Hunting guns for North Florida, the Panhandle and the Big Bend

North Florida hunts more like south Georgia and Alabama than like Miami. From Blackwater River State Forest near Milton to the Apalachicola National Forest and the timber lands of the Big Bend, it is pine, oak and river-bottom country with deer, turkey, hogs and ducks. This guide covers the guns North Florida hunters actually use, and where the big public lands are.

Deer in Zone D and northern Zone C

The Panhandle is Zone D, with a short Thanksgiving gun season and a long run from Dec. 12 to Feb. 21 in 2026-27. Northeast Florida, including Nassau, St. Johns, Putnam and Suwannee counties, is mostly Zone C, which opens Nov. 7. Check the FWC zone map, because Leon and several other counties are split.

Shots in the planted pines and hardwood bottoms are usually short, and a .30-30, .243, 7mm-08 or .308 is right at home. Hunters who sit on long clear-cuts or power lines often choose a 6.5 Creedmoor or .270 with a 3-9x scope.

Turkey

The Osceola turkey lives only in peninsular Florida; the Panhandle has Eastern turkeys. A 12- or 20-gauge pump or semi-auto with a tight turkey choke and TSS or heavy lead loads covers spring hunts. Camouflage finishes matter less than a good pattern at 40 yards; pattern your gun before the season.

Ducks

The Apalachicola and St. Marks river marshes, the Big Bend coast and the St. Marys River draw wood ducks, teal and divers. A 12-gauge rated for steel shot, three-shell plug, non-toxic loads, a migratory bird permit and a federal duck stamp are required. The 2026-27 early teal and wood duck season runs Sept. 19-23.

Hogs

Wild hogs are common across North Florida. On private land with written landowner permission they may be taken year-round, day or night, with no license or bag limit. A .308, 6.5 Creedmoor or .300 Blackout with good bullets handles them; a pump 12-gauge with slugs works in thick cover.

Public lands

Blackwater River State Forest, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties: the state's largest state forest.
Eglin Air Force Base: huge areas open with a base recreation permit.
Apalachicola National Forest and Tate's Hell State Forest, Franklin and Liberty counties.
Twin Rivers State Forest along the Suwannee.
Big Bend WMA on the Taylor and Dixie coast.

Each area has its own permits and rules; check the FWC regulations for the area before you go.

Sighting in

The FWC-managed ranges at Apalachicola, Bay County and the Osceola National Forest serve North Florida shooters. See the list on our city pages.

Buying

Rifles and shotguns ship to the Florida FFL you choose; a hunter safety card or Florida hunting license waives the three-day wait for long guns. Read how to buy a gun in Florida, the deer zones guide, and browse the catalog.

General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.