Public Spring Turkey Hunts
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers 34 public hunting areas statewide, where hunters need only to “walk on” to hunt spring turkeys.
These hunts are made possible through the FWC’s partnerships with the state’s Division of Forestry, Florida’s water management districts, the Forest Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the National Park Service and Department of Defense, who participate in the state’s public-hunting system.
The spring turkey seasons include:
South Hunting Zone: March 3 – April 8
Central and Northwest zones: March 17 – April 22
Shooting hours during spring turkey season on Wildlife Management Areas are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.
Hunters need only a hunting license, management area permit, and turkey permit to spring turkey hunt on the following areas:
Apalachicola National Forest – 581,837 acres in Franklin, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties. Camping allowed.
Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area – 81,754 acres in Franklin and Gulf counties. Camping allowed (management area permit not required).
Blackwater WMA – 191,148 acres in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Camping allowed.
Eglin Air Force Base – 265,000 acres in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. Hunting and camping allowed only by permit from Jackson Guard Natural Resource Office by calling (850) 883-1152. Only shotguns, bows or muzzleloaders may be used.
Escambia River WMA – 34,476 acres in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Camping allowed.
Pine Log WMA – 6,911 acres in Bay and Washington counties. Season runs March 17 – April 1. Camping allowed.
Point Washington WMA – 12,414 acres in Walton County.