68A-13.003. Hunting Regulations for Ducks, Geese, and Coots

The Commission has approved the following regulations and bag limits for taking ducks, geese, and coots:

(1) Duck, light goose, and coot season:

(a) Open season:

1. First phase – Opening the Saturday before Thanksgiving and closing the Sunday following Thanksgiving.

2. Second phase – Opening 50 days prior to the last Sunday in January and closing the last Sunday in January.

3. Youth Waterfowl Hunt ‒ The Saturday prior to the opening of the first phase as specified in subparagraph (1)(a)1. and the second Saturday following the close of the second phase as specified in subparagraph (1)(a)2. Hunters must be under 16 years of age and must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. Adults with required licenses and permits for taking waterfowl, unless otherwise exempt from these requirements, may participate in the hunt, except they may not take wildlife with a gun. Daily bag limits and species restrictions for ducks, geese, and coots will be as described in paragraphs (1)(e) and (4)(c). Common gallinules may also be taken and bag and possession limits for this species will be as specified in Rule 68A-13.008, F.A.C.

4. Veterans and Active Military Hunt ‒ The first Saturday and Sunday following the close of the second phase as specified in subparagraph (1)(a)2. Hunters must be veterans or members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty. Non-hunting guests with required licenses and permits for taking waterfowl, unless otherwise exempt from these requirements, may participate in the hunt, except they may not take wildlife with a gun. Daily bag limits and species restrictions for ducks, geese, and coots will be as described in paragraphs (1)(e) and (4)(c). Common gallinules may also be taken and bag and possession limits for this species will be as specified in Rule 68A-13.008, F.A.C.

(b) In Leon County (except below or within the ordinary high water line for Lake Talquin and the Ochlockonee River) and below the ordinary high water line for Lake Miccosukee in Jefferson County, waterfowl hunting is permitted only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the open season. In addition to Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, waterfowl hunting is permitted on Thanksgiving and the day after; December 24, 25, 26 and 31; January 1 and 2; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (if occurring during the open season described in paragraph (1)(a), above); and the first, last, and next-to-the-last days of the open season in subparagraph (1)(a)1. and 2., above.

(c) Waterfowl hunting is permitted only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the open season in the State waters of the Gulf of Mexico in Hernando County north of Raccoon Point (south boundaries of Sections 35 and 36, T-21-S, R-16-E) and east of Saddle Key as designated by posted signs.

(d) Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

(e) Limits: The possession limit for ducks and coots shall be three days’ bag limit. There shall be no possession limit for light geese. Light geese include only snow (including blue) and Ross’ geese.

1. Ducks: The daily bag limit for ducks is six, including no more than: four mallards, of which only two can be female; one scaup during the open season specified in subparagraph (1)(a)1. and the first 31 days of the open season specified in subparagraph (1)(a)2.; two scaup during the last 20 days of the open season specified in subparagraph (1)(a)2. and the open seasons specified in subparagraphs (1)(a)3. and (1)(a)4.; four sea ducks, to include no more than three scoters, three long-tailed ducks or three eiders, of which only one can be a female eider; three wood ducks; two redheads; one pintail; two canvasbacks; two black ducks; one Florida duck (mottled duck); and one fulvous whistling-duck. In addition to the daily bag limit for ducks, the daily bag limit for mergansers (red-breasted, common, hooded) is five.

2. Light geese: The daily bag limit for light geese is 15.

3. Coots: The daily bag limit for coots is 15.

(2) General restrictions:

(a) The taking of harlequin ducks, brant, or geese other than light geese as specified in subsection (1), Canada geese as specified in subsection (4), and geese as specified in Rule 68A-4.001, 68A-15.004, 68A-15.006, or 68A-17.004, is prohibited.

(b) It shall be illegal to take ducks, geese or coots with shotshells loaded with any type of shot other than steel or other nontoxic shot approved for use by the Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

(3) September duck seasons:

(a) Open season:

1. Wood Duck and Teal – Opening eight days prior to the last Sunday in September and closing four days thereafter.

2. Teal – Opening three days prior to the last Sunday in September and closing three days thereafter.

(b) Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

(c) Limits:

1. Daily bag:

a. The daily bag limit shall be six teal and wood ducks in the aggregate per day, no more than two of which shall be wood ducks during the open season as specified in subparagraph (3)(a)1. of this rule.

b. The daily bag limit shall be six teal during the open season as specified in subparagraph (3)(a)2. of this rule.

2. Possession: The possession limit shall be three days’ bag limit.

(4) Canada goose season:

(a) Open season:

1. First phase – Opening the first Saturday in September and closing the last Sunday in September.

2. Second phase – Opening the Saturday before Thanksgiving and closing the Sunday following Thanksgiving.

3. Third phase – December 1 through January 30.

(b) Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

(c) Limits:

1. Daily bag: The daily bag limit is five Canada geese.

2. Possession: The possession limit is fifteen Canada geese.

(5) Falconry:

(a) Ducks, mergansers, geese, and coots may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset by the use of a falcon during the open season. The daily bag limit for all migratory game bird species shall be three, singly or in the aggregate, and three days’ bag may be possessed.

(b) Open season for ducks (including mergansers), light geese, and coots: November 3 through November 12. Opening 8 days after the last Sunday in January and closing 24 days thereafter. The open season specified in paragraphs (1)(a) and (3)(a) of this rule.

(c) Open season for Canada geese: The open season as specified in subparagraphs (1)(a)3., (1)(a)4. and subsection (4) of this rule.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 8-1-79, Amended 10-23-79, 8-19-80, 9-29-81, 8-30-82, 7-27-83, 8-13-84, 8-13-85, 10-1-85, Formerly 39-13.03, Amended 8-5-86, 8-24-87, 8-18-88, 12-12-88, 8-17-89, 10-30-89, 8-9-90, 10-31-90, 8-22-91, 10-31-91, 8-23-92, 10-22-92, 9-2-93, 10-28-93, 11-6-94, 10-23-95, 10-20-96, 8-7-97, 10-28-97, 11-12-98, 6-23-99, Formerly 39-13.003, Amended 11-7-00, 5-13-02, 5-1-03, 7-1-04, 7-1-05, 2-1-06, 7-1-06, 1-9-07, 1-8-08, 7-1-08, 1-6-09, 1-19-10, 7-1-10, 1-5-11, 3-25-12, 2-12-13, 1-23-14, 1-19-15, 12-21-15, 7-1-16, 7-1-17, 8-13-18, 7-1-19, 7-1-19 (1)(f)1., 7-1-20, 7-1-22, 4-1-23, 7-1-23, 3-27-24.