At its February meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved several rule changes for the 2025-26 hunting season. These changes include regulations for FWC-managed areas and were based on input from staff, cooperators, and stakeholders. Summaries of all proposed amendments were made available online for public comment starting October 2, 2024, resulting in over 14,000 responses.
Among the changes is the establishment of three new wildlife management areas: Deep Creek in St. Johns County, Dinner Island Ranch – Caracara Unit in Hendry County, and Rice Creek in Putnam County.
The FWC has also introduced new hunting opportunities by establishing new hunts, expanding current seasons, or removing quotas on 25 wildlife management areas across Florida.
Regarding nonresident turkey hunting rules, nonresidents are now prohibited from hunting wild turkey during the first nine days of the zonal spring turkey season at Big Cypress, Herky Huffman/Bull Creek, Jumper Creek, Three Lakes, and J.W. Corbett. Nonresident turkey hunters must purchase a nonresident annual hunting license instead of a 10-day license. Additionally, there is a limit of 10% on the number of spring turkey quota permits issued to nonresidents.
Improvements have been made to the quota hunt program as well. Individuals can apply for a preference point during Phase I of the quota application process. When individuals return a quota permit, they will only receive the number of preference points they had before applying. Those who return a permit obtained in Phase I are prohibited from applying for that same hunt during Phase IV reissues. Furthermore, individuals will forfeit preference points after five years of inactivity instead of two.
For more information about the rulemaking process, visit MyFWC.com/About and click on “Rules & Regulations.”
