JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
Wildlife management area permit
requirements
■ To hunt on wildlife management areas, you must possess a
management area permit and a hunting license, unless exempt (see
License and permit exemptions on page 11). Persons possessing
fi rearms on Osceola, Ocala or Apalachicola WMAs for the exclusive
purpose of shooting at an FWC-authorized shooting range are
exempt from needing management area permits.
■ Quota permits are required on WMAs during certain time periods
(see Quota permits on page this page).
■ Recreational use permits are required on some WMAs (see
Recreational use permits on page 36).
■ Special-opportunity permits are required on some WMAs (see
Special-opportunity hunts on page 37).
■ WMA brochures, permits and most quota permit application
worksheets are available at county tax collectors’ offi ces, license
agents, MyFWC.com/hunting and an FWC regional offi ce (see page
4). Permits for ADA accommodations are available under certain
conditions for some WMAs. Please contact the FWC regional
offi ces (see page 4).
Wildlife management area regulation changes
Hunters should obtain WMA brochures for the area in which they
intend to hunt. The latest rule changes are notated by bold print
in these brochures. WMA brochures are available at county tax
collectors’ offi ces, license agents, FWC regional offi ces (see page 4)
and MyFWC.com/hunting.
Public small game hunting areas (SGA)
These small-game public hunting areas offer the opportunity to hunt
hogs, doves, waterfowl and small game. Brochures are available at
MyFWC.com/hunting or an FWC regional offi ce (see page 4).
Dove hunting opportunities are provided on Apalachee,
Apalachicola WEA, Babcock/Webb Punta Gorda Unit, Blackwater,
Dinner Island Ranch, Dupuis WEA, Joe Budd, Lakes Wales Ridge
WEA Royce Unit, Okaloacoochee Slough and Hilochee Osprey Unit.
Dove quota permits are required for Punta Gorda, Dupuis, Royce and
Osprey. These permits are issued on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis.
Obtain a worksheet (see page 36) for information on when and where
to apply for these permits.
Waterfowl hunting is provided on Alligator Lake, Orange Creek,
Ocklawaha Prairie, Emeralda Marsh, T.M. Goodwin/Broadmoor,
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Stormwater Treatment
Areas (STA). A $25 Water Management District Permit - SJR is
required to hunt on Orange Creek, Ocklawaha Prairie and Emeralda
Marsh. A quota hunt permit is required to hunt on Orange Creek,
Ocklawaha Prairie, T.M. Goodwin/Broadmoor, Merritt Island NWR
and all STA areas. Quota permits are issued on a fi rst-come, fi rstserved
basis. A permit is not required to hunt waterfowl on Alligator
Lake. Obtain a worksheet (see page 36) for information on when and
where to apply.
Hog hunting and small-game hunting opportunities are
available on Blackwater Hutton Unit, Lower Econfi na River, KICCO,
Myakka and Punta Gorda. The Punta Gorda and Blackwater Hutton
Unit hog hunts require a quota permit. Obtain a worksheet (see page
36) for information on when and where to apply.
Hunting Florida’s military bases
Three military bases in Florida are open to public hunting. For
information on hunting these lands, contact:
■ Eglin Natural Resources,
Jackson Guard, 107 Hwy. 85 North,
Niceville, FL 32578; (850) 882-4164.
■ Avon Park Air Force Range,
Hunt Information, 347 RQW, DET1,
OLA/CEVN, 29 South Blvd., Avon Park Air Force Range, FL
33825-5700; (863) 452-4254.
■ Tyndall Air Force Base,
Natural Resources Flight, 325 CES/CEN,
119 Alabama Ave., Tyndall Air Force Base, FL 32403; (850) 283-2641
or (850) 283-2822.
Hunting Florida’s national wildlife refuges (NWR)
Six national wildlife refuges in Florida are open to public hunting.
These refuges are operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For
information, contact:
■ A.R.M. Loxahatchee NWR,
10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach, FL
33437-4796; (561) 732-3684. Waterfowl only.
■ Lower Suwannee NWR,
16450 NW 31st Place, Chiefl and, FL 32626;
(352) 493-0238.
■ Lake Woodruff NWR,
P.O. Box 488, DeLeon Springs, FL 32130;
(386) 985-4673.
■ Merritt Island NWR,
P.O. Box 6504, Titusville, FL 32782;
(321) 861-0667, Waterfowl only.
■ St. Marks NWR,
P.O. Box 68, St. Marks, FL 32355; (850) 925-6121.
■ St. Vincent NWR,
P.O. Box 447, Apalachicola, FL 32329;
(850) 653-8808.
Quota permits
Florida’s quota program prevents overcrowding and controls the
harvest of game on wildlife management areas thus providing hunters
with quality hunting experiences. Quotas (maximum number of
hunters permitted on WMAs) are based on an area’s size, habitat,
game populations and rules. Hunters wanting to use WMAs during
quota periods must submit the appropriate quota permit application.
Most quota permits are issued by random drawing. There are several
types of quota permit applications, and eligible applicants are allowed
to submit one of each type. Quota permits are issued free; however
unless exempt, all applicants must have a valid management area
permit or license that includes it when submitting their quota permit
application.
■ General gun quota permits are required during general gun hunts.
■ Archery/muzzleloading gun quota permits are required during
archery and muzzleloading gun hunts.
■ Airboat quota permits are required to hunt from airboats on
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA.
■ Track vehicle quota permits are required to hunt from track vehicles
on Everglades and Francis S. Taylor, Rotenberger and Holey Land
WMAs.
■ Spring turkey quota permits are required to hunt on some WMAs
during spring turkey season.
■ Youth hunt quota permits are required for children ages 8 through
15 to hunt Camp Blanding and Andrews WMAs.
■ Mobility-impaired person quota permits are required for disabled
hunters certifi ed “mobility-impaired” during general gun hunts. For
more information about mobility-impaired certifi cation, contact the
FWC’s Offi ce of Licensing and Permitting at (850) 488-3641 or visit
MyFWC.com/license under “ADA Accessibility and Disability.”
■ Quail quota permits are required to hunt Blackwater WMA fi eld trial
area.
■ Family hunt quota permits are required for an adult and up to two
youths to hunt together on selected areas.
■ Hog management quota permits are required to hunt hogs on the
Punta Gorda Water Treatment Facility.
■ Dove quota permits are required to hunt on Small Game Hunting
Areas (SGA).
■ Waterfowl quota permits are required to hunt on the T.M. Goodwin/
Broadmoor Waterfowl Area, Ocklawaha Prairie and Orange Creek
small game areas, Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) and Merritt
Island NWR.
Limited entry hunts – application periods
All application periods begin at 10 a.m. (EDT) on the fi rst day of
the application period and run through midnight on the last day.
Worksheets and information are available at MyFWC.com/hunting
■ April 22, 2008 - until all permits are issued: Blackwater Hutton Hog
Dog Hunts
■ May 1-31, 2008: Recreational Use – Phase I (renewals only)
■ May 6 – June 10, 2008: Special-Opportunity Fall Hunts (deer, hog
and quail)
34 2008-2009 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission