Florida · Turkey · 2026–27 Edition
Florida Turkey Season 2026–27: Fall & Spring Dates, Bag Limits
01 — Fall turkey
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Archery · Zone A | Zone A | Aug 1 – Aug 30 |
| Crossbow · Zone A | Zone A | Aug 1 – Sep 4 |
| Muzzleloading gun · Zone A | Zone A | Sep 5 – Sep 18 |
| Archery · Zone C | Zone C | Sep 19 – Oct 18 |
| Crossbow · Zone C | Zone C | Sep 19 – Oct 23 |
| Fall turkey · Zone A, first segment | Zone A | Oct 5 – Oct 18 |
| Archery · Zone B | Zone B | Oct 17 – Nov 15 |
| Crossbow · Zone B | Zone B | Oct 17 – Nov 20 |
| Archery · Zone D | Zone D | Oct 24 – Nov 25 |
| Crossbow · Zone D, first segment | Zone D | Oct 24 – Nov 25 |
| Muzzleloading gun · Zone C | Zone C | Oct 24 – Nov 6 |
| Fall turkey · Zone C | Zone C | Nov 7 – Jan 3 |
| Muzzleloading gun · Zone B | Zone B | Nov 21 – Dec 4 |
| Fall turkey · Zone A, second segment | Zone A | Nov 21 – Jan 3 |
| Fall turkey · Zone D, first segment | Zone D | Nov 26 – Nov 29 |
| Crossbow · Zone D, second segment | Zone D | Nov 30 – Dec 4 |
| Muzzleloading gun · Zone D | Zone D | Dec 5 – Dec 11 |
| Fall turkey · Zone B | Zone B | Dec 5 – Jan 31 |
| Fall turkey · Zone D, second segment | Zone D | Dec 12 – Jan 17 |
02 — Spring gobbler
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth turkey hunt · South of State Road 70 | South of State Road 70 — youth 15 and under, supervised by an adult of 18 or older | Feb 26 – Mar 1 |
| Spring turkey · South of State Road 70 | South of State Road 70 | Mar 6 – Apr 11 |
| Youth turkey hunt · North of State Road 70 | North of State Road 70 — youth 15 and under, supervised by an adult of 18 or older | Mar 12 – Mar 15 |
| Spring turkey · North of State Road 70 | North of State Road 70 | Mar 20 – Apr 25 |
03 — Bag limits
| Legal birds | Gobblers and bearded turkeys only, in every season |
|---|---|
| Fall · daily | 2 turkeys |
| Fall · season and possession | 2 for all fall seasons combined |
| Spring · daily | 2 turkeys |
| Spring · season and possession | 2 for all spring seasons combined |
| Youth hunt | Youth of 15 and under, supervised by an adult of 18 or older. The adult may call the bird in and take part, but may not shoot or shoot at a turkey |
| Legal methods | Shotguns, rifles, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, handguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows or bows, in both fall and spring |
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 in the fall seasons. Spring turkey is the exception — half an hour before sunrise to sunset on private land and most WMAs, and only to 1 p.m. on some WMAs. 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 turkey permit are required. Spring and fall permits are often sold separately, and some states cap the number of gobblers per hunter per year across both seasons.
Florida hunting license cost & turkey permits →
Where to hunt public land in Florida — WMAs by county & access rules →
06 — Scouting gear
Patterning a gobbler's roost and strut zone before Florida's opener usually means glassing from a distance and running a trail camera through late winter and early spring.
- 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 turkey season start in Florida?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is August 1, 2026. Fall and spring seasons run separately — see the tables above.
When does turkey season end in Florida?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is April 25, 2027. Individual segments and zones close on their own dates.
When does spring turkey season start in Florida?
Youth turkey hunt · South of State Road 70 opens February 26, 2027 (South of State Road 70 — youth 15 and under, supervised by an adult of 18 or older).
When does fall turkey season start in Florida?
Archery · Zone A opens August 1, 2026 (Zone A).
How many turkeys can you shoot in Florida?
2026–27 bag limits: Legal birds — Gobblers and bearded turkeys only, in every season. Fall · daily — 2 turkeys. Fall · season and possession — 2 for all fall seasons combined. Spring · daily — 2 turkeys. Spring · season and possession — 2 for all spring seasons combined. Youth hunt — Youth of 15 and under, supervised by an adult of 18 or older. The adult may call the bird in and take part, but may not shoot or shoot at a turkey. Legal methods — Shotguns, rifles, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, handguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows or bows, in both fall and spring. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting turkey 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 in the fall seasons. Spring turkey is the exception — half an hour before sunrise to sunset on private land and most WMAs, and only to 1 p.m. on some WMAs. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Florida sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt turkey 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 and the State Road 70 split per the FWC 2026-27 season dates page, with bag limits and the gobbler/bearded-only rule cross-checked against the official Digest edition — both agree. The FWC page prints no years; years assigned from the 2026-27 heading (Aug 2026 through Apr 2027), the same convention as the Florida deer record. Only gobblers and bearded turkeys may be taken. SHOOTING HOURS SPLIT BY SEASON: fall follows the general rule of half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, but spring turkey closes at sunset on private land and most WMAs, and at 1 p.m. on some WMAs — check the brochure for the area before a spring hunt. The legal-light figure above is computed for the opening day, which falls in the fall season, so it shows the general rule. Legal methods for both fall and spring turkey: shotguns, rifles, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, handguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows or bows.