Have a Safe and Legal Hunting Season

Archery Season opened October 25 in Zone D (our panhandle zone).  So what better time than now to go over a few things pertaining to hunting.

First, in 2023, FWC documented a deer in our zone with CWD, Chronic Wasting Disease.  Now, Georgia documented their first case on the Florida Border near where our case was located.  CWD is a fatal contagious disease of the brain and nervous system of the deer.  This disease is a slow progressing disease and deer shed the prion even before they show clinical symptoms.  Symptoms of this disease are extreme weight loss and abnormal behaviors.  Report any deer with these symptoms to FWC by calling 866 CWD WATCH – 866-293-9282.  Also, read and follow the FWC CWD regulations.

Next is Hunter’s Safety.  Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 and 16 years or older, must complete the Hunter’s Safety course unless they hunt under the supervision of a qualified hunter.  These courses are taught regularly here in Northwest Florida.  The typical route to fulfill this requirement is to take an online course such as through the NRA.  Then sign up for the field day.  You attend the field day which includes some lecture and hands-on experience with firearms.  Once you pass both online and the field day, you get your hunter’s safety certificate.  Plan ahead.  The field days during hunting season fill up fast!

Last thing!  Read the new 2025-26 Hunting Regulations!  These can be found online or at your favorite hunting and fishing supply stores.  Know these state regulations.  These change from year to year.  Keep up with these changes.  Ignorance won’t get you out of a citation.  Also, if you hunt on a piece of public land – read and follow the WMA brochure for that piece of land.  Examples of this would be Eglin, Yellow River, and Blackwater.  Rules on public land are different from private land.  For instance, you must wear 500 sq inches of hunters orange when hunting during general gun season on public lands but not on private lands.  So take the time to know the rules and regulations for where you will be hunting.

Good luck to all the hunters out there.  Be safe and legal!