Deer archery and crossbow season, in Florida's Zone D, begins, Oct. 21
FWC map of CWD Management Zone.
Zone D's archery and crossbow seasons start on October 21, 2023 on lands outside of the Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system, which marks the beginning of deer season in Zone D.
In June 2023, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a white-tailed deer in Holmes County. Since then, the FWC has issued two executive orders to establish a CWD Management Zone, regulations within the CWD Management Zone, and special hunting regulations for Zone D. The purpose of these regulations is to increase sampling and help protect Florida's white-tailed deer herd by reducing the potential spread of CWD within the CWD Management Zone and to other parts of the state.
"We understand that these rules are new, and we are working with hunters in their communities to make sure that we build an understanding of why these rules are in place," said George Warthen. FWC Director of Hunting and Game Management. "We are counting on hunters to continue hunting and get their deer tested this season. Testing hunter-harvested deer is essential in determining the prevalence and spread of CWD in Florida, which will affect future management strategies."
Feeding and Carcass Transport Restrictions within the CWD Management Zone
The export of whole carcasses and high-risk parts originating from the CWD Management Zone is prohibited. Hunters may export deboned meat, finished taxidermy mounts, clean hides and antlers, and skulls, skull caps and teeth, if all soft tissue has been removed.
The FWC recommends that hunters dispose of deer carcasses and unwanted parts in one of several ways:
1) Leave everything on the property where the deer was harvested, except deboned meat, clean hides and antlers, and clean skulls and skullcaps. This reduces the unintentional spread of CWD into new areas.
2) Double bag and dispose of unwanted parts in household garbage to be collected by your municipal waste service.
3) Dispose of unwanted parts in a lined landfill.
Feeding deer - including the placement of feed, grain and salt/mineral products - within the CWD Management Zone is prohibited, but food plots are allowed.
CWD Management Zone - Mandatory Check Station Weekend
All deer harvested from Dec. 9-10, 2023, in Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties will be required to be checked at a staffed FWC check station prior to being transported to a hunter's home, a meat processor or a taxidermist. For check station locations, visit MyFWC.com/CWD.
CWD Testing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that hunters harvesting deer from areas with CWD get their deer tested for CWD prior to consuming the meat. It is not recommended to consume meat from animals that test positive for CWD or from any sick animal.
The FWC is offering no-cost CWD testing throughout the entire hunting season (skull cap and antlers can be removed and kept). For sampling locations in Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties, visit MyFWC.com/CWD.
Given the limited number of approved CWD testing laboratories and the large quantity of samples submitted throughout the country, we ask that hunters allow up to 30 days for results to be processed. Test results for harvested deer can be viewed at MyFWC.com/CWDResults.
Increased Antlerless Deer Opportunities
The take of antlerless deer will be allowed during the entire general gun season in Deer Management Unit D2, except in WMAs, which have their own regulations. Bag limits and all other antlerless deer season dates remain unchanged.
The take of antlerless deer will be allowed in the parts of Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties located in Deer Management Unit D1 during the mandatory check station weekend on Dec. 9 and 10, except in WMAs. Bag limits and all other antlerless deer season dates remain unchanged.