Hunting News

2022-23 hunting regulations, changes now available

2022-23 hunting regulations, changes now available

By Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The 2022-23 Florida Hunting Regulations Guide is available now at MyFWC.com, retailers that sell hunting license and permits, and most county tax collectors.

Hunters wondering what new regulations are taking effect this season, will find the list of the more significant changes and an expanded list of 2022-23 rule changes for statewide seasons (outside of the wildlife management area system) and individual WMAs here.

Heads up about hunting with dogs
Hunters using dogs not under physical restraint to pursue deer, wild hog, fox or coyote, must have collars equipped with devices that allow for behavior correction as well as remote tracking (GPS or telemetry). Tracking and control collars allow hunters to determine the location of their dogs and remotely correct their course. The requirement for a remote tracking device went into effect in 2021 while the corrective device rule went into effect July 1.

New hunting opportunities for 2022-23
New rules are making nighttime raccoon hunting available this season on the following WMAs in the North Central Region: Cypress Creek, Devil’s Hammock, Homosassa, Little River, Log Landing, Lower Econfina River, Mallory Swamp, Middle Aucilla and Steinhatchee Springs. Before heading to a WMA, hunters should take a moment to review the area’s regulations to ensure they know the season dates, bag limits, license requirements, allowed methods of take and other rules. Find WMA regulations information here.

Wild turkey harvest reporting
Beginning with the fall 2022 hunting season, hunters are required to report harvested wild turkeys. This requirement applies to spring and fall wild turkey seasons. Upon harvesting a wild turkey, hunters must: a) log their harvested wild turkey prior to moving it from the point where they located their harvest and b) report it within 24 hours of being harvested using the same FWC harvest reporting options used by deer hunters: paper harvest log, telephone, website or mobile app.

Data obtained from harvest reporting provides biologists with valuable information about the number of wild turkeys harvested during spring and fall seasons. It also will provide data about when wild turkeys are being harvested and from what county or WMA. Harvested deer must also be logged and reported. Learn more about deer and wild turkey harvest reporting here.

New WMA
A new WMA in northwest Florida, Tate's Hell – St. James Island Unit, will offer hunting opportunities during the 2022-23 season. This 8,182-acre area in Franklin County is managed by the FWC in cooperation with the lead land manager, the Florida Forest Service. This latest public hunting opportunity is another example of the FWC and its cooperators working to establish new WMAs and increase the number of acres at existing areas throughout the state.

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