By FWC Captive Wildlife Office
Dear Captive Wildlife Permittees,
On Feb. 26, 2025, FWC Commissioners approved changes to rules relating to game farm and hunting preserve operations in Florida. “Track changes” versions of the affected Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) rules are attached for your reference. The effective date of these updated rules will be June 2, 2025, and final copies can be found on https://flrules.org/.
A summary of updates made to the rules is listed below. This is a summary and is not comprehensive of all changes made. All affected permittees should read the updated rules in their entirety to ensure compliance with these rules.
- 68A-1.004 Definitions
- Updated definitions for “game farm” and “hunting preserve” to provide clarity.
- 68A-4.0052 Possession and Release of Live Mallards
- Removed language regarding release of mallards on hunting preserves to match language in the hunting preserve rule.
- Changed language to require all cages and enclosures containing mallards to be covered at the top.
- 68A-12.006 Sale of Pen-Raised Quail
- All the requirements in this rule are covered elsewhere under other F.A.C. rules, so this rule was repealed.
- 68A-12.010 Regulations Governing Hunting Preserves
- Clarified that sale of wildlife from a hunting preserve is authorized.
- Removed requirement to provide a copy of an FDACS Cervidae Herd Health Plan upon renewal of a permit.
- Updated methods of take to include all authorized methods found in Rule 68A-12.002, F.A.C., for the entirety of each allowed hunting season.
- Specified that no captive-reared waterfowl or captive-reared turkeys may be released or hunted on hunting preserves.
- Added language to specify requirements for perimeter gates.
- Added language to specify requirements for water gaps. Facilities utilizing water gap structures shall have until June 2, 2026, to come into compliance with the water gap requirements.
- Updated registration book requirements for hunters to allow for any type of record, as long as the record includes required information for each hunter.
- Added acquisition and transfer records requirements for hunting preserves.
- Added transport requirements which match requirements found in the game farm rule.
- Added reporting and recapture requirements if escape of wildlife occurs.
- Defined a required procedure for entities who plan to dissolve their hunting preserve.
- Added language for revoked or non-renewed permits which matches Rule 68A-6.003, F.A.C.
- 68A-12.011 Regulations Governing Game Farms
- Clarified that entities with a Class II (ESA/ESB) permit or a Class III (ESC) permit may breed and sell game animals to other Class II and Class III permittees, but may not sell to any entities with game farm or hunting preserve permits.
- Removed requirement to provide a copy of an FDACS Cervidae Herd Health Plan upon renewal of a permit.
- Added an allowance for man-made shelters without gaps to be utilized if natural vegetation is also used to fulfill the shelter requirement for game mammals.
- Added requirement for pool(s) of water to be included in waterfowl enclosures.
- Added language to specify requirements for perimeter gates.
- Added language to specify requirements for water gaps. Facilities utilizing water gap structures shall have until June 2, 2026, to come into compliance with the water gap requirements.
- Added reporting and recapture requirements if escape of wildlife occurs.
- Defined a required procedure for entities who plan to dissolve their game farm.
- Added language for revoked or non-renewed permits which matches Rule 68A-6.003, F.A.C.
If you have questions regarding game farm and hunting preserve requirements, please reach out to your Captive Wildlife Investigator, or reach out to the Captive Wildlife Office at (850) 488-6253 or CWApps@myFWC.com.
Sincerely,
Captive Wildlife Office
