When does general gun season return in Zone D?

General gun season returns Dec. 12, 2026, and runs through Feb. 21, 2027, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

When is muzzleloader season in Zone D?

Muzzleloader season runs Dec. 5 through Dec. 11, 2026, and Feb. 22 through Feb. 28, 2027, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Do Eglin Air Force Base deer season dates match Zone D?

No. Eglin publishes its own FY27 table, with general gun days that include Nov. 26 through Nov. 29 and Dec. 18 through Jan. 3, and it strongly encourages Florida Trail hikers to wear fluorescent orange.

Zone D deer season by week: when hikers should expect gunfire outside Eglin

By the Outdoors Desk, Emerald Coast Dispatch Published Nov. 6, 2026, 4:02 am

Card showing the Nov. 26-29 general gun deer season dates in Zone D for Okaloosa County hikers.

Graphic: Vik Media Group

Right now, on Nov. 6, 2026, archery is the only deer season open in Zone D, and it runs through Nov. 25, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. General gun season opens Thursday, Nov. 26, for Thanksgiving weekend, closes Nov. 29, and comes back Dec. 12 through Feb. 21, 2027. If you hike or walk your dog in Zone D between late November and late February, you will share the woods with hunters on every weekend from Dec. 12 through Feb. 21.

What is open in Zone D each week?

Weeks below run Saturday to Friday. Each line lists the deer weapons open that week.

Oct. 24–30: archery
Oct. 31–Nov. 6 (this week): archery
Nov. 7–13: archery
Nov. 14–20: archery
Nov. 21–27: archery through Nov. 25; general gun Nov. 26–27
Nov. 28–Dec. 4: general gun Nov. 28–29; crossbow Nov. 30–Dec. 4
Dec. 5–11: muzzleloader
Dec. 12–18: general gun
Dec. 19–25: general gun
Dec. 26–Jan. 1: general gun
Jan. 2–8, 2027: general gun
Jan. 9–15: general gun
Jan. 16–22: general gun
Jan. 23–29: general gun
Jan. 30–Feb. 5: general gun
Feb. 6–12: general gun
Feb. 13–19: general gun
Feb. 20–26: general gun Feb. 20–21; muzzleloader Feb. 22–26
Feb. 27–28: muzzleloader

The FWC page is the place to check for changes, so look again the day you go.

How long does each deer weapon season run?

Zone D deer weapon seasons, Oct. 24, 2026 to Feb. 28, 2027

Oct 24 Archery season opens, through Nov. 25.
Nov 26 General gun season opens for Thanksgiving weekend, through Nov. 29.
Nov 30 Crossbow season, Nov. 30 through Dec. 4.
Dec 5 Muzzleloader season, Dec. 5 through Dec. 11.
Dec 12 General gun season returns, through Feb. 21, 2027.
Feb 22 Muzzleloader season, Feb. 22 through Feb. 28, 2027.

Zone D only. Eglin Air Force Base publishes its own dates. Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, deer season dates (2026-11-02)

Archery and general gun are the long seasons. Crossbow is a five-day window, Nov. 30 through Dec. 4, and muzzleloader runs seven days twice: Dec. 5–11 and Feb. 22–28, 2027.

Which weekends overlap with gun season?

In this note, gun season means general gun and muzzleloader. The FWC table lists dates without weekday limits, so treat every listed day as open, not only weekends.

Nov. 26–29: general gun, Thanksgiving through the weekend
Dec. 5–6: muzzleloader
Dec. 12–13, Dec. 19–20 and Dec. 26–27: general gun
Jan. 2–3, Jan. 9–10, Jan. 16–17, Jan. 23–24, Jan. 30–31 and Feb. 6–7: general gun
Feb. 13–14 and Feb. 20–21: general gun
Feb. 27–28: muzzleloader

Crossbow, Nov. 30 through Dec. 4, falls on weekdays only, so it misses most weekend trail days.

Does Eglin Air Force Base follow the same dates?

No. Eglin publishes its own FY27 hunting season dates table, with general gun days that include Nov. 26–29 and Dec. 18 through Jan. 3, plus more days in January. Eglin also strongly encourages Florida Trail hikers to wear fluorescent orange, so if you hike the trail on the base during gun days, wear it.

Who do I contact about deer season dates?

For Zone D dates and changes, use the FWC season dates page. For Eglin, go to the Eglin natural resources site, where the Public Access Map shows daily mission closures. Check it on the morning you plan to go, because closures change from day to day.

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Questions and answers

What deer weapons are open in Zone D on Thanksgiving weekend?: General gun season is open Nov. 26 through Nov. 29, 2026, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Archery closes Nov. 25, and crossbow does not start until Nov. 30.
When does general gun season return in Zone D?: General gun season returns Dec. 12, 2026, and runs through Feb. 21, 2027, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
When is muzzleloader season in Zone D?: Muzzleloader season runs Dec. 5 through Dec. 11, 2026, and Feb. 22 through Feb. 28, 2027, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Do Eglin Air Force Base deer season dates match Zone D?: No. Eglin publishes its own FY27 table, with general gun days that include Nov. 26 through Nov. 29 and Dec. 18 through Jan. 3, and it strongly encourages Florida Trail hikers to wear fluorescent orange.

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