Outta' the Woods By Tony Young Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

February Extends Deer Season in Northwest Zone

Thus far, this deer season hasn’t been good to me as far as quantity goes, but thanks to a good friend who invited me to hunt with him on his lease, I did bag a very nice 7-pointer on New Year’s Day.  What a way to start off the New Year!  And believe me, that’s a great buck for a hunter like me, who’s spent the past 18 years hunting the flatwoods of Franklin County.  But I still have plenty of room left in my freezer, so I’m not throwing in the towel just yet – after all, there are still lots of hunting days left in my neck of the woods. 

{sidebar id=1}So if you’re like me or if you live in the central or southern part of the state and you don’t mind hunting with a primitive weapon, then point your pickup truck north, because the Northwest Hunting Zone’s deer season’s still goin’ strong on private lands and most wildlife management areas (WMAs).
The second phase, if you will, of muzzleloading gun season runs Feb. 19 – March 1 in this part of the Panhandle.  This unique late season, which occurs only in the Northwest Zone, was established to allow hunters the chance to hunt the rut that runs from late January through February in this part of the state. 

A $5 Muzzleloading Gun Permit is required to hunt during this season, where, on private land, hunters have the choice of using a muzzleloader, bow or crossbow.

On WMAs, this post-season’s referred to as the archery/muzzleloading gun season.  Hunters can use bows or muzzleloaders, but no crossbows – unless they possess a Disabled Crossbow Permit.  Hunters who choose to hunt with a bow must have the $5 Archery Permit, and those using a muzzleloader need the $5 Muzzleloading Gun Permit.    

The most common game to hunt during this season are deer and wild hogs.  Only bucks may be taken (even if you use a bow), and one antler must be at least five inches in length.  On private land, the daily bag limit is two.  Bag limits and antler size for deer on WMAs can differ, so please consult the area brochure before you hunt.

Wild hogs are considered livestock on private lands, and because of this, they can be taken year-round with no bag or size limits.  On most WMAs, there’s also no bag or size limits, and hogs are legal to take during most hunting seasons except spring turkey.  On selected WMAs, specific bag and size limits do apply, so check the area’s brochure to make sure.

No dogs may be used in the pursuit of deer or hogs during this season, but leashed dogs can, however, be used to track wounded game if necessary.  And it’s important to note that no turkeys may be taken during this season. 

Bows and crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds, and hand-held releases on bows are permitted.  Broadheads used in taking deer must have at least two sharpened edges with a minimum width of 7/8 inch.  For hunting deer, muzzleloaders that fire single bullets must be at least .40-caliber.  Muzzleloaders firing two or more balls must be 20-gauge or larger.

{sidebar id=1}You’re allowed to take deer and hogs over feeding stations on private land, but it’s illegal to use bait on WMAs.

Some things you can’t do during this late season include shooting swimming deer, using explosive or drug-injecting arrows, using muzzleloaders with self-contained cartridge ammunition capabilities and using or possessing modern firearms.

Seventeen of the WMAs in the Northwest Hunting Zone have the late archery/muzzleloading gun season, and if you plan to hunt any of ’em, you must have the $26 management area permit as well as your hunting license.

You can get all of the licenses and permits you’ll need at any tax collectors’ office, retail outlet that sells hunting and fishing supplies, by calling toll-free 888-HUNT-FLORIDA or by going online at www.wildlifelicense.com .    

So if you’re like me and not ready for deer season to be over with, have no fear ’cause February’s here!  Grab your favorite primitive weapon and head over to the Northwest Hunting Zone where the rut’s goin’ on hard and heavy.

Tony Young looks forward each year to hunting the Northwest Zone’s late muzzleloading season, because he lives in that zone, and the deer are still in rut on most of the properties he hunts.

This article originally published on February 1, 2009.

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