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This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the Creek Ranch 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, 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 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 daily 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 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. |
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Quota Permit Information:
Family Small Game – 2, no-cost, daily quota permits (non-transferable, no exemptions) are available first-come, first-served at the check station until noon each day of the season or until all daily quota permits are issued. Each permit allows up to 2 youths (under 16 years of age but not younger than 8 years of age) per daily quota permit to hunt under the direct supervision of an adult (at least 18 years of age), but the adult may only hunt when in the presence of at least one youth under 16 years of age but not younger than 8 years of age and each hunter may take a daily bag limit. Each permit also allows one additional non-hunting guest. |
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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. Shooting hours for most legal game shall be one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. 2. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area. 3. Driving a metal object into any tree or hunting from a tree in which a metal object has been driven is prohibited. 4. Construction or use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited. 5. Tampering with or destruction of equipment, improvements, and water control structures is prohibited. 6. Public access is prohibited in portions of public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.” 7. The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the landowner or primary land manager. 8. Hunting is prohibited in areas designated as "Closed to Hunting" or "Closed to Public Access", whether posted on the area or indicated on the brochure map. 9. 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 wild hog and crows. 10. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited. 11. Wild hogs may not be transported alive. 12. A hunting license is not required to take wild hog. 13. It is unlawful for any person to leave any garbage or refuse, or in any way litter in the area. 14. Fires are prohibited. It is unlawful to set fire to any forest, grass or woodlands. 15. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with the law. - Public Access and Vehicles
Public Access and Vehicles: 1. Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise to 1½ hours after sunset, except during the Family small game hunts when public access is limited to only individuals participating in the hunt. Public access other than by foot, horseback, or bicycle is prohibited during non-hunting periods. NOTE: Lake Hatchineha cannot be accessed from the area. 2. All persons must enter and exit the area at the designated entrance. 3. Persons with a valid daily quota hunt permit and their guests (and one additional non-hunting guest per daily quota permit during the Family small game hunts) may operate vehicles on roads indicated on the brochure map from 1½ hours before sunrise to 1½ hours after sunset during each Family small game hunt. 4. The use of airboats, outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower, tracked vehicles, swamp buggies, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited. 5. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic. 6. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane. 7. Bicycles are allowed on the roads indicated on the brochure map only. Class 1 electric bicycles may be operated according to rules for traditional, non-motorized bicycles. All other electric bicycles may be operated only on roads open to motorized vehicles. For more information visit MyFWC.com/ebike. 8. Horses are allowed on the roads indicated on the brochure map only. - Personal Property
Personal Property: 1. All tree stands, elevated shooting platforms, trail cameras, and ground blinds must be permanently labeled in a legible and conspicuous manner with the user's Go Outdoors Florida customer identification number. FWC staff may remove any of these items if they are not properly labeled. 2. Ground blinds (if left unattended), treestands, and elevated shooting platforms may not be taken onto the WMA until the day of each hunt and shall be removed from the area by 1.5 hours after sunset each day of each hunt. 3. The FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property. - Hunters
Hunters: 1. Hunters must enter and exit at the designated entrance. 2. Hunters must check in at the check station when entering the area and shall retain in their possession a daily quota permit. Check station hours during the Family small game hunts will be 5:30 am to noon or until all daily quota permits are issued. - Guns
Guns: 1. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited. 2. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details on hunting with air guns. 3. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun must be in the presence of a supervising adult. 4. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 5. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, muzzleloading guns, pistols, air guns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used. 6. For hunting migratory game, only centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. 7. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices and set guns is prohibited. 8. 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. Taking wildlife with dogs is prohibited, except any dog may be used to hunt small game and non-protected birds during the Family small game season. The take of wild hogs with dogs is prohibited. 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. - Camping
- Bag and Possession Limits
Bag and Possession Limits: 1. Wild hog - No size or bag limit. 2. Gray squirrel, quail, and rabbit - Daily limit 12 per person, possession limit 24 for each. 3. Migratory birds - See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook. 4. Armadillo - No bag limit. 5. 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. If you have any questions about this material, please call the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 863-648-3200 (TDD 800-955-8771). 2. Information for persons with disabilities can be found at MyFWC.com/ADA. 3. Please report the location of any sick or extremely skinny deer to the Chronic Wasting Disease hotline, toll free at 866-293-9282.
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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. Shooting hours for most legal game shall be one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. 2. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area. 3. Driving a metal object into any tree or hunting from a tree in which a metal object has been driven is prohibited. 4. Construction or use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited. 5. Tampering with or destruction of equipment, improvements, and water control structures is prohibited. 6. Public access is prohibited in portions of public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.” 7. The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the landowner or primary land manager. 8. Hunting is prohibited in areas designated as "Closed to Hunting" or "Closed to Public Access", whether posted on the area or indicated on the brochure map. 9. 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 wild hog and crows. 10. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited. 11. Wild hogs may not be transported alive. 12. A hunting license is not required to take wild hog. 13. It is unlawful for any person to leave any garbage or refuse, or in any way litter in the area. 14. Fires are prohibited. It is unlawful to set fire to any forest, grass or woodlands. 15. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with the law. |
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Public Access and Vehicles: 1. Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise to 1½ hours after sunset, except during the Family small game hunts when public access is limited to only individuals participating in the hunt. Public access other than by foot, horseback, or bicycle is prohibited during non-hunting periods. NOTE: Lake Hatchineha cannot be accessed from the area. 2. All persons must enter and exit the area at the designated entrance. 3. Persons with a valid daily quota hunt permit and their guests (and one additional non-hunting guest per daily quota permit during the Family small game hunts) may operate vehicles on roads indicated on the brochure map from 1½ hours before sunrise to 1½ hours after sunset during each Family small game hunt. 4. The use of airboats, outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower, tracked vehicles, swamp buggies, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited. 5. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic. 6. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane. 7. Bicycles are allowed on the roads indicated on the brochure map only. Class 1 electric bicycles may be operated according to rules for traditional, non-motorized bicycles. All other electric bicycles may be operated only on roads open to motorized vehicles. For more information visit MyFWC.com/ebike. 8. Horses are allowed on the roads indicated on the brochure map only.
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Personal Property: 1. All tree stands, elevated shooting platforms, trail cameras, and ground blinds must be permanently labeled in a legible and conspicuous manner with the user's Go Outdoors Florida customer identification number. FWC staff may remove any of these items if they are not properly labeled. 2. Ground blinds (if left unattended), treestands, and elevated shooting platforms may not be taken onto the WMA until the day of each hunt and shall be removed from the area by 1.5 hours after sunset each day of each hunt. 3. The FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property.
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Hunters: 1. Hunters must enter and exit at the designated entrance. 2. Hunters must check in at the check station when entering the area and shall retain in their possession a daily quota permit. Check station hours during the Family small game hunts will be 5:30 am to noon or until all daily quota permits are issued.
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Guns: 1. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited. 2. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details on hunting with air guns. 3. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun must be in the presence of a supervising adult. 4. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 5. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, muzzleloading guns, pistols, air guns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used. 6. For hunting migratory game, only centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. 7. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices and set guns is prohibited. 8. The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS. |
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Dogs: 1. Taking wildlife with dogs is prohibited, except any dog may be used to hunt small game and non-protected birds during the Family small game season. The take of wild hogs with dogs is prohibited. 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. |
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Bag and Possession Limits: 1. Wild hog - No size or bag limit. 2. Gray squirrel, quail, and rabbit - Daily limit 12 per person, possession limit 24 for each. 3. Migratory birds - See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook. 4. Armadillo - No bag limit. 5. Non-protected birds (African and Eurasian collared-doves, common pigeon, Egyptian goose, house sparrow, and common starling) – No bag limits. |
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