Hunting with a centerfire Rifle in Florida's WMA

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topdep

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Hi all!
I am a brand new amateur wannabe hunter, or in the other words, I have no knowledge about hunting. I have searched, but I can't find the answer, so here is my question.

Can I hunt (deer/hog) with my 30-30 lever action rifle?

I have read throughout the Florida’s fish and wildlife website, and it seems like all center fire rifle is prohibited to hunt, really?

Please clarify this info for me.
Thanks much in advance.
 
From the 2012-13 WMA Hunting Season brochure

"Hunting with full automatic or silencer-equipped firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than five rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices and set guns is prohibited".

Doesn't say NO Centerfire, just magazines larger than five rounds. However, I would call to be sure.
 
All centerfire rifles are prohibited during small game season on wma. Legal during general gun season. All rifles prohibited during spring gobbler season on wma. Knowledge is power. No fmj for deer but fine for hogs. Not all wma are the same, some have specific regulations so pick one and study them.
 
I have not read ALL the WMA brochures, but ALL the ones that I read, this is the first line in GUNS: Hunting with centerfire or rimfire rifles is prohibited.
My 30-30 lever action rifle will hold 7 rounds, so I am not sure how people keeps saying about shooting deer/hogs with even larger, and more round capacity rifles.
Talking about knowledge!:D
 
topdep said:
I have not read ALL the WMA brochures, but ALL the ones that I read, this is the first line in GUNS: Hunting with centerfire or rimfire rifles is prohibited.
My 30-30 lever action rifle will hold 7 rounds, so I am not sure how people keeps saying about shooting deer/hogs with even larger, and more round capacity rifles.
Talking about knowledge!:D
Click to expand...
You admitted that you don't know anything about hunting so why don't you learn from someone first. Also, it is illegal to hunt in Florida without passing a Hunter Safety Course prior. That will teach you the basics. It may also teach you how to read the WMA brochures and not just the Small Game Season parts.
 
I have looked at the brochures of the Green swamp, Hungryland, corvett in Southeast region. They are all stated in the GUN section that "centerfire and rimfire rifle is prohibitted".
 
Thanks for the response, Bob!
Even tho, I have no knowledge about hunting, but I can read, and I know that hunting education class is only required for "young" people who was born on or after 1975.
There you go! :)
I saw you have the quote in your sig, "Life's short, have some fun", but it seems like you are a little bit tense. Relax! my poor knowledge will not end your world. :)

BTW.: Thanks Sebastian the Ibis.
 
The Florida wildlife agency has a website, with all the regs for everything. Probably got a bunch of FAQs, also.

Wouldn't hurt to hunt up phone numbers for game wardens' local offices near the WMAs of interest to you. They oughta be current on all the little bits and pieces for a specific WMA.
 
according to myfwc.com

corbett-- "Hunting with centerfire rifles is prohibited south and east of Stumper’s Grade.
Hunting with rifles is prohibited within the Pratt-Whitney buffer zone and within ¼ mile of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad and Mecca Farms."
plus no centerfires for small game and still has state wide 5 round mag rule for a semiauto

green swamp---- 5 round rule, no centerfire for small game

hungryland---does not allow centerfire rifles. it appears to be shotgun, muzzleloader or archery only.



art has a good point, your local GW is a wealth of knowledge. i had a guy tell me to ask the gw for advice on places to hunt..... when i did it i got laughed at and told "you think im gonna tell you my honey hole?" but theyre great to know especially if you hunt a specific area. ive called my local one up in nc a few times for help with trespassers and people hunting at night on family land
 
topdep said:
Thanks for the response, Bob!
Even tho, I have no knowledge about hunting, but I can read, and I know that hunting education class is only required for "young" people who was born on or after 1975.
There you go! :)
I saw you have the quote in your sig, "Life's short, have some fun", but it seems like you are a little bit tense. Relax! my poor knowledge will not end your world. :)

BTW.: Thanks Sebastian the Ibis.
Click to expand...
I'm 69 but I still took the hunter's safety course with my son. It can't hurt no matter what your age.
Learning about anything by inquiring on a message board is a poor idea since what good information you get must be gleaned from all the opinions that may be incorrect. Learn from a reputable source.
 
That's good for you, Bob!
I've learned that I can learn something from anyone, smart/not smart/clueless. It doesn't matter to me, as long as I get some new information, clarify, then verify, then I will be ok! :)
Here is the answer about hunting with centerfire and rimfire rifle that I just got from FWC official,
Response Via Email (HGM-TY) 01/28/2013 10:02 AM
I'm not sure which WMA you are wanting to hunt, but if it states no centerfire or rimfire rifles, then you canNOT use your 30-30. You could however, you a 12 gauge shotgun.
Click to expand...
I guess I will invest in a hunting shotgun, in addition to my 30-30.
Thanks everyone!
Nick
 
Using the 30-30 during the General Gun Season in Green Swamp is leagle.
Center fire rifles are prohibited for taking game during the Archery, Small Game and Spring Turkey seasons.

Guns:
Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer must be .40 caliber or larger, if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing two or more balls.
Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, pistols, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used. Hunting during the spring turkey season with firearms other than shotguns or using a shot size larger than #2 is prohibited.
For hunting migratory game, only shotguns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
Hunting with full automatic or silencer-equipped firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than five rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices and set guns is prohibited.
The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.


http://myfwc.com/hunting/wma-brochures/sw/green-swamp/
 
The vast majority of WMA' s in Florida allow centerfire rifles for deer season.Get on the Game and Fish website and check some more areas.You will need to start applying for the higher success ratio areas,but it is much simpler than doing so in western states.Try Rock Springs Run,Buck Lake,Seminole Forrest,and Croom.I have hunted and done well in each.
 
For that reason, i picked up a GP100 6" to hunt WMAs when I lived in Florida. Most of the places I hunted were so thick anyways i never had a shot out of pistol range to begin with.

Almost everyone just runs around with a shotgun.
 
Your biggest challenge during general hunting season, when you are allowed to use center fire rifles in a fair number of WMA's are to be able to snag one of the very limited WMA permits.

No permit, no hunting license, HO HUNTING during general season. Even if you are only interested in snagging a hog rather than the ever elusive deer.

To top it off, the General hunting 'season' (if you want to call it that!!!) is very short - typically only about 1 week, in the WMA's around here in S FL.

Centerfire hunting in FL is wishful thinking at best, unless you go for a paid canned hunt, or have contacts on private land.
 
Your biggest challenge during general hunting season, when you are allowed to use center fire rifles in a fair number of WMA's are to be able to snag one of the very limited WMA permits.

No permit, no hunting license, HO HUNTING during general season. Even if you are only interested in snagging a hog rather than the ever elusive deer.

To top it off, the General hunting 'season' (if you want to call it that!!!) is very short - typically only about 1 week, in the WMA's around here in S FL.

Centerfire hunting in FL is wishful thinking at best, unless you go for a paid canned hunt, or have contacts on private land.
Click to expand...
General gun season on green swamp is almost 3 months. Dec 1-Feb 17 this year. You don't need a special quota hunt permit to hunt on every WMA, only certain ones. On WMAs, you need a license to hunt hog anyway, they are game when on WMAs, only livestock when on private land.

Still doesn't make it any easier to see a dog-sized deer though. And for the record, I've hunted Green Swamp with my .30-30 since I got it when I was 12.
 
How about Hog hunting, the FWC web site states that hog hunting is all year round, but it appears that is not true, as I couldn't find a WMA that allows hog hunting year round. Unless I have to hunt in private properties.
Am I wrong?
Please give me some info.
Thanks much in advance
 
As Threefortyduster said: "On WMAs, you need a license to hunt hog anyway, they are game when on WMAs, only livestock when on private land."

Year-round hog hunting is for private land only since, technically, the hogs belong to the landowner and he can do as he pleases with them.
Since hogs are game animals on WMAs, there is a season on them which varies with every WMA.
 
Gree Swamp 2013 season:
General gun season:

November 17 through January 13.

Permit, Stamp and License Requirements - Quota permit (if hunting during first 9 days) or daily quota permit, hunting license, management area permit, deer permit (if hunting deer), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds), and state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl).
Click to expand...

Green Swamp West 2013 season:-
Wild hog-still season:

December 14-16.

Permit, Stamp and License Requirements - Quota permit, hunting license and management area permit.

Legal to Hunt - Wild hog.

Regulations Unique to Wild Hog-still Season - In addition to these regulations, all General Area Regulations shall apply.



Wild hog-dog season:

January 9-11.

Permit, Stamp and License Requirements - Quota permit, hunting license and management area permit.

Legal to Hunt - Wild hog.

Regulations Unique to Wild Hog-dog Season - In addition to these regulations, all General Area Regulations shall apply.
1.Each wild hog-dog quota permit allows a hunting group of two persons and a guest (3 total) to participate in the hunt.
2.Hunting with more than three free-running dogs per hunting group is prohibited.



Special-opportunity general gun season:

January 24-27, February 4-7 and 13-16.

Permit, Stamp and License Requirements - Special-opportunity permit, hunting license, deer permit (if hunting deer), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds), and state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl).

Legal to Hunt - Deer with at least one antler having 4 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length), antlerless deer by antlerless deer permit only (each antlerless deer permit allows the take of only one doe or one buck with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn), wild hog, gray squirrel, quail, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk, nutria and migratory birds in season.
Click to expand...

And closest WMA (Allapatah Flats) to my residence is even more restrictive:-
General gun season:

November 3-7.

Permit, Stamp and License Requirements - Quota permit, hunting license, management area permit, deer permit (if hunting deer) and migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds).

Legal to Hunt - Deer with at least one antler 5 inches or more in length, wild hog, gray squirrel, quail, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk, nutria and migratory birds in season.

Regulations Unique to General Gun Season - In addition to these regulations, all General Area Regulations shall apply.



Small game season:

November 17 through January 13.

Permit, Stamp and License Requirements - Hunting license, management area permit, migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory birds), and state waterfowl permit and federal duck stamp (if hunting waterfowl).

Legal to Hunt - Wild hog, gray squirrel, quail, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk, nutria and migratory birds in season.

Regulations Unique to Small Game Season - In addition to these regulations, all General Area Regulations shall apply.
1.Hunting with bird dogs or retrievers is allowed for hunting small game.
2.Hunting with firearms other than shotguns is prohibited.
Click to expand...
4 days of general gun where you can use centerfire rifle and then you have to compete for one of 50 quota permits. Ridiculous!!!!
 
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