

Rifles, shotguns, pistols, muzzleloaders, air guns (air guns may not be used to take quail), crossbows and bows may be used. Gray squirrel and quail also may be taken during archery, crossbow and muzzleloading gun seasons using the respective methods of take allowed during those seasons.

BOBCAT

Statewide Dec. 1 – March 31

OTTER

Statewide Dec. 1 – March 1

Bobcats and otters may be taken by rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, air gun, crossbow or bow.

Bag limits: No limit on bobcats and otters

Rabbits, wild hogs, raccoons, opossums, skunks, nutrias, beavers and coyotes

May be taken year round by rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, air gun, crossbow or bow.

Daily bag limits: 12 rabbits. No limits on other species.

Possession limits: 24 rabbits. No limits on other species.

Archery season – Only bows may be used. However, it is prohibited to use bows equipped with sights or aiming devices with electronic computational capabilities or light/laser projection during archery season.

Crossbow season – Only crossbows and bows may be used.

Muzzleloading gun season – Only muzzleloaders fired by wheel lock, flintlock, percussion cap or centerfire primer (including 209 primers) and crossbows and bows may be used. Muzzleloaders that can be loaded from the breech are not legal during muzzleloading gun season.

General gun season – Centerfire rifles, shotguns, centerfire pistols, muzzleloaders, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, crossbows and bows may be used.

(1) – Shotguns, rifles, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, pistols, muzzleloaders, crossbows or bows may be used.

(2) – Only youth 15-years-old and younger can harvest turkey, but youth must be supervised by an adult, 18 years or older. However, adult supervisors with a hunting license and turkey permit can “call in” the turkey and otherwise participate in the hunt, but they cannot harvest turkey.