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Big Cypress
	Specific Area pfs 5386

	Regulations Summary and Area Map July 01, 2024 - June 30, 2025


	IMPORTANT: Hunters no longer need to fill out, carry, and submit a check station pass. However, whenever check stations are staffed, all hunters are still required to check in at a designated check station upon arrival and check out at the same check station before leaving the area, whether or not any game has been harvested. Hours of operation are posted at each check station. The information hunters provide is essential for informing management decisions at Big Cypress WMA. This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area. Regulations that are new or differ substantially from last year are shown in bold print. Area users should familiarize themselves with all regulations. For exact wording of the wildlife laws and regulations, see the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s wildlife code, on file with the Secretary of State and state libraries. This brochure, the Florida Hunting Regulations handbook, and quota permit worksheets should provide the information necessary for you to plan your hunting activities. These publications are available at MyFWC.com. Persons using wildlife management areas are required to have appropriate licenses, permits, and stamps. The following persons are exempt from all license and permit requirements (except for quota permits when listed as “no exemptions,” recreational use permits, antlerless deer permits, and the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp [federal duck stamp], if applicable): Florida residents who are 65 years of age or older; residents who possess a Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate; residents in the U.S. Armed Forces, not stationed in Florida, while home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders; and children under 16 years of age. Children under 16 years of age are exempt from the federal duck stamp. Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 and 16 years of age or older must have passed a Commissionapproved huntersafety course prior to being issued a hunting license, except the Hunter Safety Mentoring exemption allows anyone to purchase a hunting license and hunt under the supervision of a licensed hunter, 21 years of age or older. Youth and mentor license holders are required to be accompanied by a supervisor during any hunt. A youth hunter (less than 16 years of age) must be supervised by a person at least 18 years of age. A mentor license holder must be supervised by a licensed hunter at least 21 years of age. Unless exempt, only those supervisors with proper licenses and permits may hunt. Licenses and permits may be purchased from county tax collectors, license agents, by telephone at 8884868356, or at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. A nocost Migratory Bird Permit is available when purchasing a hunting license. Any waterfowl hunter 16 years of age or older must possess a federal duck stamp.
	Quota Permit Information: Archery (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading Gun (Bear Island Unit, first 9 days) - 200, no-cost, quota permits. General Gun (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General Gun (Bear Island Unit, first 9 days) - 200, no-cost, quota permits. General Gun (Turner River Unit, first 9 days) - 250, no-cost, quota permits. General Gun (Corn Dance Unit, first 9 days) - 250, no-cost, quota permits. Youth Turkey (Addition Unit) - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey (Bear Island Unit) - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey (Addition Unit) - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey (Bear Island Unit, first 9 days) - 50, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts (one 4-day hunt followed by one 5-day hunt). Permit applications: Hunters must submit electronic applications for quota and special-opportunity permits at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Worksheets listing hunts, application periods, deadlines, and instructions are available at county tax collector’s offices, FWC offices, or MyFWC.com. Quota application periods occur throughout the year beginning April 1; please refer to the hunting handbook or MyFWC.com for specific dates. Worksheets will be available about 2 weeks prior to each application period. Guest hunters: For each nontransferable archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, and spring turkey quota permit issued through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, a quota permit holder (host) may take a guest hunting by obtaining a guest permit. A guest hunter must possess a completed guest permit while hunting, except the following persons may be a guest hunter without a guest permit: a youth under 16 years of age, a youth supervisor, a mentor license holder, or a mentor license supervisor. A host may only bring 1 guest hunter at a time and may only use 1 guest permit per day. The following persons are not considered to be guest hunters: other quota permit holders, nonhunters, and exempt hunters (on areas and during seasons that allow exemptions). The guest hunter and host must enter and exit the area together and must share a street-legal vehicle while hunting on the area; ATVs may be ridden independently. The guest hunter may hunt only while the host is on the area. Refer to the quota hunt worksheets for additional information. Youth and mentor license holders: If a youth or mentor supervisor is hunting during any hunt for which quota permits are issued, at least 1 person in the party must possess a quota permit. Transfer of permits: Quota and guest permits are not transferable. A positive form of identification is required when using a nontransferable permit, except for a youth under 16 years of age. The sale or purchase of any quota permit or guest permit is prohibited.



	National Park Service Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Permit: Vehicle operators must be state licensed (regular or learner’s permit) and obtain an ORV operator’s permit from the NPS for all vehicles, including airboats, used on primary designated trails within the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area. All ORVs and their operators must be permitted and the vehicles inspected prior to operation in the preserve. The ORV permit is issued for the vehicle, but NPS maintains a record of applicant and ownership information for each permitted ORV. Vehicle operators are responsible for knowing NPS regulations that apply to ORV use in the preserve. Please contact the Big Cypress National Preserve ORV Office, Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center 33000 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, FL 34141, (239) 6319988 regarding vehicle use regulations or at the Big Cypress Off-road Vehicle Use webpage. The NPS ORV permit is available at the Preserve Headquarters.


	Area Regulations General General Area Regulations: All general laws and regulations relating to wildlife and fish shall apply unless specifically exempted for this area. Hunting or the taking of wildlife or fish on this area shall be allowed only during the open seasons and in accordance with the following regulations: 1. Any person hunting deer or accompanying another person hunting deer shall wear at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material as an outer garment, above the waistline. These provisions are not required when hunting with a bow and arrow during archery season. 2. Taking of spotted fawn, swimming deer, or roosted turkey is prohibited. 3. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area. 4. Driving a metal object into any tree, or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven, is prohibited. 5. No person shall cut, damage, or remove any natural, manmade, or cultural resource without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager. 6. Taking or attempting to take any game with the aid of live decoys, recorded game calls or sounds, set guns, artificial light, net, trap, snare, drug, or poison is prohibited. Recorded calls and sounds can be used to hunt furbearers, wild hog, and crows. 7. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited. 8. Hunting, fishing, or trapping is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as closed to those activities. 9. People, dogs, vehicles, and other recreational equipment are prohibited in areas posted as “Closed to Public Access” by FWC or NPS administrative action. 10. Taking or herding wildlife from any motorized vehicle, aircraft, or boat which is under power is prohibited, until power and movement from that power, has ceased. 11. Most game may be hunted from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset (see exceptions under each season). 12. The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the landowner or primary land manager. 13. The skull plate with any attached antler, if applicable, shall remain with any harvested deer. The head and beard, if applicable, shall remain with not be removed from the carcass of any turkey harvested on the area. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details. 14. The planting or introduction of any nonnative plant is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager. 15. Wild hog may not be transported alive. 16. Littering is prohibited. 17. It is unlawful to set fire to any forest, grass, or woodland. 18. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle, or boat in accordance with law. 19. Falconers may hunt during the statewide falconry season anytime a management area is open for public access. Falconers are not exempt from quota permits during hunts requiring them. 20. Construction of buildings or other structures is prohibited, unless permitted by the National Park Service. 21. Cutting or damaging fences used to contain animals (including cattle fences) is a felony of the third degree. 22. The collection of plants, rocks, minerals, animal life, or other natural objects is allowed only in accordance with written permits obtained in advance from the National Park Service. Public Access and Vehicles Public Access and Vehicles: 1. Open to public access year-round. 2. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane. 3. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic. 4. All vehicles and airboats used on primary designated trails within the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area shall have a National Park Service ORV permit. 5. To access the Bear Island Unit, all persons shall enter and exit the area at the Bear Island check station on the north end of Turner River Road or at the I75 walk-in only access check station, located north of I75 in the southeast portion of the Bear Island Unit. 6. Access into the Addition Unit is walk-in only from the facilities located on Interstate 75 at mile markers 51 and 63, the L28 Interceptor Canal levees, and from adjacent management units. 7. The use of motor vehicles is prohibited in the Addition Unit, except licensed and registered vehicles may be operated on portions of the L28 Interceptor Canal levees north of Interstate 75. 8. Vehicle use on Eleven-mile Road or the Florida Trail is prohibited; however, vehicles may cross Eleven-mile Road at marked designated crossing points. Maps are available at the Oasis Visitor Center. 9. On Jetport Road, only vehicles with pneumatic tires may be operated and parked vehicles are prohibited. 10. All airboats must be equipped with an orange flag at least 10 inches wide, 12 inches long, and displayed at a minimum height of 10 feet above the bottom of the vessel. 11. Public access inside any fenced portion of the Jetport property is prohibited. 12. Bicycles may be operated only as authorized by National Park Service regulations. See #17 under the "National Park Service Rules and Information" section. Hunters Hunters, Check Stations, and Harvest Reporting: 1. Hunting deer in Zone 4 of the Stairsteps Unit is prohibited. 2. Hunters in the Jetport Property must follow the Big Cypress WMA season dates, bag limits, and methods of take as applicable to the Corn Dance Unit. 3. When check stations are staffed, hunters must check in at a designated check station upon entering the area, check out at the same check station when exiting the area, and check all harvested game. 4. In addition to checking all game at an area check station, hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey on the FWC Fish/Hunt Florida app prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report any deer or turkey they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions. 5. Deer, wild hog, and turkey may be divided or consumed in the field, but each portion shall be identified with the license number of the person who took the game and be readily traceable to the portion of the animal bearing sex identification. 6. Deer jawbones shall be saved and brought to the check station. 7. Tree stands and elevated shooting platforms may not be taken onto the area until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of any hunt and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of every hunt, but see #4 and #16 under the National Park Service Rules and Information section. Guns Guns: 1. Hunting on or from the rights-of-way of Burns Road; County Roads 839, 841, 837; State Roads 84 (I75) or 94; U.S. 41; or L-28 Interceptor Canal levees is prohibited. 2. Hunting with centerfire rifles is prohibited in the Loop and Stairsteps units. Only muzzleloading guns and bows may be used to hunt in the Deep Lake Unit. 3. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited. 4. Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer must be .30 caliber or larger, if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls. 5. Hunting deer with rimfire or nonexpanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited. 6. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with airguns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details. 7. Hunting deer with airguns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) airguns propelling a bolt, arrow, or bullet .30 caliber or larger are allowed. 8. Hunting turkey with airguns is prohibited, except PCP airguns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed. 9. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm must be in the presence of a supervising adult. 10. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 11. For hunting nonmigratory game, only shotguns, rifles, muzzleloading guns, pistols, airguns, bows, crossbows, or falconry may be used. 12. For hunting migratory game, only centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns, bows, or falconry may be used. Shotguns must be 10 gauge or smaller and incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. 13. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semiautomatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices, or set guns is prohibited. Dogs Dogs: 1. Hunting deer and wild hog with dogs is prohibited. 2. The possession of dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used for hunting migratory birds and nonprotected birds during their respective statewide seasons. Any dog may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, nonprotected birds, quail, and rabbits during small game season. 3. No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the taking of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited. 4. Dogs may not be used for trailing wounded game. Camping Camping: 1. Camping is allowed in accordance with the regulations of the National Park Service. See the National Park Service Rules and Information section for additional camping rules. 2. Camping is prohibited on the L28 Interceptor Canal levees. 3. Primitive camping is allowed throughout the area except in Bear Island Unit, and in Zone 4 when the campsite is accessed by airboat. 4. Camping on Bear Island Unit is allowed at designated campsites only; only tents, trailers and self-propelled camping vehicles may be used in the Bear Island Campground. Only tents may be used in the Gator Head and Pink Jeep designated campsites 5. Draining or dumping refuse or waste from any trailer or other vehicle is prohibited. 6. Fires are allowed only on designated camping areas or in backcountry campsites and must be completely extinguished prior to the user leaving the campsite. Bag and Possession Limits Bag and Possession Limits: A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, and quail, except when these bag limits are specified as per person. The host is responsible for violations that exceed the bag limit. 1. Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area Limits - Annual limit 1 deer. B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 2 of which may be antlerless), daily limit 2, possession limit 4. C. As part of the statewide annual deer limit, youth less than 16 years of age may harvest 1 deer annually not meeting antler point requirements but having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length (except in Corn Dance, Loop, and Stairsteps units). 2. Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - Daily limit 1, season limit 2, possession limit 2. B. Statewide limits - Daily limit 2, season limit 2, possession limit 2. 3. Wild hog - No bag limits or size restrictions. 4. Gray squirrel and rabbits - Daily limit 12 per person, possession limit 24 for each. 5. Quail - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24. 6. Coyote and nutria - No bag limits. 7. Bobcat, raccoon, opossum, beaver, skunk, armadillo, and otter - Prohibited. 8. Migratory birds - See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook. 9. Non-native reptiles - No bag limits. 10. Non-protected birds (African and Eurasian collared-doves, common pigeon, Egyptian goose, house sparrow, and common starling) - No bag limits. . General Information General Information: 1. Information for persons with disabilities can be found at MyFWC.com/ADA. 2. If you have any questions about this material, please call the FWC at 561-625-5122 (TDD 800-955-8771). 3. FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property. 4. Please report the location of any sick or extremely skinny deer to the Chronic Wasting Disease hotline, toll free at 866-293-9282. 5. Small tracts of private property are located within the boundary of the wildlife management area. These lands may be posted against trespass and should not be considered to be part of the wildlife management area.
	General Area Regulations: All general laws and regulations relating to wildlife and fish shall apply unless specifically exempted for this area. Hunting or the taking of wildlife or fish on this area shall be allowed only during the open seasons and in accordance with the following regulations: 1. Any person hunting deer or accompanying another person hunting deer shall wear at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material as an outer garment, above the waistline. These provisions are not required when hunting with a bow and arrow during archery season. 2. Taking of spotted fawn, swimming deer, or roosted turkey is prohibited. 3. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area. 4. Driving a metal object into any tree, or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven, is prohibited. 5. No person shall cut, damage, or remove any natural, manmade, or cultural resource without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager. 6. Taking or attempting to take any game with the aid of live decoys, recorded game calls or sounds, set guns, artificial light, net, trap, snare, drug, or poison is prohibited. Recorded calls and sounds can be used to hunt furbearers, wild hog, and crows. 7. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited. 8. Hunting, fishing, or trapping is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as closed to those activities. 9. People, dogs, vehicles, and other recreational equipment are prohibited in areas posted as “Closed to Public Access” by FWC or NPS administrative action. 10. Taking or herding wildlife from any motorized vehicle, aircraft, or boat which is under power is prohibited, until power and movement from that power, has ceased. 11. Most game may be hunted from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset (see exceptions under each season). 12. The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the landowner or primary land manager. 13. The skull plate with any attached antler, if applicable, shall remain with any harvested deer. The head and beard, if applicable, shall remain with not be removed from the carcass of any turkey harvested on the area. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details. 14. The planting or introduction of any nonnative plant is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager. 15. Wild hog may not be transported alive. 16. Littering is prohibited. 17. It is unlawful to set fire to any forest, grass, or woodland. 18. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle, or boat in accordance with law. 19. Falconers may hunt during the statewide falconry season anytime a management area is open for public access. Falconers are not exempt from quota permits during hunts requiring them. 20. Construction of buildings or other structures is prohibited, unless permitted by the National Park Service. 21. Cutting or damaging fences used to contain animals (including cattle fences) is a felony of the third degree. 22. The collection of plants, rocks, minerals, animal life, or other natural objects is allowed only in accordance with written permits obtained in advance from the National Park Service.

	Public Access and Vehicles: 1. Open to public access year-round. 2. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane. 3. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic. 4. All vehicles and airboats used on primary designated trails within the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area shall have a National Park Service ORV permit. 5. To access the Bear Island Unit, all persons shall enter and exit the area at the Bear Island check station on the north end of Turner River Road or at the I75 walk-in only access check station, located north of I75 in the southeast portion of the Bear Island Unit. 6. Access into the Addition Unit is walk-in only from the facilities located on Interstate 75 at mile markers 51 and 63, the L28 Interceptor Canal levees, and from adjacent management units. 7. The use of motor vehicles is prohibited in the Addition Unit, except licensed and registered vehicles may be operated on portions of the L28 Interceptor Canal levees north of Interstate 75. 8. Vehicle use on Eleven-mile Road or the Florida Trail is prohibited; however, vehicles may cross Eleven-mile Road at marked designated crossing points. Maps are available at the Oasis Visitor Center. 9. On Jetport Road, only vehicles with pneumatic tires may be operated and parked vehicles are prohibited. 10. All airboats must be equipped with an orange flag at least 10 inches wide, 12 inches long, and displayed at a minimum height of 10 feet above the bottom of the vessel. 11. Public access inside any fenced portion of the Jetport property is prohibited. 12. Bicycles may be operated only as authorized by National Park Service regulations. See #17 under the "National Park Service Rules and Information" section.
	Hunters, Check Stations, and Harvest Reporting: 1. Hunting deer in Zone 4 of the Stairsteps Unit is prohibited. 2. Hunters in the Jetport Property must follow the Big Cypress WMA season dates, bag limits, and methods of take as applicable to the Corn Dance Unit. 3. When check stations are staffed, hunters must check in at a designated check station upon entering the area, check out at the same check station when exiting the area, and check all harvested game. 4. In addition to checking all game at an area check station, hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey on the FWC Fish/Hunt Florida app prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report any deer or turkey they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions. 5. Deer, wild hog, and turkey may be divided or consumed in the field, but each portion shall be identified with the license number of the person who took the game and be readily traceable to the portion of the animal bearing sex identification. 6. Deer jawbones shall be saved and brought to the check station. 7. Tree stands and elevated shooting platforms may not be taken onto the area until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of any hunt and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of every hunt, but see #4 and #16 under the National Park Service Rules and Information section.