FWC Home : Recreation : Hunting : Deer Dogs

Registration requirement for use of dogs to take deer on private lands

A no-cost registration is required for any person using dogs to take deer on private property in Florida.  The 2009-2010 application form will be available here August 1, 2009.

Under FWC rules, take of deer includes harvesting deer , attempting to take or harvest deer; trailing, pursuing or molesting deer. Registration is required during the deer dog training season and any open deer hunting season when taking of deer with dogs is permitted. Any person using dogs to take deer on private property that has not been registered would be in violation of the registration rule, and that person could receive a citation.

The registration requirement is in addition to all existing rules regarding the use of dogs for hunting including the hunter responsibility and road hunting rules. Registration can be issued to the landowner or any other individual who has rights to hunt the property as designated by the landowner in a hunting lease or written permission.

Registration will require completion of an application which will require information about the property including a boundary map, description of the property, a copy of a hunting lease or written permission from the landowner for hunting the property. The landowner(s) will not be required to sign the application. Contact information for the landowner(s) will be required on the application. Applicants registered from the prior year will receive renewals in August, and will receive the same Registration number issued the previous year.

Once a registration has been issued, the registration number must be on or attached to the collar of any dog used for taking deer on the registered property. Failure to have the registration number on or attached to the dog's collar would be a violation of this rule and could result in a citation. Any person using dogs to take deer on the registered property will be required to have a copy of the registration in their possession when that person is on the property and using dogs to take deer. Failure to have a copy of the registration in possession when using dogs to take deer will be a violation of this rule and could result in a citation. Any person using dogs to take deer on a registered property will be required to keep the dogs on the registered property. Failure to keep dogs on the registered property will be a violation of this rule and could result in a citation against the individual who is using dogs to take deer.

Deer Dog Registration Application