Hunting

Hunting in Suwannee River

Area users should familiarize themselves with all regulations. For exact wording of the wildlife laws and regulations, see the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s wildlife code, on file with the Secretary of State and state libraries. This brochure and the Florida Hunting Regulations handbook should provide the information necessary for you to plan your hunting activities. These publications are available at MyFWC.com.

Licenses and permits may be purchased from county tax collectors, license agents, by telephone at 888-486-8356 or through the Commission's Recreational License Issuance Services (RLIS). A no-cost Migratory Bird Permit is available when purchasing a hunting license. Any waterfowl hunter 16 years of age or older must possess a federal duck stamp

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Licenses and Permits

Persons using wildlife management areas are required to have appropriate licenses, permits and stamps. The following persons are exempt from all license and permit requirements (except for quota permits when listed as “no exemptions,” recreational use permits, antlerless deer permits and the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp [federal duck stamp]): Florida residents who are 65 years of age or older; residents who possess a Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate; residents in the U.S. Armed Forces, not stationed in Florida, while home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders; and children under 16 years of age. Children under 16 years of age are exempt from the federal duck stamp. Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 and 16 years of age or older must have passed a Commission-approved hunter-safety course prior to being issued a hunting license, except the Hunter Safety Mentoring exemption allows anyone to purchase a hunting license and hunt under the supervision of a licensed hunter, 21 years of age or older.

GENERAL

All general laws and regulations relating to wildlife and fish shall apply unless specifically exempted for this area. Hunting or the taking of wildlife or fish on this area shall be allowed only during the open seasons and in accordance with the following regulations:

  1. Any person hunting deer or accompanying another person hunting deer shall wear at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent-orange material as an outer garment, above the waistline. These provisions are not required when hunting with a bow and arrow during archery season.
  2. Taking of spotted fawn, swimming deer or roosted turkey is prohibited.
  3. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area.
  4. Driving a metal object into any tree, or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven, is prohibited.
  5. No person shall cut, damage or remove any natural, man-made or cultural resource without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
  6. Taking or attempting to take any game with the aid of live decoys, recorded game calls or sounds, set guns, artificial light, net, trap, snare, drug or poison is prohibited. Recorded calls and sounds can be used to hunt furbearers, wild hog and crows.
  7. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
  8. Hunting, fishing or trapping is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as closed to those activities.
  9. People, dogs, vehicles and other recreational equipment are prohibited in areas posted as “Closed to Public Access” by FWC administrative action.
  10. Taking or herding wildlife from any motorized vehicle, aircraft or boat, which is under power is prohibited until power, and movement from that power, has ceased.
  11. Most game may be hunted from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset (see exceptions for each season).
  12. The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the landowner or primary land manager.
  13. The head and evidence of sex may not be removed from the carcass of any deer or turkey on the area.
  14. The planting or introduction of any plant is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
  15. Wild hog may not be transported alive.
  16. A hunting license is not required to hunt wild hog.
  17. Littering is prohibited.
  18. Fires are prohibited.
  19. An FWC Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with law.
  20. Falconers may hunt during the statewide falconry season anytime a management area is open for public access.

Public Access and Vehicles

  1. Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset.
  2. Persons must enter and exit the area at designated entrances or via the Suwannee River. Please note: The Booker Spring Tract is accessible from the Suwannee River only; the Guaranto Tract is not accessible from the river.
  3. Information about public boat ramps can be found at MyFWC.com/boating.
  4. Motorized vehicles are prohibited except in the parking areas.
  5. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
  6. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.

Hunters and Harvest Report

  1. Hunting equipment may not be taken onto the WMA until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the season.
  2. All deer harvested must be reported to the harvest reporting system within 24 hours of harvest. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for deer harvest reporting instructions.

Guns

  1. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
  2. Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer must be .30 caliber or larger, if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls.
  3. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
  4. Hunting turkey with air guns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed.
  5. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
  6. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  7. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles (muzzleloading and rimfire only), pistols, air guns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used.
  8. For hunting migratory game, only shotguns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
  9. Hunting with full automatic firearms, centerfire rifles, explosive or drug-injecting devices and set guns is prohibited.
  10. The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.

Dogs

  1. Hunting deer or wild hog with dogs is prohibited.
  2. Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except dogs may be used for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
  3. No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the taking of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited.
  4. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
  5. For purposes other than hunting, dogs are allowed, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.

Bag and Possession Limits

  1. Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
    1. Area limits -
      Archery season - See statewide limits below. During the period from September 14 through October 13, that limit may include any combination of antlered and antlerless deer. Only antlered deer may be hunted after October 13.
      Muzzleloading gun - See statewide limits below.
    2. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 2 of which may be antlerless), daily limit 2, possession limit 4.
    3. As part of the statewide annual deer limit, youth less than 16 years of age may harvest 1 deer annually not meeting antler point requirements but having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.
  1. Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
  2. Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
    1. Area limits - Daily limit 1.
      Archery season - Only bearded turkey or gobbler may be hunted. Hunting turkey after October 13 is prohibited.
      Youth turkey and spring turkey - See statewide limits below.
    2. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
  1. Gray squirrel, quail and rabbit - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24 for each.
  2. Raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk and nutria - No bag limits.
  3. Bobcat and otter - Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a trapping license.
  4. Migratory birds - See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook.