5 Valuable Tips to Apply for a Florida Quota Hunt

My desk calendar is awash with sticky notes and pencil-scribbled mathematics as I reconcile the dates of potential hunting trips with available vacation days and unfortunate conflicts in the schedule, such as birthdays and weddings.

Despite the mess, I have a system. And, like me, now is the time to perform such tasks if you wish to profit from Florida’s public land hunts. Limited-entry applications for Big Game Quota, Special Opportunity, and National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) hunts are available from May 15 through June 15.

For those new to the state’s vast public land system, the application period can be daunting. While there is a wealth of land on which to pursue deer and hogs, not all properties are equal, and there is stiff demand for what are deemed the higher-quality adventures. Setting aside for today the Special Opportunity and NWR hunts, which don’t always subscribe to the same application methods, here are five guidelines to consider when applying for Florida’s quota hunts, for this season and into the future.

1. Apply for All Seasons

Quota hunts are offered not only for various properties over different hunting periods but also by choice of weapon.

Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, and General Gun Quota applications provide multiple chances to score in these lottery drawings, if you’re willing to hunt with primitive weapons. (And there are quota hunts singularly for hog hunting.)

Other quota hunts are more specialized. A Family Quota permit allows an adult and up to two youths aged 8 to 15 to participate in some general gun hunts. Mobility-Impaired quota hunts allow certified mobility-impaired hunters to participate in general gun hunts on select Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).

Naturally, the last two options aren’t for everyone, but serious deer hunters should be applying for at least the first three on this list. Depending on location, the rut in Florida runs anywhere from July to March, and by coordinating these locales with the peak of the rut and a corresponding quota hunt, you’re planning for success…but that might mean shelving the .30-06 for a bow.

2. Master the Preference Point System

Unsuccessful applicants are issued a preference point during the Phase I application period for each quota they do not draw. These accumulate and eventually nudge the applicant to success, placing more skin in the game than a first-timer.

These are the key to drawing Florida’s premier hunts, but it takes years of accumulation before the pay-off. Until this season, if you drew a permit for a quota hunt and returned it (more on that below), your previous number of points was re-instated, and an additional point rewarded.

No longer! This year if you draw a permit and return it, you’ll only recover the original number of points. So, if you’re holding out hope for a desired WMA in the future, you'll get stuck in the sand by adding a less-desired, easier-to-draw hunt to your ballot then  later returning it.

Also new this year, if you know you won't be able to hunt this season, a new preference point-only option has been added allowing applicants to accrue points without actually selecting any hunts.

3. Take Advantage of Online Resources

How do I know the number of points a hunt will likely require? Well, last year FWC unveiled a Quota Hunt Dashboard that allows online users to select WMAs that shows the number of applicants and points it took to be selected over previous seasons. It’s a fantastic tool that can be found here: myfwc.com/hunting/quota/

The numbers can be a little distressing, however. So before investing years waiting on a certain property, FWC maintains a database of Harvest Reports (myfwc.com/hunting/harvest-reports) to aid in researching a particular unit that will show past records of harvested game versus the number of hunters for each hunt.

Nothing is given, of course, and harvest data is influenced by multiple variables from season-to-season but don’t waste years pining for a hunt that might, quite frankly, suck. Take full advantage of the ample data available on FWC's website.

4. Return Unwanted Permits

Much can happen between permit distribution and the hunt. While you won’t earn that bonus point, in the event a quota hunt cannot be used it can be returned into the system up to 10 days before the hunt begins. These are then re-distributed through a weekly random draw.

Beyond having your original preference points restored, it’s simply the right thing to do, allowing someone else to take your place. Do note, however, that individuals who return a Phase 1 quota permit will no longer be able to apply for that same hunt for the rest of the year.

Now, for those of us hoping for this dream to fall, obtaining a reissued permit is a long-odds proposition. Preference points won’t help, nor will they be diminished if you are successful. I religiously mine this system hoping for a miracle, and there’s plenty of fist-pumping and last-minute schedule changing if my name is called.

You can learn more about reissued permits here: myfwc.com/license/limited-entry/return-quota-permits

5. Apply as Group

FWC does offer group applications. Applying as a group in Phase I ensures that every member is successful or not. And, if there are fewer permits remaining for a hunt than group members but the group application is selected, the quota for that hunt will be increased so everyone earns a permit for the same hunt.

Up to five members can be in a group, but once the application period closes, no new members may join. The caveat, though, is that the ranking of group applications in the lottery is determined by the member with the fewest preference points. If you have five points and your buddy hops in with zero, your individual odds are toast.

For more information on group applications and all things pertaining to Florida’s Limited Entry Hunts, visit myfwc.com/license/limited-entry

Florida presents some unique hunting opportunities for those willing to play the long game. Understanding how the system works places you miles ahead of others who just wing it.

Best of luck to all this season!

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