68A-12.002. General Methods of Taking Game and Crows; Prohibitions

(1) No person may take any game or crows except as herein provided.

(2) Game and crows may be taken only during the daytime between one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset in the open season established by the Commission, provided that the hours in which the taking of gobblers or bearded turkeys is permitted during the spring season shall be from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset and that the hours in which the taking of migratory game birds is permitted shall be as specified in Rules 68A-13.003 and 68A-13.008, F.A.C.

(3) Resident game birds, crows or game mammals may be taken with any of the following:

(a) Shotgun.

(b) Rifle, revolver or pistol, except that:

1. No fully automatic firearm may be used.

2. Firearms using any rimfire cartridge are prohibited for taking deer or bear.

3. The use of non-expanding, full metal case (military ball) ammunition is prohibited for taking deer or bear.

4. Use of a centerfire semi-automatic rifle having a magazine capable of holding more than five rounds is prohibited, unless the magazine is plugged with a one-piece filler incapable of removal without disassembling the magazine, so its capacity does not exceed 5 rounds.

5. Muzzleloading guns of less than .30 caliber firing a single bullet or of less than 20 gauge firing two or more balls, are prohibited for taking deer or bear.

6. The take of game specified for any muzzleloading gun season with any gun other than a bow, crossbow or muzzleloading gun is prohibited except this subparagraph shall not limit the methods of take of game specified for any coinciding season.

(c) Air guns, except that:

1. Only pre-charged pneumatic air guns .30 caliber or greater propelling a single projectile (to include an arrow or bolt meeting specifications outlined in paragraph (3)(e)) may be used for taking deer.

2. Only pre-charged pneumatic air guns .20 caliber or greater propelling a single projectile (to include an arrow or bolt meeting specifications outlined in paragraph (3)(e)) may be used for taking wild turkey.

3. Taking crows is prohibited.

(d) Falcon.

(e) Bow or crossbow, except that:

1. Any arrow or bolt used to take deer, bear or wild turkey shall be equipped with a broadhead with a minimum width of 7/8 inches.

2. The take of game specified for any archery season with any gun other than a bow is prohibited during any special archery season except this subparagraph shall not limit the methods of take of game specified for any coinciding season.

3. The take of game specified for any crossbow season with any gun other than a bow or crossbow is prohibited except this subparagraph shall not limit the methods of take of game specified for any coinciding season.

4. Taking crow with crossbow is prohibited.

5. The take of game specified for any archery season with a bow equipped with a device that can mechanically hold the bowstring in the drawn (ready-to-fire) position is prohibited. Mechanical bowstring release devices may be used provided they are only hand-held.

(f) Dogs may be used as an aid to taking game unless otherwise prohibited.

(4) Migratory game birds may be taken with any of the following:

(a) Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge and incapable of holding more than three shells in magazine and chamber combined, unless plugged with a one-piece filler incapable of removal without disassembling the shotgun, so its capacity does not exceed 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

(b) Falcon.

(c) Bow or crossbow.

(5) Game may be taken from stationary, drifting or manually-propelled watercraft including sail or motor-powered vessels, provided the motor is shut off or the sails furled and the vessel’s progress from such motor or sail has ceased.

(6) Resident game birds and game mammals may be taken from stationary vehicles.

(7) The taking of fawn deer, cub bear, bear with at least one cub bear, panther or swimming deer is prohibited.

(8) No person shall:

(a) Possess or use arrows or bolts having explosive or drug-administering heads while taking game or crows.

(b) Take any game or crows from a moving motorized vehicle, aircraft or boat (except as provided in subsection 5 hereof), or use such vehicle, aircraft or boat to herd or drive game or crows.

(c) Take game or crows in the South Region from any tracked vehicle not in compliance with Rule 68A-11.005, F.A.C., or possess any bow and arrow on an airboat during any early archery season in Dade County.

(d) Take or attempt to take any game with the aid of live decoys, recorded game calls or sounds, set guns, artificial light, net, trap, snare, drug, or poison.

(e) Take any game on any land or waters upon which corn, wheat, grain or any other food or substance has been deposited by other than normal agricultural harvesting or planting except as provided by subsection (9). Migratory game birds may be taken in accordance with regulations established by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

(f) Waste any game that has been wounded or killed by that person while hunting. For purposes of this paragraph, “waste” means to intentionally fail to make a reasonable effort to retrieve a wounded or killed animal and render it for consumption or use.

(g) Place, expose or distribute any soporific, anesthetic, tranquilizer, hypnotic or similar drug or chemical preparation by baits or by other means whereby game birds or game animals may be affected, unless authorized by written permit from the executive director.

(h) Take any wild turkey while it is on the roost.

(i) Take any game, using a gun, in that portion of Lake Seminole in Jackson County located east of County Road 271 and south of Apalachee Wildlife Management Area and north of Three Rivers State Park, as designated by posted signs.

(j) Take ducks, geese, mergansers, or coots while the person is within 30 yards of any permanent blind or anything in violation of either Section 253.77 or 373.430(1)(b) or 403.161(1)(b), F.S., on Lake Miccosukee (Jefferson County), Lake Iamonia (Leon County), Lake Jackson (Leon County), or Carr Lake (Leon County).

(9)(a) Game feeding stations may be maintained for the purpose of propagating quail, wild turkey, and other wild game under natural conditions.

(b) Non-migratory game may be taken in proximity to game feeding stations which are maintained with feed (corn, wheat, grain or any other food substance deposited by other than normal agricultural harvesting or planting) throughout the year provided that each feeding station shall have been maintained at least six months prior to the taking of game in proximity thereof. Wild turkey may not be taken if the hunter is less than 100 yards from a game feeding station when feed is present. Bear may not be taken if the hunter or the bear is less than 100 yards from a game feeding station when feed is present.

(c) No processed food products may be used at game feeding stations in any area of the state with an established bear season. Processed food products are any food substance that has been modified by the addition of ingredients or by treatment to modify its chemical composition or form or to enhance its aroma or taste. This includes: food products enhanced by sugar, honey, syrups, oils, salts, spices, peanut butter, grease, meat, bones, or blood; candies, pastries, gum, and sugar blocks; and extracts of such products but does not include scented sprays or aerosols and scent powders.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (c), above, pelletized feeds, flavored corns or other grains, and mineral or vitamin supplements specifically and exclusively produced or marketed for feeding deer and commercially available feeds specifically and exclusively marketed for feeding swine (hogs) may be used at game feeding stations statewide.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV. Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 8-1-79, Amended 6-4-81, 11-17-81, 6-21-82, 7-1-83, 7-1-84, 7-1-85, Formerly 39-12.02, Amended 6-1-86, 4-11-90, 4-14-92, 4-20-93, 3-1-94, 3-30-95, 4-1-96, 12-28-98, Formerly 39-12.002, Amended 7-1-05, 7-1-06, 7-1-08, 10-23-08, 1-1-11, 7-1-13, 12-23-14, 7-29-15, 7-1-18, 7-1-19, 7-1-20, 7-1-23.