Outdoor Freedom is an endeavor of the Florida Forest Service that provides recreational opportunities to wounded veterans. Participants must be Florida residents (as defined in s. 379.101(30)(b)) who are honorably discharged military veterans with either a service-connected disability rating of 30% or greater from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs or be a Purple Heart recipient.

Events can be accessed from the list, calendar, or map below. Click on the name for basic information. You may apply once for each event.

There are two types of Events:

1. Guided Events – These events provide complete guide services, housing and all meals. All scouting, equipment, blinds, game processing and any handicapped needs are provided. Mobility assessments are provided for each event.
2. Unguided Events – These events only provide the area to be used, primitive campsites and portable restroom facilities. The veteran is responsible for all hunting equipment, tents and food. Some events may provide a meal. All scouting and hunting is the responsibility of the veteran. Each veteran is allowed to bring one non-hunting assistant with them. Assistant may go on the hunt and help but is not allowed to use the weapon.

There are two different processes for applying:

1. Participants are selected for many events, both guided and unguided, by a random selection process within the application software. These events will have a link marked “Apply” for online registration. If you are not a registered user, you will be prompted to register with a user name and login before you can apply for the event. After applying for an event, the right hand column of the list below will change from “apply” to “cancel”. Select cancel to remove your name from the event. You may cancel your registration at any time.
2. For some guided events, the participant selection is made by a participating veteran’s organization and is distinguished by a “Contact Us” link. Selecting this option will produce a window with contact information. Clicking on the email address within this window will allow you to fill out your information and send it to the contact for that event. To withdraw your application, please contact the respective veteran’s organization contact person.

Participants will be selected to participate in only one event unless there are unfilled slots available at other events for which you have applied. Selected participants will be notified 30 days prior to the event. Event coordinators will provide event details, contact information and answer any questions. You will be asked to provide proof of 30% disability rating or Purple Heart credentials by email within five days of selection notification.

Event	Location	Begins at	Ends at
Peace River Hog Hunt	Peace River State Forest Registration Closed	10/11/23 12:00 PM	10/13/23 12:00 PM		POINT (-81.8535451111111 27.213465555555555)
Stuart Snook Fishing Event	Other Public Land Registration Closed	10/13/23 5:00 PM	10/15/23 11:00 AM		POINT (-80.219345527777776 27.234395472222221)
NWFWMD Econfina Creek WMA freshwater fishing	Other Public Land	10/17/23 12:00 PM	10/19/23 12:00 PM	Apply	POINT (-85.5432111111111 30.430463888888891)
Satsuma Tract Muzzleloader Deer Hunt	Belmore State Forest	10/27/23 11:00 AM	10/29/23 12:00 PM	Apply	POINT (-81.931786694444455 29.98100075)
Two Mile Prairie Muzzle Loader Deer/ Hog Hunt	Withlacoochee State Forest	10/27/23 1:00 PM	10/29/23 1:00 PM	Apply	POINT (-82.389628469633635 28.97521092260564)
Blackwater Archery 1 2023	Blackwater River State Forest Registration Closed	10/30/23 2:00 PM	11/02/23 12:00 PM		POINT (-86.802266638029352 30.77354544184125)
Washington crossings Hog hut	Pine Log State Forest	11/01/23 4:00 PM	11/03/23 12:00 PM	Apply	POINT (-85.88024410343867 30.426995225677057)
Fish with a Hero/ OOF Bass Funament	Other Public Land	11/03/23 3:00 PM	11/06/23 12:00 PM	Apply	POINT (-81.473814 26.754106444444446)
NLSF muzzleloader/general gun deer hunt	Newnans Lake State Forest	11/03/23 3:00 PM	11/05/23 10:00 AM	Apply	POINT (-82.261622534342948 29.673389168544254)
Pease river State Forest hog hunt	Peace River State Forest	11/08/23 12:00 PM	11/10/23 12:00 PM	Apply	POINT (-81.8535451111111 27.213465555555555)
Rotary Club Benefit Clay Shoot.	Private Land	11/11/23 7:00 AM	11/11/23 1:00 PM	Apply	POINT (-81.497519972222221 27.97451358333333)
Blackwater Archery 2 2023	Blackwater River State Forest Registration Closed	11/13/23 2:00 PM	11/16/23 12:00 PM		POINT (-86.802917103409243 30.773576280746592)
Withlacoochee Training Center Deer Hunt	Withlacoochee State Forest Registration not yet open	11/17/23 1:00 PM	11/19/23 1:00 PM		POINT (-82.3365356720205 28.652323784584823)
Volusia County Deer Hunt 1	Other Public Land	11/27/23 1:00 PM	12/01/23 12:00 PM	Apply	POINT (-81.355812939941416 29.128592393794513)
Plank Road State Forest Hunt	Other Public Land Registration not yet open	12/08/23 12:00 PM	12/10/23 12:00 PM		POINT (-84.261909584975868 30.23898224211344)
Satsuma Tract Whitetail Deer Rifle Hunt	Belmore State Forest Registration not yet open	01/05/24 11:00 AM	01/07/24 12:00 PM		POINT (-81.931845833333341 29.981084222222222)
Volusia County Deer Hunt 2	Other Public Land Registration not yet open	01/08/24 1:00 PM	01/12/24 12:00 PM		POINT (-81.3528088611111 29.132924944444444)
Lake Talquin State Forest Hunt	Lake Talquin State Forest Registration not yet open	01/26/24 12:00 PM	01/28/24 12:00 PM		POINT (-84.618721176572791 30.487088011756118)
Jennings State Forest Pioneer Trail Hike/Camp Event	Jennings State Forest Registration not yet open	02/02/24 9:00 AM	02/03/24 12:00 PM		POINT (-81.965473194444442 30.128397388888889)
Satsuma Tract Spring Turkey Hunt	Belmore State Forest Registration not yet open	03/22/24 12:00 PM	03/24/24 12:00 PM		POINT (-81.9317905 29.981004333333331)