When Does Turkey Season End in Florida? A Guide to Turkey Hunting Seasons

Turkey hunting is a popular pastime in Florida, with dedicated seasons that allow hunters to pursue wild turkeys across the state But when exactly does turkey season end in Florida? The answer depends on which part of the state you’re hunting in

Florida is divided into four hunting zones – A, B, C, and D – and turkey season dates vary by zone There are also differences between fall and spring seasons. Let’s take a closer look at when you can hunt turkeys in Florida and when the seasons wrap up

Overview of Turkey Hunting Seasons in Florida

Florida offers ample turkey hunting opportunities throughout the year. Here’s a quick overview of the different turkey seasons:

• Fall Turkey Season – Runs from October to January/February depending on zone. Fall season focuses on hunting gobblers (male turkeys).

• Spring Turkey Season – Runs from March to April depending on zone. Spring season allows hunting of gobblers and bearded hens.

• Archery Season – Runs concurrently with fall season in each zone. Bowhunting only.

• Crossbow Season – Runs concurrently with archery season in each zone. Crossbows only.

• Muzzleloading Gun Season – Short seasons that precede fall and run concurrently with archery. Muzzleloaders, crossbows, and bows allowed.

So when does each season wrap up? Let’s look at the zone-by-zone breakdown.

Turkey Season End Dates By Zone

Zone A

Zone A covers the northwest region of Florida. Here are the closing dates for turkey seasons in Zone A:

• Fall Archery – Ends September 1st

• Fall Crossbow – Ends September 6th

• Fall Muzzleloader – Ends September 20th

• Fall General Gun – Ends January 5th

• Spring General Gun – Ends April 20th north of SR 70

Zone B

Zone B includes north-central Florida. Here’s when turkey seasons end in this zone:

• Fall Archery – Ends November 17th

• Fall Crossbow – Ends November 22nd

• Fall Muzzleloader – Ends December 6th

• Fall General Gun – Ends February 2nd

• Spring General Gun – Ends April 6th south of SR 70

Zone C

Encompassing northeast Florida, this zone’s turkey seasons wrap up on:

• Fall Archery – Ends October 13th

• Fall Crossbow – Ends October 18th

• Fall Muzzleloader – Ends November 1st

• Fall General Gun – Ends December 29th

• Spring General Gun – Ends April 6th south of SR 70

Zone D

The final zone covers south Florida. Turkey seasons here end on:

• Fall Archery – Ends November 27th

• Fall Crossbow – Ends November 27th and December 6th

• Fall Muzzleloader – Ends December 13th

• Fall General Gun – Ends January 19th

• Spring General Gun – Ends April 20th north of SR 70

As you can see, fall turkey seasons end between late December and early February depending on the zone. Spring seasons wrap up in early to mid-April.

Turkey Hunting Closures to Note

While most turkey seasons align with zone dates, there are a few additional closures turkey hunters should be aware of:

• Wildlife Management Areas – Turkey seasons on WMAs often differ from surrounding zones, with earlier end dates. Always check WMA regulations.

• Spring Gobbler Season – Closed from March 17-28 south of SR 70 to protect nesting osprey.

• Thanksgiving Weekend – Fall turkey seasons are closed the Friday before Thanksgiving through the following Sunday.

What About Turkey Season in 2023?

Turkey season dates shift each year, so what about the 2023 spring and fall turkey seasons?

Here are the closing dates to mark on your calendar for 2023:

• Spring 2023 – Ends April 15th north of SR 70; April 1st south of SR 70

• Fall Archery 2023 – Ends ranges from October 12th (Zone C) to November 26th (Zone D)

• Fall Crossbow 2023 – Ends ranges from October 17th (Zone C) to November 26th (Zone D)

• Fall Muzzleloader 2023 – Ends ranges from October 31st (Zone C) to December 12th (Zone D)

• Fall General Gun 2023 – Ends ranges from December 28th (Zone C) to January 18th (Zone D)

So those are the key end dates for the 2023 turkey hunting seasons in Florida!

Daily Bag Limits for Turkeys

One other turkey hunting regulation to note is the daily bag limit. The daily limit for turkeys in Florida is:

• Fall Seasons – 2 gobblers per day

• Spring Seasons – 2 turkeys total per day, including gobblers and bearded hens

The possession limit is 2, and most hunters tag out with 2 birds for the entire season. This gives you an idea of what’s allowed on a daily basis.

Get a Turkey Hunting Permit

Before heading out to hunt turkeys in Florida, be sure you have a Florida hunting license and turkey permit. These can be purchased at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com along with any specialty tags or stamps needed.

The turkey permit gives you access to hunt on public lands and allows you to harvest turkeys per the regulations. Permits are issued for spring or fall seasons separately.

Know the Rules and Hunt Ethically

As you plan your turkey hunts this year, be sure to know the exact season dates and bag limits for your zone. Seasons change annually, so checking the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website for updates is advised.

When hunting turkeys, be sure to follow ethical practices and hunt safely. Use appropriate guns or archery equipment for the season, wear blaze orange when required, and be respectful of other hunters and wildlife you encounter.

Follow all turkey hunting regulations closely and you’ll be set for an enjoyable, legal hunt. Before you know it, the final days of spring gobbler season will have arrived bringing your turkey hunting to a close for the year. Then the countdown begins to fall turkey season in Florida!

Frequency of Entities:
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begins: 2
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review: 1
overview: 1
overview of turkey hunting seasons in florida: 1
Turkey hunting is a popular pastime in florida: 1
florida is divided into four hunting zones: 1
there are also differences between fall and spring seasons: 1
Let’s take a closer look at when you can hunt turkeys in florida: 1
and when the seasons wrap up: 1
Here’s a quick overview of the different turkey seasons: 1

• Fall Turkey Season: 1
• Spring Turkey Season: 1
• Archery Season: 1
• Crossbow Season: 1
• Muzzleloading Gun Season: 1
  So when does each season wrap up?: 1
  Let’s look at the zone-by-zone breakdown: 1
  As you can see, fall turkey seasons end between late december and early february: 1
  Spring seasons wrap up in early to mid-april: 1
  While most turkey seasons align with zone dates, there are a few additional closures turkey hunters should be aware of: 1
• Wildlife Management Areas: 1
• Spring Gobbler Season: 1
• Thanksgiving Weekend: 1
  Turkey season dates shift each year, so what about the 2023 spring and fall turkey seasons?: 1
  Here are the closing dates to mark on your calendar for 2023:: 1
  So those are the key end dates for the 2023 turkey hunting seasons in florida!: 1
  One other turkey hunting regulation to note is the daily bag limit: 1
  The daily limit for turkeys in florida is:: 1
• Fall Seasons – 2 gobblers per day: 1
• Spring Seasons – 2 turkeys total per day, including gobblers and bearded hens: 1
  The possession limit is 2, and most hunters tag out with 2 birds for the entire season: 1
  This gives you an idea of what’s allowed on a daily basis: 1
  Before heading