Deer Hunting Rules Change

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved in February rule changes for 2019-2020 regarding FWC-managed public hunting areas and statewide hunting, including many dealing with deer hunting.

Visit the new FAQs webpage for information about the new rules including the annual statewide bag limit for deer, harvest reporting, youth-related deer hunting rules, Antlerless Deer Permit Program adjustments as well as other statewide rules.

The new annual statewide bag limit is 5 deer per hunter of which no more than 2 deer can be antlerless (any deer, except a spotted fawn, without antlers or whose antlers are less than five inches in length). The annual statewide bag limit for deer applies to all hunters, including those exempt from hunting license/permit requirements (hunters under 16 years of age, resident hunters 65 years and older, those with a disability license, military personnel and those hunting on their homestead in their county of residence).

Beginning with the 2019-2020 hunting season, a new rule goes into effect requiring all persons to comply with harvest reporting requirements including hunters under 16 years of age, resident hunters 65 years and older, those with a disability license, military personnel, and those hunting on their homestead in their county of residence. In addition, all deer taken under Antlerless Deer Permit Program and Private Lands Deer Management Permit Program permits are to be reported through the harvest reporting system by the hunter who harvested the deer.

Rule changes are based on requests from staff, cooperators and stakeholders. Stakeholder input on proposed changes was sought throughout the rulemaking process to achieve regulations based on hunter preference and sound science to ensure sustainability.