Florida hunting
Public hunting land in Florida
Caliber maps 96 public hunting areas in Florida, with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
Florida · 96 areas
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife area · 669,449 acres
Apalachicola National Forest
National forest · 576,374 acres
Key West National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 423,817 acres
Ocala National Forest
National forest · 384,657 acres
Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 346,581 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 96 by distance from you.
- 60
- State wildlife areas
- 5
- National forests
- 31
- National wildlife refuges
Florida hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Phone
- (850) 488-4676
- Resident license
- $17.00 — Resident Hunting License (annual)
- Nonresident license
- $151.50 — Nonresident Hunting License (annual); some permits extra (e.g. turkey $125)
- Hunter education
- Required for anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 and 16+ before buying a license; a mentoring deferral exists.
- Good to know
- Management Area Permit ($26.50 annual) is required to hunt Wildlife Management Areas.
Fees and rules as published by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in Florida
The 12 biggest of 96 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 669,449 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Apalachicola National Forest | National forest | 576,374 | Open |
| Key West National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 423,817 | Open |
| Ocala National Forest | National forest | 384,657 | Open |
| Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 346,581 | Open |
| St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 171,011 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Osceola National Forest | National forest | 160,040 | Open |
| Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 149,093 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 102,598 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Pinhook Purchase Unit | National forest | 96,471 | Open |
| National Key Deer Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 88,829 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Big Bend Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 81,939 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
State wildlife areas · 60
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National forests · 5
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws, except near developed sites and where posted. Some areas close for fire or wildlife.
National wildlife refuges · 31
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
Florida hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in Florida?
Caliber lists 96 public hunting areas in Florida: 60 state wildlife areas, 5 national forests, 31 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in Florida?
As published by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $17.00 — Resident Hunting License (annual); nonresident, $151.50 — Nonresident Hunting License (annual); some permits extra (e.g. turkey $125). Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in Florida?
Required for anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 and 16+ before buying a license; a mentoring deferral exists. Check Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in Florida?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find Florida hunting land near you
All 96 Florida areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
Free download · Optional Caliber Pro upgrade · iPhone and iPad
Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the managing agency before you hunt.
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- The four firearm safety rules
- California FSC practice test
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- Hunter education practice test
- Shooting range directory
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Caliber is an educational and tracking tool for lawful, responsible ownership. It is not legal advice and not a substitute for in-person instruction. Caliber doesn't sell firearms, ammunition or accessories. Always follow the four safety rules and your local laws. Caliber is made by Norbrook Media LLC. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.