 The 2022-23 Florida Hunting Regulations Guide is available now at MyFWC.com/HuntRegs, retailers that sell hunting license and permits, and most county tax collectors.
If you’re wondering what new regulations are taking effect this season, below is a list of the more significant changes. You can see an expanded list of 2022-23 rule changes for statewide seasons (outside of the wildlife management area system) and individual WMAs.
Heads up about hunting with dogs: If you’re using dogs not under physical restraint to pursue deer, wild hog, fox or coyote, they must have collars equipped with devices that allow for behavior correction as well as remote tracking (GPS or telemetry). Tracking and control collars allow hunters to determine the location of their dogs and remotely correct their course. The requirement for a remote tracking device went into effect in 2021 while the corrective device rule went into effect July 1.
New hunting opportunities for 2022-23: New rules are making nighttime raccoon hunting available this season on the following WMAs in the North Central Region: Cypress Creek, Devil’s Hammock, Homosassa, Little River, Log Landing, Lower Econfina River, Mallory Swamp, Middle Aucilla and Steinhatchee Springs. Before heading to a WMA, take a moment to review the area’s regulations to ensure you know the season dates, bag limits, license requirements, allowed methods of take and other rules. Find WMA regulations information at MyFWC.com/WMAbrochures.
Wild turkey harvest reporting: Beginning with the fall 2022 hunting season, hunters are required to report harvested wild turkeys. This requirement applies to spring and fall wild turkey seasons. Upon harvesting a wild turkey, hunters must: a) log their harvested wild turkey prior to moving it from the point where they located their harvest and b) report it within 24 hours of being harvested using the same FWC harvest reporting options used by deer hunters: paper harvest log, telephone, website or mobile app.
Data obtained from harvest reporting will provide biologists with valuable information about the number of wild turkeys harvested during spring and fall seasons. It also will provide data about when wild turkeys are being harvested and from what county or WMA. Don’t forget, harvested deer must also be logged and reported. Learn more about deer and wild turkey harvest reporting at MyFWC.com/HarvestReport.
New WMA: A new WMA in northwest Florida, Tate's Hell – St. James Island Unit, will offer hunting opportunities during the 2022-23 season. This 8,182-acre area in Franklin County is managed by the FWC in cooperation with the lead land manager, the Florida Forest Service. This latest public hunting opportunity is another example of the FWC and its cooperators working to establish new WMAs and increase the number of acres at existing areas throughout the state.
By reporting all wild turkeys you see now through August 31, you can help biologists learn more about wild turkey populations in Florida.
We’re interested in sightings of hens with and without poults, jakes and gobblers throughout Florida, including in rural and developed areas. Get started reporting wild turkeys on your mobile device by downloading the Survey123ArcGIS app or report sightings online.
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- Sign up for auto-renew to make sure your licenses and permits are always up to date.
- Simplify license buying by choosing one of our license packages such as the Florida Sportsman package, Deer Hunter package, and more!
- Download the Fish|Hunt FL App on your smartphone or tablet to renew, purchase and store your licenses and permits.
Sign up for auto renew or buy license packages at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Learn more about licenses and permits.
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You can receive your hunter safety certification by taking an FWC-approved online course and then registering for an FWC virtual or in-person field day. We even offer a free option for the online portion and the field day is free, too! Students who take the course can learn about conservation and how to be safe, knowledgeable, responsible, and involved hunters. Find a Florida hunter safety course.
Florida requires anyone born after June 1, 1975, to receive their hunter safety certification before they can buy a license to hunt unsupervised.
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Our next commission meeting will be held July 13-14 at the Adam W. Herbert University Center in Jacksonville. The meeting begins at 8:30 (EST) each morning and it is open to the public. If you can’t attend in person, you can follow @MyFWC on Twitter, sign up for Commission meeting news updates, and watch it on The Florida Channel.
For more information about this meeting, see the agenda and news release.
In Zone A, archery and crossbow seasons will be opening July 30 on lands outside of the WMA system. See our tips below to get ready!
Find a Range to Practice with Your Bow
Several FWC-managed shooting ranges provide archery opportunities including Klondike Archery Park, Bay County Shooting Range, Osceola Shooting Range, Tenoroc Public Shooting Range, Triple N Ranch Shooting Range and Indian River County Shooting Range. In addition, there are archery targets adjacent to Knight Trail Park Pistol and Rifle Range. Find FWC-managed shooting ranges. Search for other archery facilities.
Determine what licenses and permits are needed
- To hunt during archery season, hunters must have a Florida hunting license, deer permit and an archery season permit, unless exempt. If hunting a wildlife management area, a management area permit is required, unless exempt. In addition, a quota hunt permit may be required to participate in designated hunts on select wildlife management areas.
- To hunt during crossbow season, hunters must have a Florida hunting license, deer permit and a crossbow season permit, unless exempt. On most wildlife management areas, only those with a Persons With Disabilities Crossbow Permit are allowed to use crossbows during archery season and a management area permit (unless exempt) also is required (review the WMA regulations brochure for the area you want to hunt).
Get ready to log and report harvested deer and turkey
- If you’re going to use the Fish|Hunt Florida App to log and report your harvested deer and wild turkey on your mobile device, now is a good time to download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
- If you’re planning to log and report at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, make it easy to find by bookmarking the webpage now.
- If you want to use a paper harvest log, print a few copies and stash them in your hunting backpack or fanny pack. And if you’re going to report via the phone, add this phone number to your contact list before you head afield: 888-468-8356 (888-HUNT-FLORIDA).
- Learn more about how to log and report harvested deer and wild turkey.
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