Thanksgiving
conjures up wonderful memories of laughter around the table while passing
platters of turkey, dressing and other favorite dishes. There are other
traditions that create strong memories. Quail hunting behind a
birdy pointer. Sunrise in a duck blind. Watching the woods from a treestand.
The sights, smells and sounds of being afield are impossible to forget,
especially when you experience it with someone special. We hope you have a
chance to enjoy the natural beauty of Florida this holiday season. Below we’ve
listed resources to help you get started. And from our FWC family to yours,
Happy Thanksgiving!
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Tips for treestand safety
When hunting from a treestand, remember to ALWAYS:
- Use a fall-arrest system/full-body harness. - Stay connected to the tree from the time you leave the ground until you’re back down. - Inspect the treestand, all safety devices and the fall-arrest system/full-body harness before each use.
Get more
tips through this FREE, fast and easy-to-understand treestand safety course.
Sign up for 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.
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