Hunting License

We strongly recommend that you purchase your licenses and permits by visiting Hunting License and Permits website.

There are a variety of hunting licenses for different seasons, such as alligators, migratory game birds and waterfowl. Each one is subject to different hours and bag limits or quotas.

Recreational hunting licenses and permits can be bought yearly. Florida residents also have the option to buy five-year and lifetime licenses.

To get a hunting license, anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 must take the FWC Hunter Education Course.

A trapping license is required to sell furbearing animals (animals whose fur is valued commercially) or use live traps or snares to take furbearers for commercial purposes.

A dealer's license is required for anyone other than the trapper who participates in the buying and selling of furbearing animals for commercial purposes.

Licenses and permits are issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). They can be purchased online, by calling 1-888-486-8356, in person at our public service office or in sporting goods stores or hunting and fishing equipment retailers.

The State of Florida regulates hunting licenses with fees for licenses and permits set by the Florida legislature.

Hunting licenses can be purchased at online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or in person at our public service office. For more information, please visit myfwc.com/license/recreational/hunting/.

Hunting License - This is required when taking or attempting to take game or furbearing animals (by methods other than trapping).

Sportsman’s Licenses - Includes hunting and freshwater fishing licenses and wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading gun, crossbow, deer, turkey and Florida waterfowl permits. It does not include saltwater fishing license, snook or lobster permits.

Silver Sportsman’s - Available for Florida residents 64 years of age or older. It includes hunting and freshwater fishing licenses and wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading gun, crossbow, deer, turkey and Florida waterfowl permits. It does not include saltwater fishing license, snook or lobster permits.

Gold Sportsman’s Licenses - Includes hunting, saltwater fishing and freshwater fishing licenses, and wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading gun, crossbow, deer, turkey and Florida waterfowl, snook and lobster permits.

Military Gold Sportsman’s Licenses - Includes hunting, saltwater fishing and freshwater fishing licenses, and wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading gun, crossbow, deer, turkey and Florida waterfowl, snook and lobster permits. Available to Florida residents who are active duty or retired military members at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com through an online verification process. The license is also available at Florida Tax Collector's Office with proof of residency and a current military identification card.

Youth Licenses - Optional for youth ages 8 to 15 who have successfully completed hunter safety education. Valid until recipient’s 17th birthday.
Lifetime licenses can be purchased at online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or in person at our public service office. The following documentation is required:

For children under 13 years of age:
- Certified copy of the child's birth certificate
- Social Security card and
- Copy of the Florida driver's license of one parent whose name appears on the birth certificate
Youth between the ages of 13 and 18:
- Student ID (from a Florida school) and
- Parent's proof of residency (the parent must accompany the child at the time of purchase)
Residents age 16 and older:
- Florida driver's license or identification card with residency verified by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Lifetime License Designations

Lifetime Gold Sportsman’s Licenses - Includes hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing licenses, deer, wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading gun, crossbow, turkey, Florida waterfowl, snook and lobster permits.

Lifetime Hunting Licenses - Includes a hunting license and deer, wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading gun, crossbow, turkey and Florida waterfowl permits.

Lifetime license holders can now have designations for hunting, freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing or gold sportsman licenses, and boating safety certifications added to a Florida driver's license. Learn more information about these DHSMV designations.
Florida residents aged 65 or older only need a Florida driver's license or identification card to prove residency and age. They are not required to purchase the following recreational licenses and permits:
- Saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, and hunting licenses
- Snook, lobster, deer, management area, muzzleloading, turkey, archery, crossbow, *Florida waterfowl and migratory bird permits
The Resident 65+ Hunt/Fish certificate is available, at no cost, online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or in person at our public service office, but it is not a required item. While a license is not required for resident seniors, they should keep proof of age and residency in their possession while participating in these activities.

* The exemption does not apply to the federal duck stamp or tarpon tags.
A recreational fishing or hunting license is required to be in your possession when you are engaged in the licensed activity.

To replace a lost or stolen license or permit, you may reprint it at any time online at no cost, visit a license agent or our public service office to have it reprinted for a $2.50 fee. A lost or stolen hard card can be replaced for $5 for annual and five-year licenses and $10 for a lifetime license card.

Licenses can also be downloaded electronically with the FWC’s Fish|Hunt FL App on Apple or Android smartphones or tablets. Renew, purchase and store your licenses and permits on the app as it counts as personal possession of your license. Simply search for FWC in your app store to download the Fish|Hunt FL App today.

Disability Licenses
Replacement of your persons with disabilities hunt/fish license can also be done online. Replacement of a persons with disabilities crossbow permit can also be done online.
This license authorizes the holder to take or attempt to take furbearing animals (including raccoons, opossums, skunks, nutrias, beavers, coyotes, bobcats and otters) with a live trap or snare and to sell furbearers' hides and meat to a licensed fur and hide dealer. It further authorizes the holder of a recreational hunting license to take and possess furbearers or their parts for commercial purposes and to sell such animals. Required of anyone except residents aged 65 or older. License fees:
- Annual Resident: $26.50
- Annual Non-Resident: $26.50
For more information, please see the current Florida Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits.

A furbearer trapping license is not required for wild hogs since they are not considered game animals. Landowner permission is required to hunt or trap wild hogs. A Feral Swine Dealer Permit issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (1-850-410-0900) is required to transport live wild hogs.
Florida residents and visitors are required to possess a Florida hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing license when engaged in fishing and hunting activities.
- Licenses and permits are required to help or assist in the take. Someone who is passively participating (setting decoys, calling birds or baiting hooks), whether actively fishing or hunting or not, must have a license and appropriate permits
Pursuant to Florida Statute 379.353, the following individuals are EXEMPT from recreational hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing licenses, as well as Florida waterfowl, migratory bird, deer, turkey, snook, spiny lobster, archery, crossbow, muzzleloading and management area permit requirements (unless noted, these exemptions do not apply to federal duck stamp requirements):
- Youth under 16 years of age (also exempt from federal duck stamp requirements)
- Resident seniors age 65 or older with proof of age or residency (such as a valid Florida driver's license or ID card) or possessing an optional Resident 65+ Hunt/Fish Certificate (available at no cost online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or at our public service office)
- Freshwater fishing or hunting in your county of residence on your homestead (or the homestead of your spouse or minor child) or if you are a minor child freshwater fishing or hunting on the homestead of your parent
- Florida residents certified as totally and permanently disabled who possess a Florida Resident Disabled Person's Hunting and Fishing License
- Florida residents who are members of the Armed Forces of the United States who are not stationed in this state and home on leave for 30 days or less upon submission of orders
- Those hunting for wild hog on private land
- Individuals who are observing or filming someone else who is fishing or hunting and who are not assisting (baiting hooks, reeling, setting decoys, calling birds, etc.) in the take in any way
- Disabled veterans or active or reserve duty military service members and their immediate family members and assistants who are participating in a permitted outdoor recreational event for which the Commission has issued a Military/Disabled Veteran Event License Exemption Permit to the event organizer
- Customers or patrons (residents and non-residents) hunting on a hunting preserve that has a Blanket Hunt Preserve License are exempt from individual license requirements of a Hunting License, Deer Permit, Florida Waterfowl Permit, Archery Season Permit, Crossbow Season Permit, Muzzleloading Gun Season Permit, and/or Turkey Permit (pursuant to Florida Statute 379.3712)
In addition, the following are exempt from a furbearer Trapping License:
- Resident seniors age 65 or older with proof of age or residency (such as a valid Florida driver's license or ID card) or possessing an optional Resident 65+ Hunt/Fish Certificate (available at no cost online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or at County Tax Collector's Offices)