| |
|
Please refer to the FWC Open/Close webpage for up-to-date information regarding area closures due to Hurricane Milton.
This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the CREW Wildlife and Environmental 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 and environmental 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 also 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 Commission-approved hunter-safety 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 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. |
|
|
Quota Permit Information:
Archery - 30 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still Archery - 25 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).
Muzzleloading Gun - 30 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still Muzzleloading Gun - 25 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).
General Gun - 30 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still General Gun - 25 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5 (Flint Pen Strand), no-cost, quota permits (no exceptions). Youth Turkey - 5 (Corkscrew
Marsh Unit), no-cost, quota permits (no exceptions).
Spring Turkey - 5 (Flint Pen Strand/Western Bird Rookery Swamp units), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Spring Turkey - 5 (Corkscrew Marsh Unit), no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts
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 non-transferable archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, wild hog, spring turkey, and mobility-impaired quota permit issued through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, a quota permit holder (host) may take a guest hunter 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, non-hunters, 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. 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 non-transferable permit, except for a youth under 16 years of age. The sale or purchase of any quota permit or guest permit is prohibited. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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, man-made, 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 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 any harvested
turkey. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details. 14. Wild hog may not be transported alive.
15. A hunting license is not required to hunt wild hog.
16. Littering is prohibited.
17. Fires other than campfires at approved campsites are prohibited
18. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle, or boat in accordance with law.
19. Planting of trees, shrubs, or other vegetation is prohibited without written authorization from the landowner or the Commission.
20. 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. - Public Access and Vehicles
Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Open to public access year-round but only from 2 hours
before sunrise until 2 hours after sunset, unless camping at a designated
campsite.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
3. The designated entrance at the intersection of Sand and Vincent roads is closed to all public access, except for individuals in possession of a valid quota permit and their guests.
4. A gate code will be provided to quota permit awardees.
5. The use of ATVs, swamp buggies, tracked vehicles, vessels (except canoes or kayaks), or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles
is prohibited, except swamp buggies may be operated only by individuals
participating in a quota hunt.
6. Vehicles may be operated only on named roads designated for vehicles, except during archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun,
and spring turkey seasons. Beginning at 8 a.m. the day prior to the opening of each season, vehicles may also be operated on designated trails, but only by individuals participating in a quota hunt.
7. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane.
8. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
9. The use or possession of horses is prohibited, except by Special-Use License (SUL) from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). To apply for and receive an SUL by email, visit www.sfwmd.gov/sul. To receive an SUL by U.S. Mail, contact SFWMD at 1-866-433-6312 (allow 7-10 business days). For those persons with a valid SUL, horses are only allowed on trails designated with yellow markers in the Flint Pen Strand and trails designated with blue, green, white, or yellow markers for the Cypress Dome trails at Gate 5.
10. Trailers and trailer parking
are prohibited, except at the Flint Pen Strand and Gate 5 check stations, where trailer parking (including equestrian trailers) is allowed in the adjoining parking lots.
11. Class 1 electric bicycles may be operated according to rules for traditional, non-motorized bicycles. All other electric bicycles may be operated only on named or numbered roads open to motorized vehicles. For more information visit MyFWC.com/ebike. - Hunters
Hunters, Check Stations, and Harvest Reporting:
1. 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.
2. Hunters are required
to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance and hunters entering or
exiting the Corkscrew Marsh Unit must use Gate 5.
3. During periods when check stations are staffed, hunters must check in at a check station upon entering and leaving the area and check all harvested game.
4. During periods when check stations are staffed, no deer or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at a check station.
5. In addition to checking all game at an area check station, hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey 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.
- Guns
Guns:
1. Hunting east of or within ¼-mile of the Western North/South Tram, south of Bonita Beach Road in the Bird Rookery Swamp Unit, or in any other areas designated as "Closed to Hunting" is prohibited.
2. Hunting with centerfire or rimfire rifles is prohibited.
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 non-expanding, 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 or airgun 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 non-migratory game, only shotguns, pistols, airguns, bows, crossbows, or muzzleloading guns may be used. 12. For hunting migratory
game, only centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns, bows, or crossbows 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, explosive or drug-injecting devices, or set guns is prohibited.
14. The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s.790.15 FS. - Dogs
Dogs:
1. Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used for hunting gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, quail, rabbits, and non-protected birds during general gun season. Any dog may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, non-protected birds, quail, and rabbits during small game season.
2. 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.
3. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
4. Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. Dogs are prohibited on the Caracara Prairie Reserve. - Camping
Camping:
1. Camping is allowed only at designated sites by Special-Use License (SUL) from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). To apply for and receive an SUL by email, visit www.sfwmd.gov/sul. To receive an SUL by U.S. Mail, contact SFWMD at 1-866-433-6312 (allow 7-10 business days). NOTE: Hunters will need an SUL to camp during quota hunts.
2. No persons shall bring building materials onto the area or erect permanent or semi-permanent structures.
3. Quiet hours: From 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. loud music, barking dogs, or any other activity causing excessive noise is prohibited in camping areas.
4. Pets must be physically restrained and under control within camping areas.
- 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 - 1 antlered deer per quota permit (Flint Pen Strand and Western Bird Rookery Swamp units). The take of deer is prohibited in the Corkscrew Marsh Unit. 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.
2. Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - 1 per youth turkey and spring turkey quota permit. B. Statewide limits - Spring season limit 2, daily 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. Armadillo, beaver, coyote, nutria, opossum, raccoon, and skunk - No bag limits.
7. Bobcat 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. The 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.
|
|
|
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, man-made, 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 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 any harvested
turkey. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details. 14. Wild hog may not be transported alive.
15. A hunting license is not required to hunt wild hog.
16. Littering is prohibited.
17. Fires other than campfires at approved campsites are prohibited
18. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle, or boat in accordance with law.
19. Planting of trees, shrubs, or other vegetation is prohibited without written authorization from the landowner or the Commission.
20. 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Open to public access year-round but only from 2 hours
before sunrise until 2 hours after sunset, unless camping at a designated
campsite.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
3. The designated entrance at the intersection of Sand and Vincent roads is closed to all public access, except for individuals in possession of a valid quota permit and their guests.
4. A gate code will be provided to quota permit awardees.
5. The use of ATVs, swamp buggies, tracked vehicles, vessels (except canoes or kayaks), or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles
is prohibited, except swamp buggies may be operated only by individuals
participating in a quota hunt.
6. Vehicles may be operated only on named roads designated for vehicles, except during archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun,
and spring turkey seasons. Beginning at 8 a.m. the day prior to the opening of each season, vehicles may also be operated on designated trails, but only by individuals participating in a quota hunt.
7. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane.
8. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
9. The use or possession of horses is prohibited, except by Special-Use License (SUL) from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). To apply for and receive an SUL by email, visit www.sfwmd.gov/sul. To receive an SUL by U.S. Mail, contact SFWMD at 1-866-433-6312 (allow 7-10 business days). For those persons with a valid SUL, horses are only allowed on trails designated with yellow markers in the Flint Pen Strand and trails designated with blue, green, white, or yellow markers for the Cypress Dome trails at Gate 5.
10. Trailers and trailer parking
are prohibited, except at the Flint Pen Strand and Gate 5 check stations, where trailer parking (including equestrian trailers) is allowed in the adjoining parking lots.
11. Class 1 electric bicycles may be operated according to rules for traditional, non-motorized bicycles. All other electric bicycles may be operated only on named or numbered roads open to motorized vehicles. For more information visit MyFWC.com/ebike.
| |
|
Hunters, Check Stations, and Harvest Reporting:
1. 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.
2. Hunters are required
to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance and hunters entering or
exiting the Corkscrew Marsh Unit must use Gate 5.
3. During periods when check stations are staffed, hunters must check in at a check station upon entering and leaving the area and check all harvested game.
4. During periods when check stations are staffed, no deer or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at a check station.
5. In addition to checking all game at an area check station, hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guns:
1. Hunting east of or within ¼-mile of the Western North/South Tram, south of Bonita Beach Road in the Bird Rookery Swamp Unit, or in any other areas designated as "Closed to Hunting" is prohibited.
2. Hunting with centerfire or rimfire rifles is prohibited.
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 non-expanding, 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 or airgun 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 non-migratory game, only shotguns, pistols, airguns, bows, crossbows, or muzzleloading guns may be used. 12. For hunting migratory
game, only centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns, bows, or crossbows 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, explosive or drug-injecting devices, or set guns is prohibited.
14. The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s.790.15 FS. |
|
|
Dogs:
1. Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used for hunting gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, quail, rabbits, and non-protected birds during general gun season. Any dog may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, non-protected birds, quail, and rabbits during small game season.
2. 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.
3. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
4. Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. Dogs are prohibited on the Caracara Prairie Reserve. |
|
|
Camping:
1. Camping is allowed only at designated sites by Special-Use License (SUL) from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). To apply for and receive an SUL by email, visit www.sfwmd.gov/sul. To receive an SUL by U.S. Mail, contact SFWMD at 1-866-433-6312 (allow 7-10 business days). NOTE: Hunters will need an SUL to camp during quota hunts.
2. No persons shall bring building materials onto the area or erect permanent or semi-permanent structures.
3. Quiet hours: From 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. loud music, barking dogs, or any other activity causing excessive noise is prohibited in camping areas.
4. Pets must be physically restrained and under control within camping areas.
|
|
|
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 - 1 antlered deer per quota permit (Flint Pen Strand and Western Bird Rookery Swamp units). The take of deer is prohibited in the Corkscrew Marsh Unit. 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.
2. Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - 1 per youth turkey and spring turkey quota permit. B. Statewide limits - Spring season limit 2, daily 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. Armadillo, beaver, coyote, nutria, opossum, raccoon, and skunk - No bag limits.
7. Bobcat 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. |
|
WMA Brochure Search