Florida Hunting Season 2021: Everything You Need to Know

About Hunting in Florida

Florida focuses a lot on trying to manage fish and wildlife resources for their long term well being and the benefit of the people.There are more than 5.9 million acres of public hunting lands which is why Florida is so much fun to join in on the hunt. It’s important to the state to encourage all those living there to enjoy nature and get involved with hunting. Not only does this help with principles of wildlife conservation it also helps stakeholders to consider ways to effectively manage Florida game wildlife species.

It is important to make sure people are regularly able to access and have a great time while getting outdoors in this sunny state! So remember archer season starts Aug 1 and ends with general gun season and muzzleloading gun season February 28.

Florida Hunting Seasons Offered

Big game- Deer, Hogs, Bobcat
Small game- Squirrel, Rabbits, Raccoons, Opossums, Skunks, Nutrias, Beaver & Coyotes, Otter
Bird- Quail, Turkey

florida hunting season zones — Click here for full map

Florida Deer Archery/Crossbow Dates 2021

Season	Dates	Zone	Limits
Archery	July 31 – Aug. 29	A	Antlered deer*
	Oct. 16 – Nov. 14	B	Antlered deer*
	Sept. 18 – Oct. 17	C	Antlered deer*
	Oct. 23 – Nov. 24	D	Antlered deer*
	July 31 – Aug. 8	A	Antlerless deer*
	July 31 – Aug. 15	A	Antlerless deer*
	Oct. 16 – Nov. 14	B	Antlerless deer*
	Sept. 18 – Oct. 17	C	Antlerless deer*
	Oct. 23 – Nov. 24	D	Antlerless deer*
Crossbow	July 31 – Sept. 3	A	Antlered deer*
	Oct. 16 – Nov. 19	B	Antlered deer*
	Sept. 18 – Oct. 22	C	Antlered deer*
	Oct. 23 – Nov. 24 Nov. 29 – Dec. 3	D	Antlered deer*
	July 31 – Aug. 8 July 31 – Aug. 15	A	Antlerless deer*
	Oct. 16 – Nov. 14	B	Antlerless deer*
	Sept. 18 – Oct. 17	C	Antlerless deer*
	Oct. 23 – Nov. 24	D	Antlerless deer*

Daily bag limit: 2 deer

During those portions of archery and crossbow seasons when antlerless deer can be taken, either deer may be antlered or antlerless.
During those portions of muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons when antlerless deer may be taken, only 1 deer may be antlerless.
During all other seasons, only antlered deer may be taken. Antlerless deer can only be taken by antlerless deer permit/tag.

Possession limit: 4 deer

Annual bag limit: 5 deer of which only 2 can be antlerless

Deer taken under the Deer Depredation Permit Program, Private Lands Deer Management Permit Program and Antlerless Deer Permit Program (antlerless deer only), and on licensed game farms and hunting preserves are excluded from bag (daily and annual) and possession limits.

Florida Deer Firearm Dates 2021

Season	Dates	Zone	Notes
General Gun	Sept. 18 – Oct. 17 Nov. 20 – Jan. 2	A	Antlered deer*
	Dec. 4 – Feb. 20	B	Antlered deer*
	Nov. 6 – Jan. 23	C	Antlered deer*
	Nov. 25–28 Dec. 11 – Feb. 20	D	Antlered deer*
	DMU A2: Nov. 20–21 DMU A3: Nov. 20–23	A	Antlerless deer*
	Dec. 31 – Jan. 2	B	Antlerless deer*
	DMU C1: Nov. 19–22 DMU C2: Nov. 19–21 DMU C3: Nov. 19–21 DMU C4: Nov. 19–22 DMU C5: Nov. 6–7, Nov. 20–21 DMU C6: Nov. 19–22	C	Antlerless deer*
	DMU D1: Nov. 27–28 Jan. 1–2 DMU D2: Nov. 27–28 Dec. 18–19, Jan. 1–2	D	Antlerless deer*

Daily bag limit: 2 deer

During those portions of archery and crossbow seasons when antlerless deer can be taken, either deer may be antlered or antlerless.
During those portions of muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons when antlerless deer may be taken, only 1 deer may be antlerless.
During all other seasons, only antlered deer may be taken. Antlerless deer can only be taken by antlerless deer permit/tag.

Possession limit: 4 deer

Annual bag limit: 5 deer of which only 2 can be antlerless

Florida Turkey Hunting Dates 2021-2022

Season	Dates	Zone
Archery	July 31 – Aug. 29	A
	Oct. 16 – Nov. 14	B
	Sept. 18 – Oct. 17	C
	Oct. 23 – Nov. 24	D*
Crossbow	July 31 – Sept. 3	A
	Oct. 16 – Nov. 19	B
	Sept. 18 – Oct. 22	C
	Oct. 23 – Nov. 24 Nov. 29 – Dec. 3	D*
Muzzleloading	Sept. 4–17	A
	Nov. 20 – Dec. 3	B
	Oct. 23 – Nov. 5	C
	Dec. 4–10	D*
Fall turkey season**	Oct. 4–17 Nov. 20 – Jan. 2	A
	Dec. 4 – Jan. 30	B
	Nov. 6 – Jan. 2	C
	Nov. 25–28 Dec. 11 – Jan. 16	D*

*Zone D (except in Holmes County, no fall harvest allowed)

Daily bag limit: 2 turkeys

Season and possession limit: 2 for all fall seasons combined

**Fall and spring turkey seasons – Shotguns, rifles, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, pistols, muzzleloaders, crossbows or bows may be used.

Florida Hunting License Info

You must have a valid Florida Driver License or Florida ID card to receive a permit online. To purchase recreational hunting, fishing licenses and permits go to, GoOutdoorsFlorida.com
First you will need a Hunting License and second you will need a permit for the big game you would like to hunt.

Resident/ Nonresident	License	Cost
Resident	Hunting	$17.00
Nonresident	Hunting	$151.50
Resident	Hunting and Fishing Combo	$32.50
Resident	Sportsman	$80.80

Hunting Permit Costs

Permit	Costs
Management area permit	$26.50
Archery permit	$5.00
Muzzleloading	$5.00
Deer Permit	$5.00
Turkey Permit	$10.00
Turkey Permit- Nonresident	$125.00

Florida Hunting News:

To hunt deer in Florida remember that you need to get a general hunting license and then a permit for which weapon you will use along with the type of animal you will be pursuing. Deer hunting is a wonderful opportunity to get outdoors, It’s affordable and with over 6 million acres Florida provides there are free safety courses offered and being a great steward to the best nature and habitats that we have available. Come join the fun with us and learn more from the great sights linked below.