Florida · Deer · 2026–27 Edition
Florida Deer Season 2026–27: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
01 — Zones at a glance
| Zone | Earliest opener | Latest close |
|---|---|---|
| Zone A | Aug 1, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 |
| Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 |
| Zone C | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 |
| Zone D | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
Each zone runs its own mix of archery, gun and muzzleloader windows, often split further by management unit — see the full table below for the exact dates by method.
02 — Seasons by method
| Method | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Antlered — Archery | Zone A | Aug 1 – Aug 30 |
| Antlered — Crossbow | Zone A | Aug 1 – Sep 4 |
| Antlerless — Archery | DMU A2 | Aug 1 – Aug 9 |
| Antlerless — Crossbow | DMU A2 | Aug 1 – Aug 9 |
| Antlerless — Archery | DMU A3 | Aug 1 – Aug 16 |
| Antlerless — Crossbow | DMU A3 | Aug 1 – Aug 16 |
| Deer Dog Training Season | Zone A | Aug 15 – Sep 3 |
| Antlered — Muzzleloading gun | Zone A | Sep 5 – Sep 18 |
| Youth deer hunt weekend | Zone A | Sep 12 – Sep 13 |
| Antlerless — Youth deer hunt weekend | DMU A2 and DMU A3 | Sep 12 – Sep 13 |
| Antlered — General gun | Zone A | Sep 19 – Oct 18 |
| Antlered — Archery | Zone C | Sep 19 – Oct 18 |
| Antlered — Crossbow | Zone C | Sep 19 – Oct 23 |
| Antlerless — Archery | Zone C | Sep 19 – Oct 18 |
| Antlerless — Crossbow | Zone C | Sep 19 – Oct 23 |
| Deer Dog Training Season | Zone C | Oct 3 – Oct 22 |
| Antlered — Archery | Zone B | Oct 17 – Nov 15 |
| Antlered — Crossbow | Zone B | Oct 17 – Nov 20 |
| Antlerless — Archery | Zone B | Oct 17 – Nov 15 |
| Antlerless — Crossbow | Zone B | Oct 17 – Nov 20 |
| Antlered — Muzzleloading gun | Zone C | Oct 24 – Nov 6 |
| Antlered — Archery | Zone D | Oct 24 – Nov 25 |
| Antlered — Crossbow | Zone D | Oct 24 – Nov 25 |
| Antlerless — Muzzleloading gun | Zone C | Oct 24 – Nov 6 |
| Antlerless — Archery | Zone D | Oct 24 – Nov 25 |
| Antlerless — Crossbow | Zone D | Oct 24 – Nov 25 |
| Youth deer hunt weekend | Zone C | Oct 31 – Nov 1 |
| Antlerless — Youth deer hunt weekend | Zone C | Oct 31 – Nov 1 |
| Deer Dog Training Season | Zone B; Zone D | Oct 31 – Nov 19 |
| Antlered — General gun | Zone C | Nov 7 – Jan 24 |
| Antlerless — General gun | DMU C5 | Nov 7 – Dec 6 |
| Antlered — Muzzleloading gun | Zone B | Nov 21 – Dec 4 |
| Antlered — General gun (late) | Zone A | Nov 21 – Jan 3 |
| Antlerless — General gun | DMU A2 | Nov 21 – Nov 22 |
| Antlerless — General gun | DMU A3 | Nov 21 – Nov 24 |
| Antlerless — General gun | DMU C1, C2, C3, C4, C6 | Nov 21 – Nov 29 |
| Antlerless — Muzzleloading gun | Zone B | Nov 21 – Dec 4 |
| Antlered — General gun | Zone D | Nov 26 – Nov 29 |
| Antlerless — General gun | Zone D | Nov 26 – Nov 29 |
| Youth deer hunt weekend | Zone B | Nov 28 – Nov 29 |
| Antlerless — Youth deer hunt weekend | Zone B | Nov 28 – Nov 29 |
| Antlered — Crossbow (2nd window) | Zone D | Nov 30 – Dec 4 |
| Antlerless — Crossbow (2nd window) | Zone D | Nov 30 – Dec 4 |
| Antlered — General gun | Zone B | Dec 5 – Feb 21 |
| Antlered — Muzzleloading gun | Zone D | Dec 5 – Dec 11 |
| Youth deer hunt weekend | Zone D | Dec 5 – Dec 6 |
| Antlerless — Muzzleloading gun | Zone D | Dec 5 – Dec 11 |
| Antlerless — Youth deer hunt weekend | Zone D | Dec 5 – Dec 6 |
| Antlered — General gun (2nd window) | Zone D | Dec 12 – Feb 21 |
| Antlerless — General gun (2nd window) | Zone D | Dec 12 – Feb 21 |
| Antlerless — General gun | Zone B | Dec 26 – Jan 3 |
| Antlered — Muzzleloading gun (late) | Zone D | Feb 22 – Feb 28 |
| Antlerless — Muzzleloading gun (late) | Zone D | Feb 22 – Feb 28 |
03 — Bag limits
| Daily | 2 deer |
|---|---|
| Possession | 4 deer |
| Annual | 5 deer of which only 2 can be antlerless. In DMU D2, 3 of the 5 may be antlerless. |
| Exclusions | Deer taken under Antlerless Deer Permit Program, Private Lands Deer Management Permit Program, Deer Depredation Permit Program, on licensed game farms/hunting preserves, and any CWD-positive deer are excluded from all bag limits. |
04 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (August 1, 2026) 06:21 — 20:50
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset — this is the statewide rule for land outside the WMA system. On individual Wildlife Management Areas, shooting hours (and season dates) can differ from the statewide table — check that WMA's own regulations brochure.. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Florida sun times for any other date.
05 — License
A Florida hunting license and deer permit are required. Costs, age rules and where to buy are on our license page below.
Florida hunting license cost & deer permits →
Where to hunt public land in Florida — WMAs by county & access rules →
06 — Scouting gear
Scouting a property before Florida's opener usually means glassing terrain and running a trail camera through the summer and early fall.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
07 — FAQ
When does deer season start in Florida?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is August 1, 2026 — Antlered — Archery, limited to Zone A. Other weapons and zones start later — see the table above.
When does deer season end in Florida?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 28, 2027. Individual methods and zones close on their own dates.
When does bow season start for deer in Florida?
Antlered — Archery opens August 1, 2026 (Zone A). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does rifle season start for deer in Florida?
Antlered — Muzzleloading gun opens September 5, 2026 (Zone A). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does muzzleloader season start for deer in Florida?
Antlered — Muzzleloading gun opens September 5, 2026 (Zone A). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does Zone A deer season open in Florida?
The earliest Zone A opener is Aug 1, 2026, and the zone runs through Jan 3, 2027. Method and management-unit dates inside Zone A vary — see the zone table and the full seasons table above.
When does Zone B deer season open in Florida?
The earliest Zone B opener is Oct 17, 2026, and the zone runs through Feb 21, 2027. Method and management-unit dates inside Zone B vary — see the zone table and the full seasons table above.
When does Zone C deer season open in Florida?
The earliest Zone C opener is Sep 19, 2026, and the zone runs through Jan 24, 2027. Method and management-unit dates inside Zone C vary — see the zone table and the full seasons table above.
When does Zone D deer season open in Florida?
The earliest Zone D opener is Oct 24, 2026, and the zone runs through Feb 28, 2027. Method and management-unit dates inside Zone D vary — see the zone table and the full seasons table above.
How many deer can you shoot in Florida?
2026–27 bag limits: Daily — 2 deer. Possession — 4 deer. Annual — 5 deer of which only 2 can be antlerless. In DMU D2, 3 of the 5 may be antlerless. Exclusions — Deer taken under Antlerless Deer Permit Program, Private Lands Deer Management Permit Program, Deer Depredation Permit Program, on licensed game farms/hunting preserves, and any CWD-positive deer are excluded from all bag limits. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting deer in Florida?
On opening day (August 1, 2026) legal light runs 06:21 to 20:50. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset — this is the statewide rule for land outside the WMA system. On individual Wildlife Management Areas, shooting hours (and season dates) can differ from the statewide table — check that WMA's own regulations brochure. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Florida sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt deer on my own land in Florida without a license?
Florida's exemption is narrower than 'any land you own' — it only covers hunting (or freshwater fishing) on your own homestead property, or that of your spouse or minor child. Whether deer, turkey, or waterfowl permits are still required on a homestead-exempt hunt isn't spelled out in the statute — check with FWC directly before relying on it.
Verified · Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Zones A/B/C/D per FWC 2026-27 Resident Game and Furbearer Hunting Season Dates. All 46 rows reconfirmed against the current FWC table — no date errors found, the page's heading now explicitly labels these '2026-2027 seasons' (previously the year assignment was inferred). Antlerless Zone A has no muzzleloader window on this page. Per-DMU antler regulations (A1-3, B1, C1-6, D1-2) are on linked pages not captured here.