What can you hunt in Florida? A guide to hunting duck, deer season, gator and even iguana

Lianna Norman, Palm Beach Post
Updated ·5 min read

Every year, fall brings many hunting seasons with it. Across the country, deer and duck hunters are enjoying bacon-wrapped duck breast and venison tenderloin at the dinner table.

But in Florida, hunters are not just bringing deer and ducks home. We’re one of only nine states with an alligator hunting season and probably one of the only states with a year-round open season on invasive iguanas.

And yes, you can eat gator and iguana, too — a lot of people compare them to chicken.

Here’s everything you need to know about Florida’s hunting seasons and some recipes to help inspire your next post-hunt dinner.

What animals can you hunt in Florida?

In Florida you can hunt deer, wild turkey, wild hog, ducks, dove, quail, coyotes, burmese pythons, alligators and a range of small game like squirrels and raccoons.

For a full list of what animals you can hunt in Florida, visit the FWC’s website.

How much does it cost to hunt in Florida?

Recreational hunting licenses and permits in Florida range from $17 to almost $500, depending on your residency status, what you’d like to hunt and how long you’d like your permit to be in effect.

You can see how much a hunting license would be for your desired purpose on the FWC’s website.

What is the best time to hunt deer?

Deer hunting season takes place in different months for different regions of Florida and the state is split into four hunting zones, but most of Florida's seasons for hunting deer begin or pick up around October.

There are also different dates within each season for hunting with different weapons. Whether you’re a first-time hunter or you just need to jog your memory on the dates for guns and archery, you can find what you need to know about Florida’s deer hunting seasons here.

Is venison more healthy than beef?

Venison, or deer meat, is better for you than beef because of how lean it is. Its saturated fat levels are a lot lower than most red meats and it has more protein.

If you want to try venison as a beef substitute or you’re a hunter with a freezer to clear out, there are so many dishes you can make with deer meat – from venison birria, to pan-seared venison with a blueberry, Dijon mustard compote.

Where can I go duck hunting in Florida?

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, waterfowl hunting is permitted on private property with landowner permission and on any water body that has public access.

Some public water bodies might be closed for specific reasons, like being in a park or in an area where firearms are prohibited.

Wildlife management areas, water management district lands and national wildlife refuges that allow duck hunting might have special permit requirements and restrictions on when and where you can hunt.

You can find more information on Florida’s duck hunting season and a link to the FWC’s waterfowl hunting map here.

What states allow alligator hunting?

Hunting gators, with appropriate licensing and tags, is legal in nine of the country’s southeastern states. Florida is one of them.

Here are the states where you’re allowed to hunt gators:

  • Florida

  • Georgia

  • Alabama

  • Arkansas

  • Mississippi

  • Louisiana

  • North Carolina

  • South Carolina

  • Texas

Most of Florida’s 2023 alligator hunting season has passed and so has the deadline to apply to be assigned a harvest week, but the season won’t end until November 8 this year.

Everything you need to know about when and where you can shoot alligators in Florida, how many you’re allowed to kill and how much it costs is here.

Is alligator meat good to eat?

If deer meat is comparable to beef, alligator meat is comparable to chicken. In fact, some call it “swamp chicken.”

Gator meat is high in protein and low in saturated fats, making this lean meat very keto-friendly. But keto-friendly isn’t the first thing that comes to mind with most of the gator recipes you’ll find. It’s a treat for many in the south, and is treated as such. The most popular way to serve gator is a favored cooking method in the south: deep frying it.

If you’re in the market to try swamp chicken for the first time or just want to find a new way to cook your gator, you can find a recipe roundup here.

Can I go iguana hunting in Florida?

Iguana are one of the very few animals in Florida that don’t have a designated hunting season. They’re actually invasive to the state and are found in large numbers in South Florida, where they’re arguably almost as common as a pigeon in New York City and sometimes fall out of trees in the winter.

Basically, iguanas are a nuisance and Floridians are encouraged to humanely kill them anytime, anywhere.

Iguanas are basically the smaller cousin of alligator when it comes to their meat. The lizards, which can sometimes grow to the size of a small dog, have been dubbed “the chicken of the trees” and are a popular, well-loved entree in some places throughout Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

You can find everything you need or want to know about how to humanely kill iguanas, how to dispose of them and how to cook them here.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Deer season Florida: Guide: How to how much it costs, when to hunt