Hunting & Fishing

Hunting and Fishing licenses may be obtained at the Tax Collectors' Office or various sports stores, retail stores, and bait and tackle shops as designated by the FWCC. You may also purchase licenses online by clicking on the button.

All citizens who intend to hunt or fish in Florida require a valid license. The only exceptions to the law are:

1. Residents 65 years of age or older who possess either a Resident Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certified or proof of age and residency (A Driver's license is sufficient). The Florida Senior Citizens Hunting and Fishing certificate is not accepted in Georgia as of July 1, 2008., Florida Seniors must now purchase Non-Resident licenses in Georgia. Georgia Seniors are now required to purchase Non-Resident licenses in Florida. 

2. Children under the age of 16 are not required to have a license, however they must carry proof of age identification. 

3. Permanently disabled residents can obtain a special exemption card. An authorized disability statement from the Social Security office or Veterans Administration must be presented upon application. This permit is free. 

4. Residents who have been accepted by The Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services as a client for retardation and development services are exempt from the license requirements. 

5. A Florida resident who is a member of the U.S. armed forces and is not stationed in Florida is exempt from the license requirements while home on leave for 30 days or less. Proof of orders must be on the person while hunting or fishing

Hunting and Freshwater Fishing

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regulates hunting and freshwater fishing in the State of Florida. This agency sets and enforces policies and initiates environmental conservation programs to protect Florida wildlife. In addition, this state office determines license fees, which are set by the Florida Legislature.

Hunting licenses are annual permits valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. A lifetime hunting license is also available to Florida residents. Non-residents can apply for a 10-day hunting permit.

Freshwater fishing licenses are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. A five-year freshwater fishing license and a lifetime freshwater fishing license are also available to Florida residents. Non-residents can apply for a seven-day permit.

The "Cane Pole Law" allows Florida residents to fish in the county of his/her residency without a license. The angler can use live or natural bait and poles or hand lines that are not equipped with a reel, for non-commercial purposes only. No fishing license is required to fish in a private fishing pond.

Important: Florida residents age 65 or older are NOT required to purchase a hunting or fishing license or any permits to hunt and fish in Florida, however, they are required to have a Florida Driver's License or ID Card in their possession. In addition, if duck hunting, they are required to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp.

Important:  Florida residents age 65 or older, are now required to purchase a Georgia license when hunting and fishing in the State of Georgia. 

Important:  Deer hunters are required to purchase a deer permit for $5.00.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is the administrative office that regulates saltwater fishing.

Anglers who are required to have a saltwater fishing license are persons fishing from a boat, on a sandbar, or any other land mass accessible by boat or by swimming or snorkeling through water deeper than four feet. In addition, effective August 1, 2009, Florida Residents fishing from shore or a pier must have a "no-cost" shoreline saltwater license or regular saltwater license. 

Underwater divers who take or attempt to take marine fish must also obtain a license. Anyone who operates a noncommercial fishing vessel for hire must purchase a saltwater license. This recreational license will exempt passengers from having to obtain individual licenses.

Other Exemptions:

You don't have to obtain a shoreline saltwater or regular saltwater fishing license if:

1. You are a Florida Resident age 65 or older.

2. Anyone who holds valid commercial saltwater products licenses other than the owner, operator, or custodian of a vessel for which a saltwater fishing license is required. Only one person aboard a vessel to which a commercial saltwater products license has been issued may claim exemption at any given time.

Saltwater fishing licenses are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. A five-year saltwater fishing license and a lifetime license are also available to Florida residents. Non-residents can apply for a 3-day or 7-day permit for saltwater fishing.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  All deer hunters are required to purchase a Deer Permit for $ 5.00. The Deer Permit is included in the purchase of an annual Sportsman's License, Lifetime Sportman's License, Gold and Military Gold Sportman's License, and Lifetime Resident Hunting;  and is also covered in the issuance of a Senior Citizen License(65+) and Disability License.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2008, Florida Senior Citizen Licenses are no longer honored by the State of Georgia. Florida Seniors are now required to purchase non-resident licenses if hunting or fishing in Georgia. Likewise, Georgia Seniors are now required to purchase non-resident licenses if hunting or fishing in Florida.

Florida Resident Sportsman's and Gold Sportsman's Licenses

The Florida Sportsman's and Gold Sportman's Licenses satisfy all state requirements for recreational hunting and freshwater fishing for Florida residents. The Sportman's License does not include Saltwater Fishing, while the Gold Sportman's License does include Saltwater Fishing. In addition, the Florida Sportsman's and Gold Sportman's Licenses do not include permits for Resident Trapping License, Federal Waterfowl Stamps, Resident Commercial Licenses, or Resident Fish Dealers licenses. This permit is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

Lifetime Sportsman's License

For the avid sportsman who wants the convenience of securing permits for all hunting and fishing activities offered in Florida, for a one-time fee, a Lifetime Sportsman's License is available. This permit includes hunting, freshwater and saltwater fishing, muzzleloading, archery, management, turkey, Florida waterfowl, snook, and crawfish stamps. This unique license remains valid if the purchaser moves out of state.

Miscellaneous Licenses

The Tax Collector's Office also sells:

• Non-resident hunting and fishing licenses

• Archery and muzzle-loading permits

• Federal duck permits

• Management area permits

• Snook and crawfish permits

• Turkey permits

• Deer permits

Resident

Combination Freshwater/Hunting

Combination Freshwater/Saltwater/Hunting

Combination Freshwater/Saltwater

Freshwater 12-month

Saltwater 12-month

Saltwater Shoreline 12-month

Hunting 12-month

Military Gold Sportsman’s License (includes Saltwater and Deer Permit)

Gold Sportsman’s License (includes Saltwater and Deer Permit)

Sportsman's (No Saltwater. Includes Deer Permit)

Nonresident

Freshwater 12-month

Saltwater 12-month

Freshwater 7-day

Saltwater 3-day

Freshwater 3-day

Saltwater 7-day

Hunting 10-day

Hunting 12-month

Non-resident Turkey

Permits

Trapping

Snook permit

Crawfish permit

Management area permit

Archery permit

Muzzleloading permit

Waterfowl permit

Resident Turkey Permit

Migratory bird permit

Crossbow Permit

Deer permit

Price

32.50

48.00

32.50

17.00

17.00

0.00

17.00

20.00

100.00

80.50

47.00

47.00

30.00

17.00

17.00

30.00

46.50

151.50

125.00

26.50

10.00

5.00

26.50

5.00

5.00

5.00

10.00

0.00

5.00

5.00

To obtain a disabled person's hunting and fishing license, the disabled person must present an awards letter from the Social Security Administration to the Tax Collector's office. For additional information on eligibility requirements, you may call 850-627-7255.