When it comes to turkey hunting, taking the perfect shot is crucial for a successful and ethical harvest. In Florida, specific regulations and guidelines ensure responsible hunting practices and the conservation of this beloved game bird.
Identifying Your Target: Gobblers vs. Hens
Before taking aim, it’s essential to correctly identify your target. During spring turkey season, only gobblers or turkeys with beards can be harvested. Gobblers are the male turkeys, typically larger and darker in color than females. They have fleshy heads with patches of red, white, and/or blue. Hens, on the other hand, have feathers extending along the back of their necks almost to the head, which is a dull blueish-gray.
Bag Limit and Harvest Reporting
In Florida, the spring wild turkey season limit is two birds. On lands outside the wildlife management area (WMA) system, you may take two turkeys in one day. However, on WMAs, the daily bag limit is one turkey.
It’s important to note that all hunters, even those exempt from license requirements, are required to log and report their wild turkey harvests. This rule applies to both spring and fall wild turkey seasons. Upon harvesting a wild turkey, you must:
- Log your harvest before moving the turkey from the point where you located it.
- Report your harvest within 24 hours of harvesting it.
You can log and report your harvest using the FWC’s Fish|Hunt Florida App or at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Alternatively, you can use a paper harvest log and report via phone by calling 888-486-8356 (888-HUNT-FLORIDA).
Taking the Shot: Aiming and Distance
After positively identifying a legal turkey, wait until it’s within 40 yards and aim for where the major caruncles (the large bright red bumps of fleshy skin) meet the feathers on the front of the turkey’s neck. It’s best to take the shot when the turkey is standing tall and has its neck stretched out. Avoid shooting a turkey while it’s in full strut, as its head and neck are harder to see, and the feathers may interfere with shot penetration.
To determine if a turkey is within shotgun range (40 yards), you can step off the distance between your blind and easily identifiable trees or bushes before your hunt. Generally, each long stride you take is approximately 1 yard. It’s best to measure these distances after setting up your blind and before turkeys are in the area. You can also use an electronic rangefinder for more precise distance measurement.
Additional Tips for a Successful Turkey Hunt
- Scouting: Spend time scouting potential hunting areas before the season begins. Look for signs of turkey activity, such as tracks, droppings, and feathers.
- Camouflage: Wear camouflage clothing that blends in with your surroundings.
- Calling: Use turkey calls to attract turkeys to your location.
- Patience: Turkey hunting requires patience. Be prepared to sit still and wait for a turkey to come into range.
By following these regulations and tips you can ensure a safe ethical, and successful turkey hunting experience in Florida. Remember, responsible hunting practices are crucial for the conservation of this iconic game bird and the enjoyment of future generations.
License and Permit Requirements
Unless otherwise exempt, hunters must have a hunting license and a turkey permit in order to hunt wild turkeys on properties outside of the WMA system. These licenses and permits can be purchased with a credit card at GoOutdoorsFlorida. com or by calling 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356). Additionally, they can be bought in Florida from most retail stores that sell hunting and fishing supplies as well as from county tax collectors’ offices.
Any lawful firearm, including rifles, shotguns, and pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns, with a minimum of 20-caliber, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow or pistol may be used to take turkeys.
Shooting hours on lands outside of the WMA system are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Although hunters are allowed to use decoys, they are not allowed to shoot turkeys on the roost, hunt turkeys with dogs, or use recorded turkey calls or sounds. Furthermore, if the hunter is less than 100 yards from a game feeding station when feed is available, they are not permitted to take wild turkey.
See the Florida Hunting Regulations for more information.
Season dates and other rules may vary from statewide seasons and other WMAs so carefully review the WMA regulations brochure for the area you want to hunt. Find WMA Regulations brochures.
Hunters may take bearded turkeys and gobblers only and the season limit is 2. On WMAs, hunters may take only one bird per day. Before hunting a WMA, carefully review the area’s regulations brochure as season dates, bag limits and other rules may vary. Find WMA Regulations brochures.
Report Harvested Wild Turkeys
Hunters who take a wild turkey must log and report their harvest.
This new regulation is applicable to all seasons that permit the taking of wild turkeys and went into effect in July 2022.
The eastern wild turkey and the Osceola, or Florida, wild turkey are the two subspecies of wild turkey that can be found in Florida. The Osceola lives only on the Florida peninsula. See the wild turkey species profile for more information.
The National Wild Turkey Federation and the FWC recognize, in their respective turkey registry programs, any wild turkey harvested within or south of the counties of Dixie, Gilchrist, Alachua, Union, Bradford, Clay and Duval, to be an Osceola subspecies.
View harvest reporting data organized by county, WMA, date of harvest, and more.