Yes, it is illegal to feed deer in Florida inside the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone around Holmes County, except during the established deer hunting season. Outside that zone, Florida’s permanent wildlife-feeding rules don’t list deer by name, but putting food out for deer can still be illegal if it attracts species that are protected, such as black bears, sandhill cranes, raccoons, or coyotes. Penalties start at a $100 civil fine and climb to a second-degree misdemeanor on a repeat offense.
Where Feeding Deer Is Directly Prohibited
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed four cases of CWD in deer in Holmes County and responded by creating a CWD Management Zone with feeding and baiting restrictions issued through executive order.1Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Within the zone, feeding deer is prohibited outside of the established deer hunting season.2Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. CWD Hunting Regulations The FWC has renewed those restrictions through updated executive orders for successive seasons, and they stay in effect until the agency modifies or lifts them.3Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. FWC Issues Executive Order With New CWD Regulations for 2024-25 Deer Season
Zone boundaries can shift as new CWD cases are detected, so anyone living or hunting near Holmes County should check the FWC’s current CWD map before putting out any food or bait.
Why Feeding Deer Can Still Be Illegal Outside the Zone
Florida’s permanent feeding rules under Florida Administrative Code 68A-4.001 don’t specifically list deer, but they cover several species that readily show up wherever deer food is available.4Legal Information Institute. Florida Admin Code Ann R 68A-4.001 – General Provisions A pile of corn in the yard is exactly the kind of setup that draws in a protected animal, and that’s what turns lawful deer feeding into an unlawful attractant.
- Intentionally feeding black bears is prohibited, and unintentional feeding (such as leaving accessible food or garbage) can also violate the rule once the FWC gives you written notification.
- Placing food or garbage in a way that attracts coyotes, foxes, or raccoons and creates a public nuisance is prohibited.
- Intentionally feeding sandhill cranes is banned outright.
- Feeding pelicans in a way that modifies the population’s natural behavior to its detriment is prohibited.
- All feeding of non-human primates is banned, including leaving accessible food or garbage.
- Feeding alligators and crocodiles is a separate offense under Florida Administrative Code 68A-25.001.
So even where feeding deer itself isn’t the violation, the same food often becomes one.
Penalties
Violations of feeding rules and executive orders are penalized under Florida Statute 379.412, and the penalties escalate with repeat offenses.5Justia Law. Florida Code 379.412 – Penalties for Feeding Wildlife and Freshwater Fish
First Offense
A first violation is a noncriminal infraction with a $100 civil penalty. The officer issues a citation showing the fine and any scheduled hearing date, and you have 30 days to pay by mail or in person. Paying counts as admitting the violation and waiving the hearing, though that admission can’t be used against you in other proceedings except to set fines if you’re cited again.
Contesting the citation in county court waives the $100 cap. After a hearing, and if the violation is proved beyond a reasonable doubt, the court can impose a penalty of $100 or more. Refusing to accept the citation, failing to pay, or failing to appear is a separate second-degree misdemeanor.
Second and Later Offenses
For a second or subsequent violation involving deer, the offense becomes a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in county jail and a fine of up to $500. The jump from a civil fine to potential jail time surprises a lot of people. Repeat violations involving bears or alligators can climb further, reaching felony territory on a fourth offense, but for deer every repeat sits at the second-degree misdemeanor level.
What Counts as “Feeding”
The statute reaches three kinds of conduct: directly feeding wildlife with food or garbage, attracting or enticing wildlife with food or garbage, and allowing food or garbage to be placed in a way that attracts wildlife.5Justia Law. Florida Code 379.412 – Penalties for Feeding Wildlife and Freshwater Fish That third category is the one homeowners tend to run into without meaning to. If attractants are on your property and wildlife shows up, you can still be held responsible.
The penalty statute doesn’t apply to rules about captive animals or to hunting-over-bait rules. Those live under separate hunting regulations.
Everyday Attractants to Watch
Feeding songbirds is generally permitted, but a bird feeder becomes a legal risk when it consistently pulls in wildlife that falls under a feeding prohibition. The FWC recommends shelled seed and suggests avoiding red milo, because birds tend to throw it to the ground, where it accumulates and draws in larger animals.6Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Secure Bird and Wildlife Feeders A feeder ringed by spilled seed is an open invitation to deer, bears, and raccoons.
Other common attractants include unsecured trash cans, open compost, fallen fruit under ornamental trees, and gardens planted with species deer like to browse. Wildlife-proof trash containers, secured compost, and fencing around gardens all help. Beyond the legal exposure, concentrating deer near a home tends to bring vehicle collisions, property damage, and predators along for the ride.
Reporting Illegal Feeding
The FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline takes reports of illegal feeding at 1-888-404-3922, and reports can also be submitted online through the FWC’s website.7Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Detriments to Feeding Wildlife Officers use those reports to identify repeat offenders and locations where feeding is creating a concentrated problem.