Florida
Osceola turkey, alligator permits, wild hogs, and year-round hunting in Everglades and WMA systems.
Florida - The Sunshine State & Subtropical Wilderness
Florida’s Hunting Opportunities
Florida is a peninsula located in the southeastern United States. The Gulf of Mexico borders the State to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Florida’s terrain is mostly flat, with some rolling hills. The highest point in Peninsular Florida is Sugarloaf Mountain, only 312 feet (95 m) above sea level. The climate of Florida is humid and subtropical. Florida is called the Sunshine State because some areas receive sunshine for three-fourths of the year.
The State is home to a diverse array of plant and animal life. There are over 1,700 species of animals and nearly 4,000 species of plants. The Florida panther is the state animal, and the bald cypress is the state tree.
The State’s plant life is diverse and includes longleaf pine, palmettos, and cypress trees. The fauna of Florida includes Whitetail Deer, American alligators, Florida panthers, manatees, and several species of snakes.
Florida’s coral reefs are some of the most beautiful and diverse in the world. They are home to a wide variety of marine life, from colorful fish to sea turtles.
There are 34 million acres of private and public property, including 6.67 million acres of wildlife management areas, making it one of the country’s largest publicly available hunting systems in the US.
WMAs in Florida are designed for conservation and enjoyment. Hunting is an integral part of the WMA system, and it is available at most locations. The State offers a variety of games, including deer, turkey, quail, and hogs. In addition, there are shooting ranges and camping opportunities in various locations. Quota hunts and special-opportunity hunts are among the options available to those wishing to hunt FWC-managed areas. These restricted entry hunts, given out through random drawing, are meant to offer various hunting experiences while also accomplishing conservation goals. There are also public hunting grounds where a quota permit is not required to hunt in part or all of an area’s season.
Top Hunting Attractions in Florida
Discover the premier wildlife management areas, big game habitats, and renowned wingshooting regions across Florida.
Osceola Wild Turkey Peninsula Strongholds
Everglades & Statewide Trophy Alligator Hunts
Big Cypress National Preserve Wilderness
Green Swamp & Ocala National Forest WMAs
Hunting Benefits
Hunter's Bottom Line
Florida offers hunting experiences completely unlike any other state in the nation. From wading cypress strands for the world's only native Osceola wild turkeys to stalking year-round wild hogs and pursuing giant alligators under moonlight, the Sunshine State is a subtropical proving ground.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manages one of the largest public Wildlife Management Area (WMA) systems in the country, encompassing over 6 million acres. Highly sought-after hunts—such as Osceola turkey on prime WMAs or statewide alligator permits—are allocated through phased quota application periods beginning in May.
Feral hogs are classified as non-game on private lands with no bag limits, closed seasons, or size restrictions, making Florida an undisputed premier destination for thermal night hunts and archery spot-and-stalk adventures.
Hunters in Florida must respect subtropical field conditions: breathable lightweight technical clothing, snake-proof gaiters, rapid meat cooling systems, and dedicated hydration are mandatory year-round.