Florida Hunting & Fishing
Season Calendar 2026

Florida archery deer season opens Jul 15 in South Florida zones and Aug 30 in other zones, running through Aug 30 as an early archery opportunity before general seasons; only legal archery equipment is permitted — compound, recurve, and longbow. Crossbows require a special license endorsement unless the hunter has a documented qualifying disability. Hunters must possess a valid Florida hunting license, deer permit, and a Management Area permit when hunting public land. Florida's summer archery season targets deer in bachelor groups before velvet shedding — food plots and browse edges near water hold the most deer activity in extreme summer heat.

Florida whitetail deer general season runs Oct 19–Jan 26 across most zones with varying opening and closing dates by county and management zone; legal methods include centerfire rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and archery equipment. A valid Florida hunting license and deer permit are required. Florida deer management is intensively zoned — antler restrictions, antlerless quotas, and season dates vary significantly by county and land management unit. Blaze orange is not required in Florida but is strongly recommended. South Florida deer hunting in the Everglades agricultural interface is a unique experience distinct from the hardwood hammock and cypress swamp hunting found in north Florida.

Florida Osceola wild turkey season runs Mar 1–Apr 6; the Osceola is a subspecies found only in peninsular Florida and is one of the most sought-after birds for turkey slam hunters. Legal methods include shotguns, archery, and crossbows; electronic calls are prohibited statewide. Hunters must possess a valid Florida hunting license and a turkey permit; the bag limit is two gobblers per season, one per day. WMA turkey hunting requires a WMA permit and compliance with unit-specific quotas — some WMAs operate on a quota hunt system requiring advance reservation. Private ranch hunting in Osceola, Glades, and Polk Counties offers high success rates for guided hunters.

Florida dove season runs Sep 20–Oct 15 in the North Zone; hunters must possess a valid Florida hunting license and be HIP certified before taking any migratory birds. Daily bag limit is 15 mourning doves with a possession limit of 45. A fully feathered wing must remain attached to all birds during transport until delivery to a personal residence or commercial processor. Managed dove fields on WMAs in north Florida require a WMA permit in addition to standard license requirements. Florida's early September dove season aligns with resident bird concentrations before most migratory birds arrive — millet and sunflower fields are the most productive hunting locations.

No bag limit with permit; WMAs