Florida’s thriving wild turkey populations are something to be thankful for! Out of the five North American subspecies of wild turkey, two are found in the Sunshine State – the Osceola and eastern. The Osceola subspecies can only be found here, making Florida a must-hunt destination for hunters pursuing their Grand Slam. Plus, wild turkey meat, which is leaner than store-bought birds, provides a tasty, clean-eating alternative for holiday feasts. There are opportunities right now for fall turkey hunting.

Spend time with friends and family this Thanksgiving in the deer woods. Deer hunting opportunities are available now throughout the state. General gun seasons are open in the following zones:

Zone A: Nov. 18 – Jan. 7
Zone C: Nov. 4 – Jan. 21
Zone D: Nov. 23 – 26 and Dec. 9 – Feb. 18

Plus, muzzleloading gun season is open in Zone B from Nov. 18 to Dec. 1.

Make the most of your time with these tools:

Florida is blessed to have nearly 6 million acres of public hunting land. You can find wildlife management areas where you can hunt without a quota hunt permit. Don’t forget to check the open/closed status of WMAs (including roads, units and canals).

To help hunters get started, we’ve launched a new webpage where you can find information about season dates, regulations, hunter safety requirements, and where to go.

Locate counties with the highest antler scores and number of Buck Registry entries with this interactive deer map.

Check out the statewide rut map and rut maps by zones.

Brush up on antler regulations.

Gray squirrel and rabbit seasons allow hunters to pass along time-honored skills and traditions to youth or adults new to hunting. Pursuing gray squirrel and rabbit provides a low-cost way to experience hunting and usually requires minimal planning and gear. Good rabbit and squirrel hunting areas can be found throughout Florida on private lands and wildlife management areas (WMAs) across the state. Before you go, check out the open/closed status of WMAs (including roads, units and canals).

Get started now! We have a new gray squirrel and rabbit hunting webpage with the information you need, including tips, season dates and where to hunt.

Quail hunters yearning to experience the explosion of a covey rise should round up their best dogs and go! Hunting season for northern bobwhite or bobwhite quail runs through March 4 statewide.

Learn about northern bobwhites.

Hunting mourning and white-winged doves is one of the best ways for friends and family, including youth, to spend quality time afield. Socializing during the hunt is part of the fun. Sharing a meal of dove breasts after the hunt also makes it special.

Check out the newly updated dove hunting webpage for need-to-know regulations, hunting tips, and where to find a FWC-managed dove field. Then make plans to hunt the second phase of dove season, which runs through Dec. 4.

On Thanksgiving, many will greet the day in a duck blind. The regular season for ducks, coots, and light geese opened Saturday, Nov. 18 and runs through Nov. 26, 2017, and reopens Dec. 9, 2017, to Jan. 28, 2018. The regular season for Canada goose runs Nov. 18 - Nov. 26, 2017, and Dec. 1, 2017 - Jan. 30, 2018.

Florida is a great place to hunt ducks and geese. Waterfowl habitat covers vast expanses of Florida and waterfowl populations are robust and healthy.

Hunters who harvest banded ducks will only be able to report banded birds online beginning this season. In the past, waterfowl hunters had the option to report banded ducks by calling a toll-free phone number. Eliminating the telephone option will provide more accurate data, and you’ll have immediate access to a printable certificate and banding information. Plus, it will save money that can be used for banding-related research and management projects.

For those who enjoy target shooting, the Triple N Ranch Shooting Range is another reason to be thankful. Located south of Kissimmee/St. Cloud in Osceola County, this new FWC-managed public range opened Nov. 18. It features a fully automated 19-station sporting clays course, multiple-position rifle and handgun ranges, and a classroom for hunter safety students. Triple N Ranch Shooting Range was developed to accommodate a growing demand for facilities where people can safely enjoy target shooting. Its location next to Forever Florida adds another exciting recreational opportunity to Osecola County.

The range was established by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in partnership with Osceola County using Wildlife Restoration Program funds. Additional support and funding was provided by Osceola County, the National Rifle Association, and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.