|
Florida is blessed to have nearly
6 million acres of public hunting land
and even if you don’t have a quota hunt permit, there are still wildlife
management areas (WMAs) you can hunt without one. Find WMAs
you can hunt during archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun seasons without a
quota permit.
Work to address Hurricane Irma’s impacts to our wildlife
management areas (WMAs) is ongoing, though most areas have reopened. Find updates on the status of
WMAs including details about road, unit and canal closures.
FWC staff
has drafted proposed rule changes regarding hunting and FWC-managed lands that
would impact 2018 hunting seasons.
Please take
a few minutes to view
proposed hunting rule changes and provide your feedback.
Deer hunting is a great way
to get outdoors and spend time with friends and family. And, when knowledge,
skills and luck come together for a successful hunt, there’s a delicious, organic
meal to enjoy. To help you get started deer hunting, we’ve launched a new web page
where you can find information about season dates, regulations, hunter safety
requirements, and where to go.
Phase II Construction began
at Palm
Beach County Shooting Sports Park. Phase I of this public facility, the rifle
and pistol ranges, is expected to open in 2018. When complete, this range will
be one of the largest shooting sports facilities in Florida with five rifle and
handgun ranges, five Olympic trap fields, six American trap fields, nine skeet
fields, and a 14-station sporting clays course.
Construction on the Triple
N Ranch Shooting Range is nearing completion. The grand opening of this
public facility is set for Saturday, Nov. 18. Doors open at 9 a.m. and the
ceremony begins at 10 a.m., immediately followed by a trick shooting exhibition
by the Gould Brothers. Special grand opening opportunities for the public
include FREE access to the rifle and handgun ranges and up to 50 rounds of
sporting clays (shooters must complete a safety orientation and provide their
own firearms and ammunition.)
The FWC manages public shooting ranges throughout the state
to safely support the needs of recreational target shooters, hunters and hunter safety students.
Looking for a place to target shoot in northwest
Florida? Watch this new
video about the Bay County Shooting Range!
|
The FWC’s Youth Hunting Program, which offers safe, educational, mentored
youth hunts, has posted most of its deer and hog hunts for the upcoming season.
Youth accompanied by a parent or guardian can learn about conservation and gain
new outdoor skills during these organized hunts. Our amazing volunteers provide
places to hunt, meals and mentors at these family-oriented hunts. Visit the Youth Hunting Program event calendar and sign up for a hunt today!
|
If you haven't already bought your
hunting license and permits, take a moment to do so. Here are a few tips to
make it easier:
1) Take advantage of our auto renew option
to automatically renew eligible licenses, permits, donations and hard card
orders. This option was designed to ensure you never have an expired
recreational license or permit.
2) Simplify the process of buying your license and permits by choosing one of
our packages based on the activity. You can get the package for waterfowl
hunting, Florida sportsmen (fishing and hunting) and more!
3) Download the Fish|Hunt App on your smart phone or tablet to renew, purchase
and store your licenses.
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fish-hunt-fl/id942550677?mt=8
Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fwcmobile.android
As a license buyer, you’re also
contributing to conservation. Funds from hunting licenses and the Wildlife
Restoration program are put to work on behalf of conservation and science-based
management.
|
Wildlife
management area (WMA) closures due to Hurricane Irma meant some limited
entry/quota hunts were not held. Plus, impacts such as power outages, property
damage, and fuel shortages prevented many people from taking part in quota
hunts at WMAs that were open. We know these opportunities are important and are
taking steps to encourage you to apply for future quota hunts.
All people
who drew a quota permit during the Phase I
application period (May 15 - June 15) for a hunt impacted by a Hurricane Irma
WMA closure will have their preference points plus one point restored. This includes
all quota hunts that occurred during the Sept. 8–24 time period in the North
Central, Northeast, Southwest and South regions and one cancelled hunt in the
Northwest region due to a WMA closure. We expect this preference point restoration to be reflected
in customer accounts at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com
by the end of the year.
Before going
afield, we recommend you review the open/closed status of the WMAs you’re
interested in. We continue to update this page with information about storm-related WMA
opens/closures, including details about roads, entrances and more.
Hunting season openers in October
Zone B archery season and crossbow season opens Saturday,
Oct. 14
Zone C muzzleloading season opens Saturday, Oct. 21
Zone D archery season and crossbow season opens
Saturday, Oct. 21
Gray Squirrel season opens
Saturday, Oct. 14.
Upcoming permit application periods
Phase
1 application period for regular season waterfowl permits – Period B begins Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. and runs
through Oct. 30
Availability of phase II leftovers for Merritt Island
Waterfowl begins Oct.
12
Deer hunters' online
tool kit:
NEW: Get started deer
hunting with information about season dates, regulations, hunter safety requirements,
and where to go.
Interactive
deer map to locate counties with the highest antler scores and number of
Buck Registry entries
Statewide
rut map and
rut maps by zones
Where to hunt without a quota permit
Open/closed status of WMAs (including
roads, units and canals)
2017-2018 WMA Regulations Brochures and learn how WMA regulations brochures will be
available after this season.
Get your hunting license and permits
2017-2018 Florida hunting season dates and bag limits
2017-2018 Florida Hunting Regulations
Sign up a hunter
safety course
Hunter safety courses cover firearms safety, wildlife conservation, responsible hunting
and more. Students can attend a no-cost traditional classroom course. Or they
can complete the classroom portion online. FWC’s website offers several online
courses including a FREE option. After the online classroom portion is
complete, students must sign up and attend a skills day.
What: Quail Forever meeting to discuss chapter development, fundraising, habitat projects, and outreach opportunities
When: October 17 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where: The FWC North Central Office in Lake City, FL
Contact: Kenny Barker, 850-251-0638 or kbarker@quailforever.org
What: Gulf Power Second Chance of Northwest Florida sporting clays tournament
When: Oct. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to noon
Where: Bay County Shooting Range
Contact:
Pete Baily, 850-393-7568 or PJBaily@southernco.com
Sherl Morden, 850-769-7779 or Sherl@schance.org
Note: Sporting clays course will reopen to the public at noon
What: Dazzlers Dance Academy Sporting Clays Tournament
When: Oct. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to noon
Where: Bay County Shooting Range
Contact: Jennifer Aldridge, 850-867- 8136 or Jenfsu9982@hotmail.com
Note: Sporting clays course will reopen to the public at noon
Youth Hunter Education Challenge events
What: Youth 18 and under who have successfully completed a Florida hunter safety
course are invited to improve their hunting and firearms safety skills at an
upcoming Florida Youth Hunter Education Challenge (FLYHEC) events. The program, developed by the National Rifle Association for hunter safety course graduates, offers lessons in leadership and safe, responsible hunting and target shooting.
Where: The following 2017/2018 events are scheduled for
the Lakeland/Tenoroc area.
When: Saturday, Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Topics Covered: Muzzleloading, hunting skills trail, and shotgun patterning competition
When: Saturday, Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Topics Covered: Archery skills, orienteering, archery competition
When: Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Topics Covered: Sporting clays
When: Saturday/Sunday, Feb. 17-18, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Topics Covered: Hunting, target shooting
To register for these events, email Jason.Tackett@MyFWC.com or call 863-648-3816.
| 
