FLORIDA – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved new rule changes for the 2024-2025 hunting seasons and a new special-use alligator harvest opportunity.
Summaries of all the rule amendment proposals were introduced online for public comment on Sep. 20, 2023, which resulted in more than 16,000 comments and replies, according to the FWC.
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The new rule changes include a new wildlife management area (WMA) in Liberty County which will offer over 12,000 acres of hunting opportunities for deer, wild turkey, small game, wild hog, dove and duck.
Other significant changes to this hunting season include:
1. New hunting opportunities: Establish new hunts, expand current seasons or remove quotas on 36 WMAs across the state.
2. People with Disabilities Crossbow Permits: Allow persons who possess a valid Persons with Disabilities Crossbow Permit to use airbows (pre-charged pneumatic airguns firing arrows) during archery season.
3. Squirrel hunting on private land: Allow the take of gray squirrels year-round on lands outside the WMA system.
4. Transporting live raccoons: Allow the transport of wild-trapped, live raccoons by people possessing a valid wildlife rehabilitation permit.
5. Deer Dog Hunting Permit on WMAs: Require a no-cost permit for taking deer with dogs on WMAs.
According to FWC, rule change proposals are based on requests from staff, cooperators and stakeholders.
In addition to those changes, the FWC also approved rule changes to establish a special-use alligator harvest opportunity for the 2024 alligator harvest season.
According to the FWC, this new opportunity will complement the existing statewide alligator hunt and will create a flexible alternative that allows permittees to hunt at multiple alligator management units during a longer season than the statewide hunt.
Applicants are required to pay for each special-opportunity application and can apply as many times during the application period to increase their chances of being drawn.
The 2024 application period will run from May 3 to June 3.
The number of permittees will be established annually and will be selected through a random drawing process. Up to two alligators may be harvested per permit and selected permittees will be allowed to hunt at any legally accessible alligator management unit from Aug. 15 to Dec. 31.