Complete Guide to Florida Hunting Seasons in 2026-2027
If you’re planning a trip into the palmettos, pines, marsh edges, or oak hammocks this year, this guide pulls the big stuff into one place: verified dates, top species, zone notes, tag basics, public-land reminders, and the official maps you’ll want open before you leave the driveway. We’ve kept it beginner-friendly on purpose, because let’s be honest, FWC charts can feel a little like tax paperwork until you’ve read them three times. Once you know your zone and target species, though, the whole calendar starts to make a lot more sense.
Quick Look: Key Species Table
| Species | Verified dates | Method(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Deer | Aug. 1, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027 depending on zone/method | Archery, crossbow, muzzleloader, general gun |
| Wild hog | Year-round | Rifle, shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader, air gun, crossbow, bow |
| Turkey | Fall: Oct. 5, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027 depending on zone; Spring: Mar. 6-Apr. 25, 2027 depending on SR 70 split | Shotgun, rifle, handgun, muzzleloader, PCP air gun, crossbow, bow |
| Quail | Nov. 14, 2026-Mar. 7, 2027 | Rifle, shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader, air gun, crossbow, bow |
| Gray squirrel | Year-round | Standard legal methods for small game |
| Rabbit | Year-round | Standard legal methods for small game |
| Bobcat | Dec. 1, 2026-Mar. 31, 2027 | Rifle, shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader, air gun, crossbow, bow |
| Otter | Dec. 1, 2026-Mar. 1, 2027 | Rifle, shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader, air gun, crossbow, bow |
| Dove* | Sept. 27-Oct. 19, Nov. 8-30, Dec. 19-Jan. 31 | Shotgun/bow under migratory bird rules |
| Duck* | Sept. 20-24; Nov. 22-30; Dec. 6-Jan. 25 | Waterfowl-legal methods, nontoxic shot |
| Geese* | Canada: Sept. 6-28; Nov. 22-30; Dec. 1-Jan. 30 | Waterfowl-legal methods, nontoxic shot |
*Latest official bird page currently posted by FWC is 2025-2026.
All Big Games: Archery & Rifle
For big-game planning, whitetails are the headline act. The state uses Zones A, B, C, and D, and the opener changes a lot depending on where you are. That’s the part that trips up most first-timers. I had the same “wait… why is one county opening in August and another much later?” reaction the first time I studied the map. The short answer is biology and local breeding timing. So before you do anything else, match your county to the correct zone and DMU.
Deer dates by zone
| Zone | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader | General gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Aug. 1-30, 2026 | Aug. 1-Sept. 4, 2026 | Sept. 5-18, 2026 | Sept. 19-Oct. 18, 2026; Nov. 21, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027 |
| B | Oct. 17-Nov. 15, 2026 | Oct. 17-Nov. 20, 2026 | Nov. 21-Dec. 4, 2026 | Dec. 5, 2026-Feb. 21, 2027 |
| C | Sept. 19-Oct. 18, 2026 | Sept. 19-Oct. 23, 2026 | Oct. 24-Nov. 6, 2026 | Nov. 7, 2026-Jan. 24, 2027 |
| D | Oct. 24-Nov. 25, 2026 | Oct. 24-Nov. 25 and Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2026 | Dec. 5-11, 2026 and Feb. 22-28, 2027 | Nov. 26-29, 2026 and Dec. 12, 2026-Feb. 21, 2027 |
Deer tag and bag basics
- Daily limit: 2 deer
- Possession limit: 4 deer
- Annual limit: 5 deer
- Only 2 antlerless may be taken annually, except in DMU D2, where 3 antlerless are allowed
- A deer permit is required in addition to the basic license unless exempt
- Antlerless opportunity varies by DMU
Youth deer weekends
- Zone A: Sept. 12-13, 2026
- Zone B: Nov. 28-29, 2026
- Zone C: Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2026
- Zone D: Dec. 5-6, 2026
Youth can take one deer during the weekend, and the deer counts toward the youth’s statewide annual limit. These special weekends do not apply on WMAs.
Other big game notes
- Wild hog: open year-round, no bag limit listed statewide on the resident game page.
- Black bear / elk: no statewide open dates for either species appear on the official 2026-2027 resident game page reviewed for this article.
Turkey Season
Turkey fans get both fall and spring windows, plus youth opportunities. The big split to remember is north or south of State Road 70 for spring dates.
- Spring south of SR 70: Mar. 6-Apr. 11, 2027
- Youth south of SR 70: Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2027
- Spring north of SR 70: Mar. 20-Apr. 25, 2027
- Youth north of SR 70: Mar. 12-15, 2027
- Fall Zone A: Oct. 5-18, 2026 and Nov. 21, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027
- Fall Zone B: Dec. 5, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027
- Fall Zone C: Nov. 7, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027
- Fall Zone D: Nov. 26-29, 2026 and Dec. 12, 2026-Jan. 17, 2027
- Daily limit: 2 birds
- Fall limit: 2 total for all fall dates combined
- Spring limit: 2 total for all spring dates combined
A key extra detail for visitors: starting with the 2026 spring gobbler period, nonresidents must buy the annual nonresident hunting license, and the 10-day nonresident license cannot be used during spring turkey dates. FWC also lists a first-nine-days restriction for nonresidents on certain named WMAs. Turkey seasons include spring and fall hunts in Florida, with a youth weekend in the spring.
Furbearers Season
- Bobcat: Dec. 1, 2026-Mar. 31, 2027
- Otter: Dec. 1, 2026-Mar. 1, 2027
- Raccoon, opossum, skunk, beaver, coyote: year-round
- Limits: no statewide bag limit listed for bobcat, otter, or the year-round group above
- Trapping note: live traps and snares may be used for furbearers and wild hogs, but they must be checked every 24 hours; several trap types remain prohibited unless specially permitted
Upland Birds Season
Quail is the cleanest, easiest upland entry on the statewide chart:
- Quail: Nov. 14, 2026-Mar. 7, 2027
- Daily limit: 12
- Possession: 24
Upland Animals Season
- Gray squirrel: year-round, daily 12, possession 24
- Rabbit: year-round, daily 12, possession 24
- Wild hog: year-round, no limit
Other Small Games Season
| Species | Verified dates | Daily / possession |
|---|---|---|
| Dove* | Sept. 27-Oct. 19; Nov. 8-30; Dec. 19-Jan. 31 | 15 / 45 |
| Quail | Nov. 14-Mar. 7 | 12 / 24 |
| Gray squirrel | Year-round | 12 / 24 |
| Rabbit | Year-round | 12 / 24 |
| Crow* | Aug. 9-Oct. 26 (Sat. & Sun. only); Nov. 11-Feb. 18 | No limit / No limit |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Year-round | No limit |
*Bird dates shown here come from the latest official migratory bird page currently posted by FWC.
Migratory Birds Season
If you chase doves, ducks, geese, rails, snipe, or woodcock, use caution and re-check FWC before opening day. The official birds page was still labeled 2025-2026 when reviewed, so those are the latest verified dates currently available from the agency. That matters because federal frameworks can shift, and waterfowl calendars are the last place you want to rely on a stale screenshot from somebody’s group chat.
Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers, Geese Season
Using the latest official FWC bird table currently posted:
- Duck (early teal/wood duck): Sept. 20-24
- Regular duck: Nov. 22-30 and Dec. 6-Jan. 25
- Duck daily limit: 6 total; during the early segment, only 2 wood ducks may be included
- Scaup: 1 from Nov. 22-30 and Dec. 6-Jan. 5; 2 from Jan. 6-25 and during youth/veteran waterfowl dates
- Canada goose: Sept. 6-28; Nov. 22-30; Dec. 1-Jan. 30, daily 5
- Light geese: Nov. 22-30 and Dec. 6-Jan. 25, daily 15, possession no limit
- Merganser: Nov. 22-30 and Dec. 6-Jan. 25, daily 5
Other Waterfowls Season
- Coot: Nov. 22-30 and Dec. 6-Jan. 25, daily 15
- Common gallinule (moorhen): Sept. 1-Nov. 9, daily 15
- Rail (king and clapper): Sept. 1-Nov. 9, daily 15
- Rail (sora and Virginia): Sept. 1-Nov. 9, daily 25
- Snipe: Nov. 1-Feb. 15, daily 8
- Woodcock: Dec. 18-Jan. 31, daily 3
- Purple gallinule: prohibited
More Games Season
A few extra dates are worth bookmarking because they’re easy to miss:
- Youth waterfowl days: Nov. 15, 2025 and Feb. 7, 2026
- Veterans and active military waterfowl days: Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2026
- Deer dog training: Zone A Aug. 15-Sept. 3; Zone B Oct. 31-Nov. 19; Zone C Oct. 3-22; Zone D Oct. 31-Nov. 19
- Crow: Aug. 9-Oct. 26 on Saturdays and Sundays only, then Nov. 11-Feb. 18
Map Link to Hunting Zones
Before you go, save these two pages:
That second link matters because statewide dates do not automatically apply on WMAs. Public-land brochures can change methods, dates, check-station rules, and quota requirements.
License Details
Here’s the quick-money breakdown from the official fee page for permits in Florida:
| License / permit | Cost |
|---|---|
| Annual resident hunting license | $17.00 |
| Five-year resident hunting license | $79.00 |
| Resident youth hunting license | $17.00 |
| Resident youth Gold Sportsman’s | $100.00 |
| Annual nonresident hunting license | $151.50 |
| 10-day nonresident license | $46.50 |
| Management area permit | $26.50 annual |
| Deer permit | $5.00 annual |
| Turkey permit | $10.00 resident annual |
| Turkey permit, nonresident annual | $125.00 |
| Migratory bird permit | No cost |
| Florida waterfowl permit | $5.00 annual |
| Federal duck stamp | $30.50 |
A couple of practical takeaways: the short-term nonresident option is fine for many trips, but not for spring turkey; public-land users usually need the management area permit too; and waterfowl adds both the no-cost migratory permit and paid duck-related add-ons.
If you like comparing regional calendars before planning a road trip, these related guides are handy too: Georgia hunt dates, Alabama hunt calendar, South Carolina guide, and Texas game dates.
FAQ
Do I need extra tags beyond the basic license?
Usually, yes. Deer requires a deer permit, turkey requires a turkey permit, and waterfowl adds the migratory bird permit plus duck-related add-ons. Public-land users may also need a management area permit.
Do statewide dates apply on public land?
Not always. WMAs can run on different calendars and may require quota permits, daily permits, or special check-in rules. Always read the area brochure before you leave home.
Can I use a 10-day nonresident license for spring turkey?
No. FWC says that short-term nonresident license is not valid for spring turkey.
What about night hunting?
For migratory birds, legal shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, with crow running to one-half hour after sunset. For other species and public-land rules, check the current regulation page and the area brochure.
Final Wrap-Up
This year’s calendar is actually pretty friendly once you break it into zones, road-line splits, and species groups. Deer and turkey dates for 2026-2027 are already posted, small game is straightforward, and the main caution flag is migratory birds, where the official update was still on the prior cycle when reviewed. So if you’re heading out soon, do yourself a favor: confirm your zone, pull the WMA brochure if you’re using public land, buy the right permits before opening morning, and keep an eye on FWC for bird updates. A little prep now beats a long drive and a bad surprise at the gate.