68A-12.003. Protection of Certain Deer and Turkey; Tagging of Deer, Bear, and Turkey; Deer and Wild Turkey Harvest Reporting; Evidence of Sex Required

(1) Wild Turkey:

(a) It is unlawful for any person to take or possess any unbearded wild turkey hen during any season that allows gobblers or bearded hens to be taken within the state unless authorized by Division 68A, F.A.C.

(b) Positive evidence of sex identification, including the head, and if applicable, the beard, shall remain on all wild turkey taken during any season when taking of unbearded wild turkey hens is prohibited so long as such wild turkey is kept in the field or camp or is en route to a meat processor, taxidermist or the domicile of its possessor or until such wild turkey has been cooked or stored at the domicile of its possessor.

(c) Wild turkey may be dismembered and/or transferred to another person in the field or camp. The possessor of any harvested wild turkey, or portions and parts thereof, shall provide the first and last name of the person who harvested it, the FWC-issued customer number of the person who harvested it, or the harvest reporting confirmation number and positive evidence of sex, including the head, and if applicable, the board, upon request by Law Enforcement Officers and the Commission.

(d) Harvest reporting requirements shall apply to any person who harvests a wild turkey. Wild turkeys harvested out of state, under permits issued pursuant to Chapter 68A-9, F.A.C., and captive-reared turkeys harvested on licensed Game Farms and Hunting Preserves shall be exempt from harvest reporting requirements.

1. All wild turkeys harvested shall be recorded in a harvest log and reported to the Commission’s harvest reporting system within 24 hours of harvest and prior to final processing, prior to any parts of the turkey being transferred to any meat processor or taxidermist, or prior to leaving the state, whichever occurs first.

2. Prior to moving a wild turkey from the point of harvest, the person who harvested the wild turkey shall record in a harvest log: the first and last name of the person who harvested it; the date of harvest; the county or, if applicable, the name of the public hunting area where harvested; and the sex.

3. An FWC-issued customer number is required for reporting harvested wild turkeys.

4. The Commission’s harvest reporting system will provide a confirmation number once harvest is reported and the confirmation number shall be immediately recorded in the harvest log of the person who harvested the wild turkey.

5. Once a harvested wild turkey is reported through the Commission’s harvest reporting system and prior to that wild turkey being transferred to another party, the wild turkey, or portions or parts thereof, shall be labeled by the harvester with their first and last name and the harvest reporting confirmation number. Such labeling shall remain on the wild turkey, or portions or parts thereof, until final processing or until stored at the domicile of its possessor. A processor shall maintain the aforementioned labeling, or as an alternative to maintaining labeling, may use a log book and numbering or other tracking system. Said log book shall contain the same information required of the aforementioned label. If a log book is used, it shall be kept on the processor’s premises for inspection by Law Enforcement Officers of the Commission.

(2) Deer:

(a) Positive evidence of sex identification, including the head with any antler or antlers if applicable, shall remain with any deer for the duration that such deer is kept in the field or camp or is en route to a meat processor, taxidermist, or the domicile of its possessor or until such deer has been cooked or is stored at the domicile of its possessor.

(b) Deer may be dismembered and/or transferred to another person in the field or camp. The possessor of any harvested deer, or portions and parts thereof, shall provide the first and last name of the person who harvested it, the FWC-issued customer number of the person who harvested it, or the harvest reporting confirmation number and positive evidence of sex upon request by Law Enforcement Officers of the Commission.

(c) Harvest reporting requirements shall apply to any person who harvests a deer, except for the following: non-native deer, deer harvested out of state, deer killed by a motor vehicle, deer harvested under permits issued pursuant to Chapter 68A-9, F.A.C., and deer harvested on a licensed Game Farm or Licensed Private Hunting Preserve.

1. All deer harvested shall be recorded in a harvest log and reported to the Commission’s harvest reporting system within 24 hours of harvest and prior to final processing, prior to the deer or any portions or parts thereof being transferred to any meat processor or taxidermist, or prior to leaving the state, whichever occurs first.

2. Prior to moving a deer from the point of harvest, the person who harvested the deer shall record in a harvest log: the first and last name of the person who harvested it; the date of harvest; the county or, if applicable name of public hunting area where harvested; and the sex.

3. An FWC-issued customer number is required for reporting harvested deer.

4. The Commission’s harvest reporting system will provide a confirmation number once harvest is reported and the confirmation number shall be immediately recorded in the harvest log of the person who harvested the deer.

5. Once a harvested deer is reported through the Commission’s harvest reporting system and prior to that deer being transferred to another party, the deer, or portions or parts thereof, shall be labeled by the harvester with their first and last name and the harvest reporting confirmation number. Such labeling shall remain on the deer, or portions or parts thereof, until final processing or until stored at the domicile of its possessor. A processor shall maintain the aforementioned labeling, or as an alternative to maintaining labeling, may use a log book and numbering or other tracking system. Said log book shall contain the same information required of the aforementioned label. If a log book is used, it shall be kept on the processor’s premises for inspection by Law Enforcement Officers of the Commission.

(3) Bear:

(a) Positive evidence of sex identification in the form of testicles, penis, penis sheath, udder or vulva shall remain naturally attached to the carcass of all bear taken and shall remain attached until the bear is checked at a Commisssion designated check station.

(b) No bear shall be dismembered until checked at a Commission designated check station. Bear may be dismembered in the camp or field after being checked at a Commission designated check station but each portion shall have a tag affixed to it identifying the name, address, and FWC Recreational Licensing Issuance Services Customer ID number of the person who killed it.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 8-1-79, Amended 5-19-80, 6-21-82, Formerly 39-12.03, Amended 4-11-90, Formerly 39-12.003, Amended 7-29-15, 7-1-19, 7-26-21, 7-1-22.