Archery and crossbow seasons in Zone D are set to commence on October 26, marking the start of deer season outside the wildlife management area system. This follows the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) confirmation in June 2023 of the first known case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a white-tailed deer in Florida. Since then, no further cases have been reported.
The FWC has implemented a CWD Management Zone with special regulations to enhance sampling and protect Florida’s white-tailed deer herd by mitigating the spread of CWD within this zone and beyond. James Kelly, FWC’s CWD Surveillance Coordinator, emphasized the importance of early detection: “Florida’s early detection puts us in a best-case scenario for CWD management, as a smaller outbreak is more realistic to contain.” He added that hunters play a crucial role by submitting samples for testing and adhering to new regulations.
In Deer Management Unit D2, antlerless deer can be taken throughout the entire deer season except in wildlife management areas. Up to three antlerless deer may be harvested as part of the statewide annual bag limit of five.
Feeding restrictions within the CWD Management Zone allow feeding only during hunting season. Exporting whole carcasses and high-risk parts from this zone is prohibited; however, deboned meat, finished taxidermy mounts, clean hides and antlers, skulls, skull caps, and teeth with all soft tissue removed may be exported. The FWC advises hunters on proper disposal methods for carcasses to prevent spreading CWD.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends testing deer from CWD-affected areas before consumption. Consuming meat from animals that test positive or appear sick is discouraged. The FWC provides free CWD testing throughout the hunting season at designated locations found at MyFWC.com/CWD.
Hunters should anticipate up to 30 days for test results due to limited laboratory availability nationwide. Results can be accessed at MyFWC.com/CWDResults. Additional information about CWD and regulations is available on MyFWC.com/CWD.