Florida Hunting Laws
Florida caps semi-automatic centerfire rifles at a 5-round magazine (unless plugged) for taking game, bans rimfire cartridges and non-expanding full-metal-case ammunition for deer and bear, and sets minimum calibers for muzzleloaders and air guns rather than for standard centerfire rifles.
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in Florida
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
Air Gun
4 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | Pre-charged pneumatic air guns must be at least .30 caliber (firing a single projectile) to take deer or bear. | 68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear | Pre-charged pneumatic air guns must be at least .30 caliber (firing a single projectile) to take deer or bear. | 68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey | Pre-charged pneumatic air guns must be at least .20 caliber to take wild turkey. | 68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Outside the WMA system, any legal rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow, or .20-caliber-or-larger PCP air gun may take turkey.
"Any legal rifle, shotgun, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns of at least .20-caliber, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow or pistol may be used to take turkeys." |
2026 Spring Turkey Hunt Guide — legal weapons | Aug 2026 |
All weapons
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
On public lands, deer hunters (and their companions) must wear at least 500 sq. in. of daylight fluorescent orange above the waist, except during archery-only season; not required on private land.
"It is unlawful to hunt deer or to accompany another person hunting deer on public lands unless each person is wearing a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material as an outer garment." |
Hunting Regulations: General Information | Aug 2026 |
| All species | Suppressors are widely reported as legal for hunting in Florida since a 2014 FWC rule change; the current 68A-12.002 text contains no suppressor prohibition, but the 2014 change itself has not been independently confirmed against a retrieved primary source. | 68A-12.002 (current version reviewed contains no silencer/suppressor prohibition; historical FWC repeal of the prior 'silencer equipped' ban in 2014 not yet independently verified against the pre-2014 rule text) | Aug 2026 needs review |
Archery
1 rule| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey |
Outside the WMA system, any legal rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow, or .20-caliber-or-larger PCP air gun may take turkey.
"Any legal rifle, shotgun, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns of at least .20-caliber, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow or pistol may be used to take turkeys." |
2026 Spring Turkey Hunt Guide — legal weapons | Aug 2026 |
Crossbow
1 rule| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey |
Outside the WMA system, any legal rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow, or .20-caliber-or-larger PCP air gun may take turkey.
"Any legal rifle, shotgun, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns of at least .20-caliber, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow or pistol may be used to take turkeys." |
2026 Spring Turkey Hunt Guide — legal weapons | Aug 2026 |
Handgun
5 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Rimfire cartridges may not be used to take deer or bear.
"Firearms using any rimfire cartridge are prohibited for taking deer or bear." |
68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Rimfire cartridges may not be used to take deer or bear.
"Firearms using any rimfire cartridge are prohibited for taking deer or bear." |
68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | No minimum caliber — any centerfire cartridge is legal for deer or bear (rimfire is the only prohibited class). | 68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear | No minimum caliber — any centerfire cartridge is legal for deer or bear (rimfire is the only prohibited class). | 68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Outside the WMA system, any legal rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow, or .20-caliber-or-larger PCP air gun may take turkey.
"Any legal rifle, shotgun, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns of at least .20-caliber, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow or pistol may be used to take turkeys." |
2026 Spring Turkey Hunt Guide — legal weapons | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Muzzleloaders firing a single bullet must be at least .30 caliber; muzzleloaders firing two or more balls must be at least 20 gauge.
"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." |
68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Muzzleloaders firing a single bullet must be at least .30 caliber; muzzleloaders firing two or more balls must be at least 20 gauge.
"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." |
68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Outside the WMA system, any legal rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow, or .20-caliber-or-larger PCP air gun may take turkey.
"Any legal rifle, shotgun, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns of at least .20-caliber, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow or pistol may be used to take turkeys." |
2026 Spring Turkey Hunt Guide — legal weapons | Aug 2026 |
Rifle
8 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species |
Centerfire semi-automatic rifles may hold no more than 5 rounds, unless plugged down to that capacity with a one-piece filler.
"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 ..." |
68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Rimfire cartridges may not be used to take deer or bear.
"Firearms using any rimfire cartridge are prohibited for taking deer or bear." |
68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Rimfire cartridges may not be used to take deer or bear.
"Firearms using any rimfire cartridge are prohibited for taking deer or bear." |
68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | No minimum caliber — any centerfire cartridge is legal for deer or bear (rimfire is the only prohibited class). | 68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear | No minimum caliber — any centerfire cartridge is legal for deer or bear (rimfire is the only prohibited class). | 68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Non-expanding full metal case (military ball) ammunition may not be used for deer or bear.
"The use of non-expanding, full metal case (military ball) ammunition is prohibited for taking deer or bear." |
68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Non-expanding full metal case (military ball) ammunition may not be used for deer or bear.
"The use of non-expanding, full metal case (military ball) ammunition is prohibited for taking deer or bear." |
68A-12.002 | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Outside the WMA system, any legal rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow, or .20-caliber-or-larger PCP air gun may take turkey.
"Any legal rifle, shotgun, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns of at least .20-caliber, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow or pistol may be used to take turkeys." |
2026 Spring Turkey Hunt Guide — legal weapons | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey |
Outside the WMA system, any legal rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow, or .20-caliber-or-larger PCP air gun may take turkey.
"Any legal rifle, shotgun, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns of at least .20-caliber, muzzleloader, crossbow, bow or pistol may be used to take turkeys." |
2026 Spring Turkey Hunt Guide — legal weapons | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
On wildlife management areas, shotgun shot for turkey must be size #2 or smaller (no rifles or handguns listed as legal WMA turkey weapons).
"Any legal shotgun using #2 or smaller shot size, pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns propelling a bolt or arrow, crossbow, or bow may be used to take wild turkeys." |
2026 Spring Turkey Hunt Guide — WMA regulations | Aug 2026 |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in Florida on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
2026 Spring Turkey Hunt Guide | FWC
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · retrieved August 30, 2026
Fla. Admin. Code R. 68A-12.002 — General Methods of Taking Game and Crows; Prohibitions
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission / Florida Administrative Code (flrules.org) · retrieved August 30, 2026
Hunting Regulations: General Information | FWC
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · retrieved August 30, 2026
Taking Game | FWC
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official Florida hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.