Youth hunters to benefit from turkey hunt on private lands

News Release

February 17, 2011
Contact: Tony Young, 850-488-7867

Beginning this spring turkey season, young hunters can take advantage of a special two-day youth turkey hunt on private lands the weekend prior to the opening of spring turkey season in each hunting zone. In Zone A (the southern portion of Florida, south of State Road 70), this youth turkey hunting weekend is Feb. 26-27. In the remainder of the state, this special youth hunt is March 12-13. The youth turkey hunt applies only to private property, the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Area, the Kissimmee River Public Use Area and Lake Monroe WMA.

Only those under 16 years old may harvest a turkey while supervised by an adult, 18 years or older. And as long as the adult supervisor doesn’t actively participate in the hunt, no license or permit is required for either youth or adult.

If the adult wants to help “call in” a turkey, set out decoys or participate otherwise, he or she needs a hunting license ($17 for residents, $46 for a 10-day nonresident license) and a turkey permit ($10 for residents, $125 for nonresidents). Only the youth can harvest a turkey. Any turkey harvested counts toward the youth hunter’s spring season limit of two.