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!

Lol!

Glad you posted that. I think the bottom line is that on a one per permit area that means one deer no matter who bagged it. On a two per permit one per person area permit holder and guest can each take one deer. Neither can take two deer on that hunt. I should have said can't hunt deer. I only quota hunt turkey and normally that is the only thing legal with nothing else that can be shot. Every WMAs legal game will be clearly listed for the specific season or quota hunt.. Sorry if I added to some confusion. I'm guessing very few WMAs have the antlerless deer routinely included as legal.
Now I'm curious and have to read the Jennings Forest brochure.  A learning experience.  Sounds like if the deer limit has been taken on some WMAs the hunting of other stuff like hogs and coyotes would still be ok during the remaining hunt period if listed as legal to take. Right? Don't know? Maybe that attorney is needed. Not really. Have a good hunt.

Agree in part. The FWC rules, being so wordy, do intimidate many.  My earlier statements that griz corrected was incorrect for some deer quotas but not turkey quotas.  Never considered staying and hunting other stuff after filling a deer limit.  Still not sure if  the permit holder and guest each tagged out, on say day one, they could continue to hunt other game for the remaining days of say a three day hunt.  I'll read it again.  Shouldn't have to read it again.  I would think when the deer limit was filled either on a one per or two per hunt with the permit holder and guest each scoring on the hunt would be considered completed since no more deer could legally be taken and it was a deer quota hunt. We may be back to the if it isn't prohibited it is legal. Heard that often on the old forum.  

Add - this is now bugging me.  I thought I knew exactly how the Guest Hunter system worked and think I still do if on a turkey hunt.  Myself and my hunting buddy have used the guest permits a few times.  From now on if its a deer hunt quota question I'll keep my mouth shut.  I still have questions about what is legal if both the permit holder and guest on a two per permit one per person area have both filled their deer limits.  Can one or both still hunt hogs for the remaining days?  Does the fact that a different guest could accompany the permit holder on different days come into play?  The new guest on day two would not be able to take a deer if the guest from day one had killed a deer but could he hunt other game.  I have heard that as usual in Florida some are "selling" their guest permits especially for turkey quotas.  Guest permits may be the new gaming strategy.  Whew!  Wasn't that easy.  LOL.  Too hot to do much today so I'll play with this until thoroughly confused.

Not even going to ask where if not Jennings but that turkey of either sex is  fairly rare and I see it is limited to archery quotas. We know very well about the non hunters on a quota hunt. Had two joggers in spandex run by, stopped, and pointed to our decoy. They then giggled and ran off. This was several years ago. Our decoy was insulted.
I haven't found any quota areas for Spring Turkey that allowed any other game to be taken during the hunt periods. If I do I'll avoid them.
Is that a Florida deer in your avatar?
Just looked at Jennings Forest.  They won't run out of legal game there.  Big area.

Nope, Virginia Public Land Buck. I archery hunt Va during the rute (late October,early Novenber).

Only 32 years ago 11/9/1990. Ohio rut. Still remember the drag. Still have that hat and coat. Bow was a Darton set at 55#, Kolpin broadhead, that is a string tracker.

Never scored him. Still have his rack. Since I'm a picture posting fool I'll find one we caught on camera in central Florida. It is a jaw dropper. Easily in the class of your VA buck. Unless he was poached he was never seen again. Typical. Pictures later.