Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Putnam County. Palatka is a river town on the St. Johns, known for its bass fishing and its azaleas in spring. Rural Putnam County hunts hard, and a deer rifle and a shotgun are standard in most homes.
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where Florida law allows.
Florida has no purchase permit and no registry. You must be 21 to buy any firearm from a dealer, and handgun buyers must be Florida residents under federal law. The dealer runs the check through FDLE when you pick up. State law sets a waiting period of three business days, or until the check clears if that takes longer, on all firearms; Concealed Weapon License holders, trade-ins and long-gun buyers with a hunter safety card are exempt. A few counties add up to five days.
Dealers in these communities all work for Palatka-area buyers:
Since July 1, 2023, anyone eligible for a Florida Concealed Weapon License may carry a concealed handgun without one, provided they carry ID and show it to an officer who asks. A 2025 appeals ruling also ended enforcement of the open carry ban. The optional license is issued by the FDACS Division of Licensing, and many Putnam County Tax Collector offices take applications; it gives reciprocity in other states and skips the wait. Schools, courthouses and polling places remain off limits.
Florida's deer seasons run by zone, and the dates are far apart. For 2026-27 the FWC lists general gun season in Zone A as Sept. 19 to Oct. 18 and Nov. 21 to Jan. 3, Zone B as Dec. 5 to Feb. 21, Zone C as Nov. 7 to Jan. 24, and Zone D as Nov. 26-29 plus Dec. 12 to Feb. 21. Centerfire rifles, shotguns, handguns and muzzleloaders are legal for deer; rimfires are not. Antler rules follow the deer management unit around Putnam County.
Putnam County is in Zone C. Etoniah Creek State Forest, Dunns Creek and the Ocala National Forest to the southwest are the public hunting lands close to town.
Bass anglers on the St. Johns and Rodman Reservoir and deer hunters in the state forests keep local gun counters busy in the fall.
These public ranges are run by or with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, several on wildlife management areas and national forests. Fees, hours and supervision differ; check each range page before you go.
Source: FWC-managed public shooting ranges list, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in East Palatka, Interlachen, Crescent City, Palatka or anywhere in Putnam County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
No. Florida has no purchase permit. You must be 21, pass the FDLE check at the dealer and wait three business days unless you hold a Concealed Weapon License or another exemption applies.
Yes, if you meet the eligibility rules for a Concealed Weapon License and carry valid ID. Courthouses, schools, polling places and other listed places still apply.
We ship it to the Florida FFL dealer you choose near Palatka. You fill out Form 4473, the dealer runs the FDLE check, and you take the gun home once the check and any wait are done.
Many owners keep one because other states honor it and it waives the three-day wait. FDACS lists $97 for a new resident license and $45 to renew.
Yes. Ammunition, optics and most parts ship to a Florida home address; you must be of legal age. Firearms always go to an FFL.
Florida deer are small-bodied and most shots in pine and palmetto are under 150 yards, so a .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 or .30-30 is plenty. Check your zone dates and antler rules first.
Each dealer sets its own fee, commonly $20 to $75. Call before you order to confirm the price and that they accept firearms shipped from an online store.
General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our Florida gun law overview and check with FDACS Division of Licensing (apply at many Putnam County Tax Collector offices) or a local attorney about your own situation.