Silence! Florida Hunters Can Now Hunt in Peace

Key Largo, FL – Back in 1957, it became illegal to hunt game animals using a silencer, a.k.a. suppressor, in Florida. This was probably aimed at poachers, but we all know that lawbreakers don’t obey laws (duh).

Beginning today, hunters can use silenced firearms for all kinds of hunting in Florida. That was the result of this morning’s vote at a meeting of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), during which Order Number EO 14-32 was approved, to be enacted immediately.

Sadly, suppressors are strictly regulated, and the 1934 National Firearms Act requires citizens to jump through hoops and bribe the government for permission to own one. That said, more and more people are doing so these days. There are reportedly about 40,000 registered silencers in the state of Florida.

The benefits of silencers for hunters include hearing protection, lack of disturbance to nearby hunters, and lack of disturbance to other animals in the area.

Opponents claimed that other hunters as well as non-hunters such as hikers would somehow be safer if they could hear hunters’ shots. This is silly; once you’ve heard a shot, it’s too late to avoid the resulting projectile.

Here’s hoping we can deregulate suppressors in the near future, and repeal all restrictive gun laws. Hey, a guy can dream, right?

In the meantime, Florida hunters can at least take it easy on their ears if they want to.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.