Overview
- Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the plan at a Panama City Beach press event and said he is drafting a bill to take to the 2027 legislative session.
- The proposal would raise many poaching offenses from misdemeanors to felonies with tiers ranging from third degree to first degree based on location and repeat offending.
- A new standalone felony called aggravated illegal taking of wildlife would apply when a poacher knowingly discharges a firearm near people, occupied structures, or critical infrastructure.
- Courts would be required to permanently revoke all hunting and wildlife licenses for convicted poachers and to order forfeiture of firearms, equipment, vehicles, or vessels used in the offense.
- The announcement drew public support from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission leadership and local law enforcement and is pitched as a way to standardize enforcement and hold repeat offenders accountable across the state.