Complete Guide to Florida Hunting Seasons in 2026-2027
If you’re planning to chase game anywhere in the Sunshine State this year, this guide pulls together the dates, permits, zones, and fees you’d want in one place. We’ll cover white-tailed deer, gobblers, ducks, small game, furbearers, and the bigger species like black bear and alligator. You’ll walk away knowing when to go, what paperwork you need, and where the public land lines fall. Bookmark it now because the calendar rolls fast and schedules can shift with rule changes.
Before you load the truck, grab a coffee and skim through. Florida’s schedule is split into four hunting zones (A, B, C, and D), and a few seasons swing on the State Road 70 line for turkeys. Wrong zone, wrong season, wrong weapon, and you might end up paying a fine instead of telling stories.
📅 Quick Reference Points
Here’s a fast look at the headline dates for the 2026–2027 statewide wildlife calendar. All detail tables below are pulled straight from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) materials.
| Species | Open | Close | Method(s) | Youth Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer (Zone A) | Aug 1, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Archery, muzzleloader, general gun | Last weekend in Oct |
| Deer (Zone B) | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | Archery, muzzleloader, general gun | Last weekend in Oct |
| Deer (Zone C) | Sept 19, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | Archery, muzzleloader, general gun | Last weekend in Oct |
| Deer (Zone D) | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | Archery, muzzleloader, general gun | Last weekend in Oct |
| Turkey (Spring N) | March 20, 2027 | April 25, 2027 | Shotgun, muzzleloader, bow | March 12–15, 2027 |
| Turkey (Spring S) | March 6, 2027 | April 11, 2027 | Shotgun, muzzleloader, bow | Feb 26 – Mar 1, 2027 |
| Bobcat | Dec 1, 2026 | March 31, 2027 | Rifle, shotgun, trap | No separate youth |
| Otter | Dec 1, 2026 | March 1, 2027 | Rifle, shotgun, trap | No separate youth |
| Quail | Nov 14, 2026 | March 7, 2027 | Shotgun, bow | Statewide youth day |
| Ducks (early teal/wood) | Sept 19, 2026 | Sept 23, 2026 | Shotgun (nontoxic) | — |
| Ducks (regular) | Nov 21 – Nov 29, 2026 & Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | — | Shotgun (nontoxic) | Statewide youth days |
🦌 Big Game Overview
Florida doesn’t have elk. It does carry a strong white-tailed population across roughly 5.5 million acres of public land, broken below into zones A, B, C, and D. Each zone runs its own archery, muzzleloader, and general gun split, so the open and close dates vary. The state does not run a tag quota system like western states, but a few DMUs restrict antler points.
Zone A (Panhandle & Far North)
| Method | Open | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Aug 1, 2026 | Aug 30, 2026 |
| Crossbow | Aug 1, 2026 | Sept 4, 2026 |
| Muzzleloader | Sept 5, 2026 | Sept 18, 2026 |
| General Gun | Sept 19, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
| General Gun (second split) | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 |
Daily bag limit is normally two antlered deer per license year, with seasonal antlerless takes optional via permit. DMU A1–A3 sit in Zone A.
Zone B
| Method | Open | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 4, 2026 |
| General Gun | Dec 5, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 |
Only antlered bucks are allowed during archery and muzzleloader here, and DMU B1 has stricter antler point rules (at least one antler with two or more points).
Zone C
| Method | Open | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept 19, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
| Muzzleloader | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 |
| General Gun | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 |
DMU C1 through C6 sit in this band. Antlerless deer permits are easier to stack here because the herds are larger.
Zone D
| Method | Open | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 |
| Muzzleloader | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 |
| Muzzleloader (second) | Feb 22, 2027 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| General Gun | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
| General Gun (second) | Dec 12, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 |
DMU D1–D7 cover the southern half of the state.
If you’re hunting somewhere new, take five minutes to confirm antler rules for the specific DMU before stepping out of the truck. Two points on one side is the most common statewide minimum, but limited entry WMAs and private lands can lock things tighter.
🦃 Turkey Dates
Florida splits gobbler seasons three ways: north of State Road 70, south of State Road 70, and the fall bonus. Spring is the main show.
| Period | Region | Open | Close | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Youth Hunt | North of SR 70 | March 12, 2027 | March 15, 2027 | Shotgun, muzzleloader, bow |
| Spring Youth Hunt | South of SR 70 | Feb 26, 2027 | March 1, 2027 | Shotgun, muzzleloader, bow |
| Spring General | North of SR 70 | March 20, 2027 | April 25, 2027 | Shotgun, muzzleloader, bow |
| Spring General | South of SR 70 | March 6, 2027 | April 11, 2027 | Shotgun, muzzleloader, bow |
| Fall Season | Zone A | Oct 5, 2026 / Nov 21, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 / Jan 3, 2027 | Same legal methods |
| Fall Season | Zone B | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | Same legal methods |
| Fall Season | Zone C | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Same legal methods |
| Fall Season | Zone D | Nov 26, 2026 / Dec 12, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 / Jan 17, 2027 | Same legal methods |
Bag limits run one bearded bird per day, two per season in spring; fall is a single gobbler of either sex in Zones A and C, while B and D run separate bonus tags. A hunting license plus a paid turkey permit covers the spring and fall hunts; quota permits are required on many WMAs.
🦝 Furbearer Opportunities
Year-round take for several species keeps trappers and hog hunters busy even when the deer season goes quiet.
| Species | Dates | Methods | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyote | Year-round | Rifle, shotgun, handgun, bow, crossbow, trap | No limit |
| Raccoon | Year-round | Rifle, shotgun, bow, dog, trap | No limit |
| Opossum | Year-round | Rifle, shotgun, bow, dog, trap | No limit |
| Skunk | Year-round | Rifle, shotgun, bow, trap | No limit |
| Beaver | Year-round | Rifle, shotgun, bow, trap | No limit |
| Bobcat | Dec 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027 | Rifle, shotgun, bow, dog, trap | 1 per person, no season cap |
| River Otter | Dec 1, 2026 – Mar 1, 2027 | Rifle, shotgun, bow, trap | 1 per person, no season cap |
No special furbearer permit is needed beyond a standard hunting license, though trappers must take the FWC trapper education course before going afield with body-grip or foothold traps. For year-round species, hunting hours follow the sunrise-to-sunset rule unless you’re using dogs or foothold traps under specific nighttime exemptions outlined in the state code.
🐦 Small Game Section
Dove opener is one of the biggest traditions in the state, right behind opening weekend of deer.
| Species | Open | Close | Daily Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | Sept 5, 2026 | Sept 27, 2026 | 15 | First phase |
| Mourning Dove | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | 15 | Second phase |
| White-winged Dove | Sept 5, 2026 | Sept 27, 2026 | 15 | Included in dove aggregate |
| Quail | Nov 14, 2026 | March 7, 2027 | 12 | Statewide |
| Gray Squirrel | Year-round | — | 12 | No limit on private lands |
| Rabbit (Cottontail) | Year-round | — | 12 | Same |
| Wild Hog | Year-round | — | No limit | Any weapon lawful |
Mourning dove is the headline opener. Hunters under 16 don’t need a license but must follow all bag rules. Early dove lands inside the migratory bird framework, so you still need Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration online before the hunt.
🦆 Complete Waterfowl Seasons
Florida hosts both early teal and wood duck seasons, and the standard federal framework ducks most southerners know.
| Species/Period | Window | Aggregate Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Teal & Wood Duck | Sept 19–23, 2026 | 6 total (max 2 wood duck) | Shotgun only, nontoxic shot |
| Duck (First Split) | Nov 21–29, 2026 | 6 total | Listed restrictions below |
| Duck (Second Split) | Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | 6 total | Same restrictions below |
| Canada Goose | Sept 5–27, 2026 & Nov 21–29, 2026 & Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 30, 2027 | 5 daily, 15 possession | Only in NW Florida |
| Light Geese | Same as Canada Goose | 5 daily, 15 possession | Only NW Florida |
| Snipe | Nov 1, 2026 – Feb 15, 2027 | 8 daily | HIP required |
| Common Gallinule (Moorhen) | Same as duck splits | 1 daily | Aggregated w/ duck |
| Sandhill Crane | Closed | — | State-protected species, no open season |
Duck-specific limits inside the 6-bird cap: 4 mallards (only 2 hens), 1 mottled duck, 4 sea ducks (3 of the same), 3 wood duck, 2 redhead, 2 black duck, 2 canvasback, 3 pintail, 1 fulvous whistling-duck, and 1 scaup from Nov 21 to Jan 11 (2 scaup from Jan 12 onward and during youth/veteran days). Lead shot is illegal for waterfowl across the board.
The federal framework sets the upper bars; the state’s Wildlife Code adds smaller tweaks like the early teal-wood duck window.
🐗 Other Available Game
| Species | Open | Close | Key Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alligator | Aug 15, 2026 (first harvest period) | Nov 1, 2026 (or quota fill) | Statewide lottery/trophy permits |
| Frog (Bullfrog/Pig) | Year-round | — | No bag limit; gig, hook, or bow |
| Crow | Nov 11, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | No license but firearms OK; HIP optional |
| Armadillo | Year-round | — | Any weapon lawful, no limit |
| Black Bear (Private Lands) | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 5,000+ contiguous acres only, with CWB-certified plan |
Alligator hunting is one of the most unique experiences Florida offers. You apply for a statewide alligator harvest permit (around $272 for residents) and tag in before heading out. Bear take is locked behind FWC’s Private Lands Bear Harvest Program, requiring a Certified Wildlife Biologist-signed habitat management plan and a documented population survey between August 1 and December 31. Tags scale with property size.
🗺️ Hunting Zones
Florida groups counties into four wildlife zones, and the state’s deer management units (DMUs) slice things even tighter for antler restrictions. You can pull the official hunting zone map directly from FWC.
Quick at-a-glance:
- Zone A – Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf.
- Zone B – Franklin, Liberty, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy.
- Zone C – Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Union, plus most of central Florida south to Polk/Highlands.
- Zone D – Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, St. Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole.
Always check whether the land you’re standing on is a WMA, an APW (Audubon Public Wildlife), or private. Public lands often require a management area permit and quota entry; private tracts require written landowner permission.
🎟️ Permits, Tags & Licenses
Florida runs on a license-plus-permit model. There’s no statewide “tag” because deer herds are stable and harvest history is conservative. Here’s the fee breakdown for the 2026–2027 license year.
- Resident Annual Hunting License: $17.00
- Resident Five-Year Hunting License: $79.00
- Non-Resident Annual Hunting License: $151.50
- Resident Youth Hunting License: $17.00 (under 18)
- Resident Annual Hunting + Freshwater Fishing Combo: $32.50
- Resident Annual Hunting + Freshwater + Saltwater Combo: $48.00
- Annual Sportsman’s License: $80.50 (hunt, fish, freshwater, saltwater)
- Annual Gold Sportsman’s License: $100.00
- Five-Year Gold Sportsman’s License: $494.00
- Annual Silver Sportsman’s (64+) License: $13.50
- Five-Year Silver Sportsman’s (64+): $61.50
- Annual Military Gold Sportsman’s License: $20.00
Permit add-ons and stamps:
- Management Area Permit: $26.50 annual / $126.50 five-year
- Archery Season Permit: $5.00 / $25.00
- Crossbow Season Permit: $5.00 / $25.00
- Florida Waterfowl Permit: $5.00 / $25.00
- Migratory Bird Permit: $0.00 (free; required for HIP)
- Federal Duck Stamp: $28.50 (paper or e-stamp)
- Turkey Permit: $10.00 resident / $125.00 non-resident annually
Hunters under 16, residents 65+, and active-duty military stationed in Florida are exempt from most licenses. The federal duck stamp is the exception – it’s required for any hunter 16 and older.
You can buy everything online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, at any county tax collector’s office, or by phone at 888-HUNT-FLORIDA.
❓ Florida Hunting Quick FAQ
Do non-residents need a Florida license to hunt public land?
Yes. The $151.50 annual non-resident license plus a $26.50 management area permit covers most public WMAs. Some non-residents also need a quota permit drawn months in advance.
Is lead shot allowed for waterfowl?
No. Nontoxic shot is mandatory for ducks, geese, and coots across every split. Even a single pellet in your pocket can earn you a ticket.
Can I take a doe without an antlerless permit?
No. Antlerless harvest requires a separate permit during specific windows. Hefty fines apply if you can’t show the permit on demand.
What’s the difference between a WMA trophy permit and an APW permit?
A WMA trophy permit is allocated through FWC’s quota hunting system. APW (Audubon Public Wildlife) lands use the management area permit only.
Is there a Florida black bear hunt?
Yes, but only on private lands enrolled in the Private Lands Bear Harvest Program, with properties of at least 5,000 contiguous acres, a certified wildlife biologist plan, and a documented bear survey. Tags scale by size.
Do I have to take a hunter-ed course?
Yes. Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 must complete an approved hunter safety course before buying a license.
When do youth deer weekends happen?
The youth deer weekend falls at the end of October each year. Both youth and accompanying adults must hold valid licenses unless exempt by age.
Conclusion
Whew, that’s a lot. The five items worth circling: deer opens earliest in Zone A at the start of August, waterfowl splits usually run three segments, turkey south of SR 70 starts gobbling first, alligator is your most unique chance if you tag in, and bear is locked behind the largest landholders. Bookmark this page, double-check the FWC rule updates closer to your window, and grab those quota permits months in advance. Many WMAs fill up before the season warms.
Plan well, scout hard, log your harvest through the FWC app, and bring a buddy along. Florida has some of the most accessible public ground in the country – go use it.