Guest Hunter Questions

Yeah ya need a lawyer in ya pocket to hunt public land in FLA....but what One Man said.....

I interpret is as if two quota holders are together hunting the same area they can still bring a guest each (4 total hunters.).I believe that is the spirit of the rule. As for the bag limit issue, if it is a 2 deer per quota but only one per person area I've heard from another hunter who supposedly spoke to someone at FWC that when you shot your first deer it had to be on your permit and not as a guest if you hold a permit. Then once you tagged out you were no longer a quota holder and could be a guest. But you couldn't be a guest before harvesting a deer. I challenge that stance because you still are a quota holder even if you kill a deer and can still hunt as a quota holder (could kill a pig or coyote for example). IMO if you have a quota and your buddy does as well you are legally allowed to use each others guest permits as long as you are together at the time. In the above situation this works well if one of you hunts during the weekdays as well as the weekends. If using a guest quota and killing one on the first Saturday I could still use my permit to kill a 2nd deer during the week. I think this would hold up in court. I am not an attorney though, and this is just my take on it. If you get an over zealous FWC officer you may have an issue I think the 2 per permit but 1 per person rule is stupid though. Dead deer is a dead deer regardless of who killed it, right?

Have spent the last few seasons researching this before applying for certain turkey hunts.  Agree with One Man Gang.  Remember some WMAs will read one per permit or two per permit but only one per person.  If it isn't a big secret pm someone who can keep their mouth shut about the specific area to double check for you.  When this two per permit but only one per person first started even some FWC officers interrupted this incorrectly especially on the daily limit.  The old forum had a guy named deerfoot that had a big hassle at Walk in Water WMA over this.  He won and the FWC site finally clarified that two per permit but only one per person allowed him and his guest to be take their birds on the same day.  Walk in Water is a two per permit but only one per hunter turkey area.  Good luck.

Everytime I hear or read that someone spoke to someone at FWC I cringe. Write or text FWC with specific questions. Betty Sue that answers questions over the phone usually doesn't know crap. If it is a big concern get a documented response you can print out and carry with you.  The call in check system may make this a concern since I think time of kill is required.  Checked a bird in April but not 100% sure if time was involved.  Lawyer shouldn't be needed.  A paralegal could probably handle it. Lol.

Btw - the two per permit one per person on some areas is a nice perk. Hate to lose it.  Bet that on areas with several different quota hunts that each hunt is a separate event and a hunter holding a permit for hunt number 3 would not be disqualified from being a legal guest on hunt number one.  Betty Sue won't even understand the question.  Write or text.

Add - I could imagine two schemers trying to also be each other's guest if drawing the SAME dates and thinking they could take four deer. That would explain the response someone got that publichunter mentioned. Good luck with that😱

My son and I plan our Quota application in just that way so we hunt the entire season alternating host/guest. Then we apply for redraws and see if we can get independent harvests. Just remember your guest is using your deer allotments so you better be in communication during the hunt or make a deal where where one shoots a buck and the other a doe (depending on what WMA rules Area limits 1
antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit.). You BOTH can't shoot a buck on a ONE Quota draw (Host & Guest)

Also remember you have a season limit as well when considering all your bases. Guest permits are awesome when each can harvest game!