Florida
162,100
Duck Statewide Harvest
not listed
Goose Statewide Harvest
15,600
No. Waterfowl Licenses Sold Annually
10.4
Ducks Per Hunter
4.4
Geese Per Hunter
$17
Cost of Resident Waterfowl Hunting License
Annual $5; five-year $25
Cost of Resident State Stamps and Permits
$25
Federal Duck Stamp
Season $151.50; 10-day hunting $46.50
Cost of Non-Resident Waterfowl Hunting License
$5
Cost of Non-Resident State Stamps and Permits
$25
Federal Duck Stamp
Migratory bird permit required (free).
The Sunshine State doesn't receive as much attention from waterfowl hunters as many Southern states. Maybe that's because Florida hunters shoot relatively few mallards or dislike the state's quota-permit, limited-entry lottery distribution of hunting opportunity at many public areas.
That aside, Florida offers some fantastic duck gunning during December and January, especially for divers and teal. The state also attracts lots of bluebills and redheads. Plus, Florida has great opportunities for mottled ducks and whistling ducks. Goose hunting is somewhat limited in Florida but is improving thanks to locally breeding Canadas.
Top areas include Leon and Jefferson counties, which have several large public lakes. Also, Guana River Wildlife Management Area, Hickory Mound Wildlife Management Area, T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and other state, federal or publically accessible private properties offer limited-access waterfowl hunting.
— Compiled and written by Brian Lovett
