The short answer to whether someone can shoot a limpkin in Florida is yes, with proper licensing and during designated hunting seasons. Limpkins are wading birds found in wetlands throughout the state of Florida and are legal game birds that can be hunted during specific times of year with the appropriate permits.
What is a Limpkin?
The limpkin (Aramus guarauna) is a unique wading bird found predominantly in Florida and other southern states. It is a large, long-legged bird with drab brown plumage and a long, slightly downward curving bill. Limpkins reach lengths of 25-32 inches and have wingspans of around 40 inches. They get their name from their appearance of limping as they walk slowly along shallow wetlands. Limpkins use their specialized bill to feed on apple snails and other invertebrates.
Limpkins are resident birds, meaning they live in Florida year-round and do not migrate. They inhabit shallow, freshwater wetlands and swamps and are frequently seen along the shorelines of lakes, ponds, marshes, and slow-moving rivers. Their unique cries, which sound like loud wails or screams, often give away their presence before they are seen.
Are Limpkins Protected in Florida?
Limpkins are not endangered or threatened species in Florida. Their populations are considered stable throughout their range in the state. As such, limpkins are not afforded any special protections in Florida and are considered legal game birds that can be hunted during designated hunting seasons with the proper licenses and permits.
Federal Protections
At the federal level, limpkins are protected in the U.S. by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The MBTA makes it illegal to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, or sell any migratory birds or their parts, nests, or eggs without federal permits issued by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. However, limpkins are not considered migratory birds under the MBTA since they do not migrate.
State Protections
The state of Florida does not list the limpkin as a threatened, endangered, or special concern species. Limpkins have a NatureServe conservation status rank of G5, meaning they are demonstrably secure globally. Within the state specifically, they have a rank of S5, meaning they are demonstrably secure within Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which manages hunting regulations in the state, designates the limpkin as a legal game bird that can be hunted during specific seasons with proper licensing. This means limpkins are not afforded any special protections in Florida at the state level.
Limpkin Hunting Regulations in Florida
While limpkins can be legally hunted in Florida, there are specific regulations and licensing requirements hunters must follow:
Hunting License
All hunters over 16 years old must have a valid Florida hunting license to hunt limpkins or any other game animal in the state. Resident annual hunting licenses cost around $17 while nonresident licenses cost $46.50. There are also options for 5-year and lifetime licenses.
Migratory Bird Permit
In addition to a hunting license, hunters over 16 need to have a no-cost Migratory Bird Permit from the FWC to hunt any migratory or game birds in Florida. This permit is available when purchasing your hunting license.
Stamps
A Florida waterfowl stamp and federal duck stamp are required for hunters 18 years and older to hunt limpkins and other waterfowl in the state. The state waterfowl stamp costs $5 and the federal duck stamp is $25. These can be purchased at retailers that sell hunting/fishing licenses.
Hunting Seasons
Limpkin hunting seasons in Florida are:
- South Hunting Zone – November 12, 2022 through January 29, 2023
- Northwest Hunting Zone – November 19, 2022 through February 5, 2023
- Southwest Hunting Zone – November 5, 2022 through January 29, 2023
Daily bag limits for limpkin are 1 bird per person in the Northwest and Southwest zones and 3 birds per person in the South zone.
Legal Hunting Methods
Limpkins may only be hunted in Florida using shotguns, bows, crossbows, and falcons. The use of live decoys, recorded calls, and baiting is prohibited when hunting limpkins and other migratory birds.
Where to Hunt Limpkins in Florida
Limpkins can be found statewide in Florida, but some regions of the state offer better opportunities to encounter and hunt these birds:
- Everglades region – This vast wetland ecosystem in southern Florida contains prime limpkin habitat.
- Kissimmee Chain of Lakes – Lakes Kissimmee, Hatchineha, and Tohopekaliga host large limpkin populations.
- St. Johns River Basin – Wetlands and lakes along this northern Florida river system hold limpkins.
- Florida Panhandle – Swamps and rivers in this northern region of the state provide limpkin habitat.
Public lands like wildlife management areas and national wildlife refuges open for hunting can provide access to limpkin hunting habitat in Florida. Some top public lands to consider include:
- Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMAs
- Three Lakes WMA
- Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
- St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
Consult maps to locate wetlands and waterways on these public lands for the best limpkin hunting spots.
Tips for Hunting Limpkins
Here are some useful tips for having success hunting limpkins in Florida:
- Use kayaks or small boats to access limpkin habitat in wetland backwaters and along shorelines.
- Aim for areas with shoreline vegetation where limpkins probe for food.
- Time your hunts early or late in the day when limpkins are most actively feeding.
- Listen for their distinctive cries and calls which can help locate them.
- Use decoys and limpkin calls to attract them during the hunting seasons.
- Cattails, rushes, and willows provide good natural cover for hiding and ambushing limpkins.
- Be patient and still to avoid startling them when you spot one.
- Remember that limpkins blend into vegetation, so look closely when scanning for them.
Conclusion
In summary, limpkins are legal game birds that can be hunted in Florida during specific hunting seasons with the proper licenses and permits. They are not endangered or protected and have stable populations throughout the state. Limpkins inhabit wetlands and waterways across Florida, with prime hunting available on public lands like WMAs and wildlife refuges open to hunting. Following the limpkin hunting regulations set by the FWC and using techniques like hunting near vegetation and using decoys, hunters can have success harvesting limpkins during the Florida hunting seasons.