Apply now through June 15 for Florida fall quota hunt

If you’re interested in hunting deer or wild hog this fall/winter at a Florida wildlife management area or national wildlife refuge, make plans to apply for quota, special-opportunity and national wildlife refuge hunt permits. The phase I application period opens today and runs through 11:59 p.m. ET on June 15. You can apply at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or in person at a license agent or tax collector’s office.

Make sure you check out the fall quota hunt options at the newest WMA: Tate’s Hell – St. James Island Unit in northwest Florida. The FWC, in cooperation with the area’s lead land manger, the Florida Forest Service, is offering quota hunt permits for deer, wild turkey and wild hog. This new 8,182-acre area in Franklin County will also offer opportunities to hunt small game and migratory birds (doves, ducks, geese, coot, snipe and woodcock) during statewide seasons without a quota permit.

Update About Everglades and Francis S. Taylor and Rotenberger WMA quota permits

Starting this year, we’re changing our approach to issuing airboat quota permits at Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA and general gun vehicle quota permits at Rotenberger WMA.

To avoid canceling these hunts, the FWC will no longer automatically include these quota permits in the phase I application period.

Instead, the decision to issue these quota permits will be made in mid-June, after aerial survey results of deer are received and evaluated.

If survey results support issuing quota permits for hunts on these WMAs, the FWC will announce their availability and how and when to apply.

Please check back to this page in mid-June for information about the availability of these quota permits. Or to receive an update via email, sign up for FWC Hunting News and make sure your email is up-to-date at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.