John Willoughby
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
Throw on your camouflage, grab your hunting gear and let’s head to the woods. The 2020-2021 hunting season is already underway in North Florida's Zone C and will soon be opened in zone's B and D (central and southern parts of Florida). Here's what you need to know before you head to the tree stand.
There are many seasons dedicated to the use of a specific weapon for deers and antlerless deers. During general gun season, only centerfire rifles, shotguns and centerfire pistols and pre-charge pneumatic air guns may be used. The following are also legal during hunting season:
Archery season allows hunters to use bows. As far as hunting during crossbow season, crossbows and bows may be used. During muzzleloading gun season, muzzleloaders fired by wheel lock, flintlock, percussion cap or centerfire primer (including 209 primers), along with bows and crossbows, are legal. Fire arms that can be loaded from the breech are not legal during muzzleloading gun season.
Live traps are also eligible to be used during trapping season. Live traps and snares (including power snares) can be used to take furbearers and wild hogs, but must be checked every 24 hours. The use of steel leg-hold traps, dog-proof raccoon traps and body-grip (conibear) traps are prohibited, except when permitted by the FWC.
While hunting is exciting and sometimes relaxing, thanks to the quietness of the backwoods of North Florida, there are certain rules that, if followed, can keep a hunter out of legal and physical trouble – even if a license is in hand, as required.
Trespassing: Licensed hunters are not authorized to trespass onto private land. Landowners' permission must be obtained before entering private land. The act of trespassing while possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon is a felony, punishable by imprisonment up to five years and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
Use of firearms by felons: It is illegal in the state of Florida for convicted felons to possess firearms, including muzzleloading guns, unless the convicted felon has had his/her civil rights restored by the state's Clemency Board or the firearm qualifies as an antique firearm under Florida Statute 790.001(1). Properly licensed convicted felons may hunt with bows, crossbows or antique firearms (any firearm manufactured in or before 1918 or replica thereof, including any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap or similar early type of ignition system) per Florida Statute 790 during hunting seasons when such devices are legal for taking game. For more details, visit www.myfwc.com.
Shooting hours: During hunting season, hunters may shoot 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, except when hunting turkeys during spring turkey season (see related graph above). Shooting hours during spring turkey season on private lands and most wildlife management areas are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. On select wildlife management areas, spring turkey shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 1 p.m.
Buying or selling game: Selling or purchasing game is prohibited except for game produced on licensed game farms that is lawfully identified and handled. When lawfully taken, the feathers or skin of resident game birds or the skins of deer, squirrels or rabbits may be sold.
Out-of-state game: It is illegal to bring into Florida whole carcasses or certain carcass parts of any species of the family Cervidae (deer, moose, elk, etc.) from anywhere outside of Florida, with limited exceptions. Visit www.myfwc.com/deer for details.
Before you head out, make sure your license and required permits are up to date. For Florida residents, an annual hunting license costs $17. Non-residents have the choice of paying $46.50 for a ten-day non-resident license or $151.50 for an annual non-resident license. Licenses and permits, some of which are required, are available through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, at any county tax collector's office or by calling 1 (888) HUNT-FLORIDA. See you in the woods!