Florida FWC Announces 2012-13 Hunting Season Dates
Please note: The statewide hunting season for gray squirrel on private lands has been extended. From now on, it will open the second Saturday in October and close the first Sunday in March. This season, the dates will be Oct. 13 – March 3.
2012-2013 Florida Hunting Season Dates | ||||
| Season | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Zone D |
| Archery | July 28 – Aug. 26 | Oct. 13 – Nov. 11 | Sept. 15 – Oct. 14 | Oct. 20 – Nov. 21 |
| Deer-dog training | Aug. 11-30
| Oct. 27 – Nov. 15 | Sept. 29 – Oct. 18 | Oct. 27 – Nov. 15 |
| Crossbow | July 28 – Aug. 31 | Oct. 13 – Nov. 16 | Sept. 15 – Oct. 19 | Oct. 20 – Nov. 21and Nov. 26-30 |
| Muzzleloading gun | Sept. 1-14
| Nov. 17-30 | Oct. 20 – Nov. 2 | Dec. 1-7 andFeb. 18-24 |
| General gun | Sept. 15 – Oct. 14 andNov. 17 – Jan. 6 | Dec. 1 – Feb. 17 | Nov. 3 – Jan. 20 | Nov. 22-25 andDec. 8 – Feb. 17 |
| Antlerless deer | Nov. 17-23 | Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 | Nov. 17-23 | Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 |
| Fall turkey | Oct. 8-14 andNov. 17 – Jan. 6 | Dec. 1 – Jan. 27 | Nov. 3 – Dec. 30 | Nov. 22-25 andDec. 8 – Jan. 13 * |
| Quail | Nov. 10 – March 3 | Nov. 10 – March 3 | Nov. 10 – March 3 | Nov. 10 – March 3 |
| Gray squirrel | Oct. 13 – March 3 | Oct. 13 – March 3 | Oct. 13 – March 3 | Oct. 13 – March 3 |
| Bobcat and otter | Dec. 1 – March 1 | Dec. 1 – March 1 | Dec. 1 – March 1 | Dec. 1 – March 1 |
| Youth spring turkey hunt ** | Feb. 23-24 | March 9-10 | March 9-10 | March 9-10 |
| Spring turkey | March 2 – April 7 | March 16 – April 21 | March 16 – April 21 | March 16 – April 21 *** |
Wild hogs, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, skunks, nutrias, beavers and coyotes may be taken year-round.
* Except for Holmes County, where there is no fall harvest of turkeys allowed.
** Only youths under 16 years old will be allowed to harvest a turkey while supervised by an adult, 18 years or older.
*** In Holmes County, spring turkey season is limited to March 16-31.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came into existence on July 1, 1999 - the result of a constitutional amendment approved in the 1998 General Election as part of the package proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission.
In the implementation of the Constitutional Amendment, the Florida Legislature combined all of the staff and Commissioners of the former Marine Fisheries Commission, elements of the Divisions of Marine Resources and Law Enforcement of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and all of the employees and Commissioners of the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Five years later, after consulting stakeholders, employees and other interested parties, the FWC adopted a new internal structure to address complex conservation issues of the new century. The new structure focuses on programs, such as habitat management, that affect numerous species. It will focus on moving the decision-making process closer to the public and did not require any additional funding or additional positions.
