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IMPORTANT: Due to ongoing construction work to prepare the STA for full public access, the area is closed to all public access until further notice, except during established waterfowl hunts and associated scouting days. Given these construction efforts during the 2025-26 season, scouting days will be limited and waterfowl hunts will be held on Sundays only (no youth hunts). Please see the "Waterfowl Season" section for days open to hunting and scouting during the 2025-26 season. See the "2025-26 C-44 Construction Sites Notice" on this brochure page for the locations of active construction areas, which are closed to public use until further notice.
This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) Public Small Game Hunting 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 and the Florida Hunting Regulations handbook should provide the information necessary for you to plan your hunting activities. These publications are available from any Commission office, county tax collector, and at MyFWC.com.
Persons using public small game hunting areas are required to have appropriate licenses, permits, and stamps. The following persons are exempt from all license and permit requirements (except for the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp [federal duck stamp]): 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 also exempt from the federal duck stamp.
Licenses and permits may be purchased from county tax collectors, license agents, by telephone at 888-486-8356, or at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. A no-cost 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 (available where hunting licenses are sold, at most post offices, or at www.duckstamp.com). |
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Quota Permit Information:Waterfowl – 10, no-cost quota permits (no exemptions, non-transferable) for each hunt. A quota permit is not required during Youth Waterfowl hunts.
Each permit holder may bring up to two hunting guests. The permit holder and their hunting guests must enter and exit the area together and share a street-legal vehicle while hunting on the area. Guest hunters may actively participate in the hunt only while the permit holder is on the area. Only persons 15 years of age and younger may harvest waterfowl during Youth Waterfowl Hunt days. A youth hunter must be accompanied by at least one non-hunting adult, per F.S. 790.22. Adult supervisors with required licenses and permits may actively participate in Youth Waterfowl Hunts, but may not harvest wildlife. During Veterans and Military Waterfowl days, only individuals with a valid military hunting license or veterans/military ID are allowed to harvest wildlife. Non-hunting assistants with required licenses and permits may actively participate in Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunts but may not harvest wildlife. See the "Waterfowl Season" section for a complete list of license and permit requirements.
Hunters must submit electronic applications for C-44 STA Waterfowl Permits at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Application periods, deadlines, worksheets, and instructions are available at MyFWC.com. |
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Area Regulations
- General
General Area Regulations:All general laws and regulations relating to wild animal life or freshwater aquatic life shall apply unless specifically exempted for this area. Hunting or taking wildlife or fish on this area is allowed only during the open seasons, and in accordance with the following regulations: 1. 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, drugs, or poison is prohibited. 2. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited. 3. Public access is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.” 4. 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. 5. The release of any animal is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager. 6. It is unlawful for any person to leave any garbage, refuse, or in any way litter in the area. 7. No person shall cut, damage, or remove any natural, man-made, or cultural resource without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager. 8. It is unlawful to set fire to any forest, grass, or woodland. 9. A Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle, or boat in accordance with law. 10. Spent shell casings and all materials used for temporary blinds must be removed after each hunt. Construction or use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited. 11. Tampering with or destruction of equipment, improvements, or water control structures is prohibited. 12. Cutting or damaging fences is prohibited. 13. Fires are prohibited. 14. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or food for wildlife on this area.
- Public Access and Vehicles
Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Persons must enter and exit the area at the designated entrance. On waterfowl hunt days (except youth waterfowl hunts), guest hunters must enter and exit the area with the quota permit holder, share the same vehicle as the quota permit holder, and cannot hunt on the area unless the quota permit holder is present on the area.
2. Access to the STA is allowed for hunting waterfowl only, except on established scouting days. Other specific uses must be authorized by the South Florida Water Management District. During waterfowl hunt days, only quota permit holders and their guests may access the area and only from 2½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset. Waterfowl hunting groups must enter and exit the marsh directly from levee roads that are designated as open to vehicles, whether posted onsite or displayed on the brochure or parking map. Certain canals are designated as "Closed to public access" to ensure proper function of the STA. Once in the marsh, hunters must avoid these canals and any other areas designated as "Closed to hunting" or "Closed to public access", whether posted on the ground or displayed on the brochure or parking map.
3. Public access is also prohibited on structures and equipment posted as “Closed” or “Restricted”.
4. Motorized vehicles may only be operated or parked on levee roads designated as open to vehicles, whether posted onsite or indicated on the brochure or parking map. Motorized vehicles may not be operated on or parked along the bottom of any levee. No person may park any vehicle in a manner which obstructs a boat launch, gate, levee, road, or water control structure. The speed limit on levee roads is 20 MPH, except the speed limit is 5 MPH when meeting oncoming vehicles or passing parked vehicles.
6. Motorized vessels (including gas and electric-powered boats) and boat trailers are prohibited, except permitted alligator hunters may trailer non-motorized vessels (backing trailers down levees is prohibited).
7. All vessels must be equipped with required boating safety equipment.
8. Airboats, tracked vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, recreational off-highway vehicles (side-by-sides) and swamp buggies are prohibited.
9. On waterfowl hunt days, bicycles and electric bicycles may be operated only on levee roads designated as open to vehicles on the area parking map. Outside waterfowl hunt days, bicycles and electric bicycles may be operated only on designated levee roads as indicated on the brochure map. For general information regarding the use of e-bikes on WMAs, visit MyFWC.com/ebike.
- Hunters
Hunters:1. All levees, roads, boat launches, parking areas, water control structures, and earthen berms are closed to hunting, except permitted alligator hunters may take alligators from levees and adjacent earthen berms during open seasons. Hunting is prohibited in any portion of the area designated as closed to hunting (whether posted onsite or indicated in the brochure). 2. Each quota permit holder may bring up to two hunting guests. Waterfowl hunting groups must enter and exit the marsh directly from levee roads that are designated as open to vehicles. 3. Certain canals in the marsh are designated as "Closed to public access" to ensure proper function of the STA. Hunters must avoid these canals and any other areas designated as "Closed to hunting" or "Closed to public access", whether posted on the ground or displayed on the brochure or parking map.
- Guns
Guns:1. The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS. 2. Hunting with firearms other than shotguns is prohibited. 3. For hunting migratory birds, only shotguns, bows, crossbows, and falconry may be used. Shotguns must be 10 gauge or smaller and incapable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. 4. Shooting hours are from ½ hour before sunrise until sunset. 5. Use of non-toxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required for taking wildlife. 6. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm must be in the presence of a supervising adult. 7. No person may discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Dogs
Dogs:1. Dogs are prohibited, except waterfowl retrievers may be used for hunting ducks, geese, and coot during waterfowl seasons. 2. Waterfowl retrievers must be kept under physical restraint when not hunting.
- Camping
- Bag and Possession Limits
Bag and Possession Limits:
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General Area Regulations:All general laws and regulations relating to wild animal life or freshwater aquatic life shall apply unless specifically exempted for this area. Hunting or taking wildlife or fish on this area is allowed only during the open seasons, and in accordance with the following regulations: 1. 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, drugs, or poison is prohibited. 2. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited. 3. Public access is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.” 4. 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. 5. The release of any animal is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager. 6. It is unlawful for any person to leave any garbage, refuse, or in any way litter in the area. 7. No person shall cut, damage, or remove any natural, man-made, or cultural resource without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager. 8. It is unlawful to set fire to any forest, grass, or woodland. 9. A Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle, or boat in accordance with law. 10. Spent shell casings and all materials used for temporary blinds must be removed after each hunt. Construction or use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited. 11. Tampering with or destruction of equipment, improvements, or water control structures is prohibited. 12. Cutting or damaging fences is prohibited. 13. Fires are prohibited. 14. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or food for wildlife on this area. |
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Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Persons must enter and exit the area at the designated entrance. On waterfowl hunt days (except youth waterfowl hunts), guest hunters must enter and exit the area with the quota permit holder, share the same vehicle as the quota permit holder, and cannot hunt on the area unless the quota permit holder is present on the area.
2. Access to the STA is allowed for hunting waterfowl only, except on established scouting days. Other specific uses must be authorized by the South Florida Water Management District. During waterfowl hunt days, only quota permit holders and their guests may access the area and only from 2½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset. Waterfowl hunting groups must enter and exit the marsh directly from levee roads that are designated as open to vehicles, whether posted onsite or displayed on the brochure or parking map. Certain canals are designated as "Closed to public access" to ensure proper function of the STA. Once in the marsh, hunters must avoid these canals and any other areas designated as "Closed to hunting" or "Closed to public access", whether posted on the ground or displayed on the brochure or parking map.
3. Public access is also prohibited on structures and equipment posted as “Closed” or “Restricted”.
4. Motorized vehicles may only be operated or parked on levee roads designated as open to vehicles, whether posted onsite or indicated on the brochure or parking map. Motorized vehicles may not be operated on or parked along the bottom of any levee. No person may park any vehicle in a manner which obstructs a boat launch, gate, levee, road, or water control structure. The speed limit on levee roads is 20 MPH, except the speed limit is 5 MPH when meeting oncoming vehicles or passing parked vehicles.
6. Motorized vessels (including gas and electric-powered boats) and boat trailers are prohibited, except permitted alligator hunters may trailer non-motorized vessels (backing trailers down levees is prohibited).
7. All vessels must be equipped with required boating safety equipment.
8. Airboats, tracked vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, recreational off-highway vehicles (side-by-sides) and swamp buggies are prohibited.
9. On waterfowl hunt days, bicycles and electric bicycles may be operated only on levee roads designated as open to vehicles on the area parking map. Outside waterfowl hunt days, bicycles and electric bicycles may be operated only on designated levee roads as indicated on the brochure map. For general information regarding the use of e-bikes on WMAs, visit MyFWC.com/ebike.
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Hunters:1. All levees, roads, boat launches, parking areas, water control structures, and earthen berms are closed to hunting, except permitted alligator hunters may take alligators from levees and adjacent earthen berms during open seasons. Hunting is prohibited in any portion of the area designated as closed to hunting (whether posted onsite or indicated in the brochure). 2. Each quota permit holder may bring up to two hunting guests. Waterfowl hunting groups must enter and exit the marsh directly from levee roads that are designated as open to vehicles. 3. Certain canals in the marsh are designated as "Closed to public access" to ensure proper function of the STA. Hunters must avoid these canals and any other areas designated as "Closed to hunting" or "Closed to public access", whether posted on the ground or displayed on the brochure or parking map.
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Guns:1. The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS. 2. Hunting with firearms other than shotguns is prohibited. 3. For hunting migratory birds, only shotguns, bows, crossbows, and falconry may be used. Shotguns must be 10 gauge or smaller and incapable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. 4. Shooting hours are from ½ hour before sunrise until sunset. 5. Use of non-toxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required for taking wildlife. 6. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm must be in the presence of a supervising adult. 7. No person may discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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Dogs:1. Dogs are prohibited, except waterfowl retrievers may be used for hunting ducks, geese, and coot during waterfowl seasons. 2. Waterfowl retrievers must be kept under physical restraint when not hunting. |
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Camping: Prohibited. |
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Bag and Possession Limits: |
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