Florida hunting seasons are gearing up, and it's time to prep. Here are some bullet points

I spent last Saturday scouting South Florida public land in preparation for an August archery hunt . All it took was spotting several nice bucks, and I can emphatically state, despite the heat and skeeters, I’m officially pumped for the 2024-25 hunting season.

Yes, Florida’s hunting seasons are in the chute, and there’s much to prepare for, whether readying for a sweaty adventure down south or planning on waterfowl in November. So, let’s bullet-point a few upcoming items of note before the season begins.

The Right to Hunt & Fish Amendment

On November’s ballot will be an opportunity for Floridians to galvanize their rights to hunt and fish in the state constitution.

Amendment 2, a grassroots initiative by local sportsmen and placed on the ballot with near-unanimous bipartisan support from the Florida Legislature, intends to “preserve forever fishing and hunting, including by the use of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife,” according to the proposed text. It further reads that the amendment won’t limit the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in such matters.

Closer to November, I’ll explore this further but wanted to call attention to it now after recently polling several hunting buddies who were completely oblivious to this amendment’s existence. To learn more, please visit yeson2florida.com .

Public land waterfowl applications

The first application period for public lands September Special Early Duck season and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge waterfowling begins Aug. 2.

Regarding MINWR for a moment – it’s a wild place to duck hunt but not easy. Gone are the days when one could motor directly to spots. Now, it’s often a hip-deep slog from a rim canal through muck to reach the birds.

Those who consistently fill limits scout constantly, and they will be the first waiting to launch their vessels, even if that means sleeping overnight in the truck at the gate.

Again, unique place to hunt, especially in proximity to the Kennedy Space Center and Mosquito Lagoon, but apply cautiously, knowing that success requires more effort than a standard duck outing at the local lake.

Early deer seasons

Archery season in South Florida’s Zone A begins Aug. 3 on private lands and select wildlife management areas, one of the earliest deer seasons in the country. Despite the heat, the bucks are rutting .

Freshwater fishing: Bluegill remain hot all across Polk. Bass are hit and miss

While the time to draw limited-entry permits has passed, several WMAs will open in August that don't require quota permits, including J.W. Corbett, Everglades and portions of Big Cypress. These are expansive properties, but the terrain can be rough, to put it mildly. To begin your research on these places, check out WMA brochures at myfwc.com/hunting/wma-brochures .

Turkey surveys

Finally, FWC is asking folks to submit any wild turkey sightings through the 2024 Wild Turkey Survey tool, available online until Aug. 31.

According to FWC, the goal is to receive more than 5,000 reports from hunters and other conservationists. The agency wants reports of hens, with and without poults, and toms from across the state. FWC biologists conduct this survey each year to learn about nesting success, brood survival, and the distribution and abundance of wild turkeys. To submit reports, please visit myfwc.com/hunting/turkey .

With that, time to hit the archery range and prepare for the upcoming hunt.

Best of luck this season.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Florida hunting seasons are gearing up, and it's time to prep. Here are some bullet points