The Tax Collector serves as an agent of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission by selling and issuing a variety of hunting and fishing licenses and permits.
The phone number for license and permitting at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is 850-488-3641.
A valid hunting and/or fishing license must be carried on his or her person when participating in these activities (unless exempt).
Persons born on or after June 1, 1975 may not be issued a license to hunt in Florida with the use of a firearm, gun (including a muzzle-loading gun), bow or crossbow without first having successfully completed a hunter safety course. Anyone who meets the above description must present a valid hunter safety certification card prior to being issued a hunting license (excluding lifetime licenses).
Individuals exempt from purchasing a hunting license but born on or after June 1, 1975 are exempted from the hunter safety requirement. Lifetime license holders born on or after June 1, 1975 whose licenses do not indicate that they have completed a hunter safety course must have the hunter safety certification card in their possession while hunting.
Anyone 16 years or older and born after May 31, 1975 may hunt under the supervision of a licensed hunter, 21 or older, without having to complete the state’s hunter safety certification. For more information see Hunter Safety Mentoring Exemption.
For hunter safety course information contact the Ocala FWC regional office at 352-625-2804.
Resident Hunting Fees
| Federal Duck Stamp | $28.00 |
| Resident Annual Hunting | $17.00 |
| Resident Annual Hunting and Freshwater Fishing | $33.50 |
| Resident Gold Sportsman (includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster permits) |
$101.00 |
| Resident Sportsman (includes Hunting and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl permits) |
$81.50 |
| Military Gold Sportsman’s License (includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster permits) |
$21.00 |
| Resident 64 or older Sportsman’s (includes Freshwater Fishing and Hunting licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey, and Florida Waterfowl permits) |
$14.50 |
| Migratory Bird Permit the no cost permit must be requested prior to taking or attempting to take any migratory birds. |
No Cost |
| Trapping License | $26.50 |
| Management Area permit | $26.50 |
| Archery permit | $5.00 |
| Muzzleloading gun permit | $5.00 |
| Turkey permit | $5.00 |
| State Waterfowl permit | $5.00 |
| Resident Permanent Senior License 65 and older (includes muzzleloading gun, turkey permit, archery permit, waterfowl permits, hunting, freshwater fishing and type I wildlife management area permit for $ 14.50) |
No Cost |
Non-resident Hunting Fees
| Nonresident 1 year Hunting | $151.50 |
| Nonresident 10 day Hunting | $46.50 |
| Nonresident Turkey permit | $100.00 |
| Nonresident 1 year Trapping | $26.50 |
| Trapping license | $26.50 |
| Management Area permit | $26.50 |
| Archery permit | $5.00 |
| Muzzleloading gun permit | $5.00 |
| State Waterfowl permit | $5.00 |
| Federal Duck Stamp | $17.50 |
| Migratory Bird Permit the no cost permit must be requested prior to taking or attempting to take any migratory birds. |
No Cost |
*A Florida Resident Is…
For the purposes of hunting or fishing in Florida, a Resident is defined as:
Any person who has resided in Florida for 6 continuous months prior to the issuance of a license and who claims Florida as his/her primary residence; or
Any member of the United States Armed Forces who is stationed in Florida (includes spouse and dependent children residing in the household).
Acceptable Proofs of Florida Residency are:
Florida Driver License or ID Card
Proof of Homestead Exemption
Landlord Certification
Florida Voter Registration Card
Florida Military Orders
For children under the age of 18, there are two additional options for proving residency.
Student ID Card (from Florida school)
Parent’s Proof of Residency (child must be accompanied by the parent at the time of purchase.
Resident* Fishing Fees:
Florida resident’s license expires 12 months from the beginning date of the license.
| Resident Sportsman (includes Hunting and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl permits) |
$81.50 |
| Resident Gold Sportsman (includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster permits) |
$101.00 |
| Hunting, Freshwater & Saltwater Fishing | $49.00 |
| Fresh & Saltwater Fishing | $33.50 |
| Freshwater Fishing | $18.00 |
| Freshwater Fishing and Hunting | $33.50 |
| Saltwater Fishing | $17.00 |
| Snook Permit | $10.00 |
| Lobster Permit | $5.00 |
| Resident 64 or older Sportsman’s (includes Freshwater Fishing and Hunting licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey, and Florida Waterfowl permits) |
$14.50 |
| Military Gold Sportsman’s License (includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster permits) |
$21.00 |
| Saltwater Shoreline License the no cost license is for resident saltwater anglers who fish from shore or a structure affixed to shore unless they have a regular saltwater fishing license or are exempt. |
No Cost |
| Tarpon Tag | $51.50 |
*A Florida Resident Is…
For the purposes of hunting or fishing in Florida, a Resident is defined as:
- Any person who has resided in Florida for 6 continuous months prior to the issuance of a license and who claims Florida as his/her primary residence; or
- Any member of the United States Armed Forces who is stationed in Florida (includes spouse and dependent children residing in the household).
Acceptable Proofs of Florida Residency are:
- Florida Driver License or ID Card
- Proof of Homestead Exemption
- Landlord Certification
- Florida Voter Registration Card
- Florida Military Orders
For children under the age of 18, there are two additional options for proving residency.
- Student ID Card (from Florida school)
- Parent’s Proof of Residency (child must be accompanied by the parent at the time of purchase
Nonresident Fishing Fees:
| 1 year Freshwater | $48.00 |
| 7 day Freshwater Fishing | $31.00 |
| 3 day Freshwater Fishing | $18.00 |
| 1 year Saltwater Fishing | $48.00 |
| 7 day Saltwater Fishing | $30.00 |
| 3 day Saltwater Fishing | $17.00 |
| 1 year Snook Permit | $10.00 |
| 1 year Lobster Permit | $5.00 |
| Tarpon Tag | $51.50 |
Lifetime and 5-year Licensing
Lifetime and 5 year Hunting and Fishing licenses are available to Florida residents* only. For children under 12 the parent must have the child’s social security number, original birth certificate, and parent’s driver license in order to purchase a lifetime license.
5 Year Permits
| 5 year Saltwater Fishing | $79.00 |
| Snook Permit | $10.00 |
| Crawfish Permit | $10.00 |
| Wildlife Management Area Permit | $126.50 |
| Archery Permit | $25.00 |
| Deer Permit | $25.00 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Permit | $25.00 |
| Florida Waterfowl Permit | $25.00 |
| Crossbow Permit | $25.00 |
| Turkey Permit | $50.00 |
| 5 year Freshwater Fishing for those 16 to 64 years of age | $80.00 |
| 5 year Hunting | $79.00 |
Lifetime Freshwater Fishing
| 4 years of age and younger | $127.50 |
| 5-12 years of age | $227.50 |
| 13 years of age and older | $302.50 |
Lifetime Saltwater Fishing
| 4 years of age and younger | $126.50 |
| 5-12 years of age | $226.50 |
| 13 years of age and older | $301.50 |
Lifetime Hunting
| (includes Hunting License; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl permits) 4 years of age and younger |
$201.50 |
| 5-12 years of age | $351.50 |
| 13 years of age and older | $501.50 |
Lifetime Sportsman’s
(includes Hunting, Freshwater Fishing and Saltwater Fishing licenses; and Deer, Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Crossbow, Turkey, Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Lobster permits)
| 4 years of age and younger | $402.50 |
| 5-12 years of age | $702.50 |
| 13 years of age and older | $1002.50 |
Age 65 – Hunting and Fishing License
Florida residents age 65 or older possessing proof of age and residency or possessing a Resident Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate do not need a recreational hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing license, or a Florida waterfowl, deer, turkey, snook, spiny lobster, archery season, crossbow season, muzzle-loading season, deer or management area permit. This exemption does not include the Federal Duck Stamp. Residents age 65 or older may obtain, at no cost, complimentary hunting and fishing certificates from our office.
Disabled Person Hunting & Fishing License
A Persons with Disabilities Resident Hunting/Fishing License can be obtained from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for those that meet the requirements. For more information, please visit their website or contact their office at (850) 488-4676.
License Exemptions
- Hunting, Freshwater Fishing, or Saltwater Fishing
You do not need a recreational hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing license or a *Florida waterfowl, deer, turkey, snook, spiny lobster, archery season, crossbow season, muzzle-loading season, deer or management area permit if…You are a child under 16 years of age. (Also exempt from federal duck stamp requirements.) - You are a Florida resident age 65 or older possessing proof of age and residency or possessing a Resident Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate. Residents age 65 or older may obtain, at no cost, complimentary hunting and fishing certificates from county tax collectors’ offices.
- You hunt or freshwater fish in your county of residence on your homestead or the homestead of your spouse or minor child, or if you are a minor child hunting or freshwater fishing on the homestead of your parent.
- You are a Florida resident certified as totally and permanently disabled and you possess a Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate.
- You are a resident who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, you are not stationed in this state, and you are home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders.
* These exemptions do not apply for the federal duck stamp
You do not need a freshwater fishing license if…
- You have been accepted as a client for developmental disabilities services by the Department of Children and Family Services. The department must furnish proof to such clients.
- You are fishing in a fish pond of 20 acres or less which is located entirely within the private property of its owner. A fish pond is a man-made pond constructed for the primary purpose of fishing, entirely within the property lines of the owner and with no surface water connection to public waters.
- You are fishing in a fish pond of 20 acres or more, whose owner has purchased a fish pond license at a fee of $3 per surface acre.
- You possess a Resident Freshwater Commercial Fishing License.
- You are fishing in the St. Mary’s River or Lake Seminole (but not including tributary creeks in Florida) and have a valid Georgia fishing license.
- You are freshwater fishing during Free Fishing Weekend (the first weekend of April).
- You are a resident who is fishing with live or natural bait, using poles or lines that are not equipped with a fishing-line-retrieval mechanism, and you are fishing for noncommercial purposes in your home county. However, you must have a valid fishing license to fish by any method in a fish management area.
You do not need a saltwater fishing license or a snook or spiny lobster *permit if…
- You have been accepted as a client for developmental services by the Department of Children and Family Services. The department must furnish proof to such clients.
- You fish from a for-hire vessel (guide, charter, party boat) that has a valid vessel license.
- You fish from a vessel, the operator of which has a valid vessel license issued in the name of the operator of the vessel.
- You fish for recreational purposes from a pier with a valid pier saltwater fishing license.
- You have a valid saltwater products license.
- You fish for mullet in fresh water and you have a valid Florida freshwater fishing license.
- You are a resident who is saltwater fishing from land or a structure fixed to land who has been determined eligible for the food stamp, temporary cash assistance, or Medicaid Program by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Proof of identification and a benefit issuance or program identification card issued by DCFS or the Agency for Health Care Administration must be on your person when fishing.
- You are a resident who is fishing with live or natural bait, using poles or lines that are not equipped with a fishing-line-retrieval mechanism, and you are fishing for noncommercial purposes in your home county. However, you must have a valid fishing license to fish by any method in a fish management area.
*These exemptions do not apply to tarpon tags.
*A Florida Resident Is…
For the purposes of hunting or fishing in Florida, a Resident is defined as:
- Any person who has resided in Florida for 6 continuous months prior to the issuance of a license and who claims Florida as his/her primary residence; or
- Any member of the United States Armed Forces who is stationed in Florida (includes spouse and dependent children residing in the household).
Acceptable Proofs of Florida Residency are:
- Florida Driver License or ID Card
- Proof of Homestead Exemption
- Landlord Certification
- Florida Voter Registration Card
- Florida Military Orders
For children under the age of 18, there are two additional options for proving residency.
- Student ID Card (from Florida school)
- Parent’s Proof of Residency (child must be accompanied by the parent at the time of purchase