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1) Please refer to the FWC Open/Close webpage for up-to-date 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 Okaloacoochee Slough 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 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. |
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Quota Permit Information:
Archery - 185, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
Muzzleloading Gun - 185, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
Family Hunt - 65, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).
General Gun - 185, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
Youth Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions).
Spring Turkey - 75, 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. Guest hunters are not allowed during the family hunt. 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. |
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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. 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. The planting or introduction of any non-native plant is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
15. Wild hog may not be transported alive.
16. A hunting license is not required to hunt wild hog.
17. Littering is prohibited.
18. Fires other than campfires are prohibited.
19. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with law.
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 recreational access year-round.
2. Vehicles may only be operated on named or numbered roads and named or numbered trails.
3. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane.
4. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
5. The use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles, recreational off-highway vehicles (side-by-sides), swamp buggies, tracked vehicles, or unlicensed or unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.
6. Horses are allowed only on named or numbered roads or trails. 7. 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. During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must report at the check station upon entering and leaving the area and check all harvested game.
3. During periods when the check station is staffed, no deer or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at the check station.
4. After being checked
at the check station, deer and turkey may be dismembered in the field or camp
but each portion shall have a tag affixed to it identifying the name, address
and hunting license number of the person who killed it; the date and location at
which it was taken; and shall be readily traceable to the skull plate with any
attached antler, if applicable, for deer, and the head and beard, if
applicable, for turkey.
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 at night with a gun is prohibited.
2. 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.
3. Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
4. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with airguns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
5. Hunting deer with airguns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) airguns propelling a bolt, arrow, or bullet .30 caliber or larger are allowed.
6. Hunting turkey with airguns is prohibited, except PCP airguns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed.
7. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or airgun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
8. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
9. For hunting
non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, muzzleloading guns, pistols,
airguns, bows, crossbows, or falconry may be used.
10. For hunting migratory
game, only centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns, bows, crossbows, 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.
11. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices, or set guns is prohibited.
12. 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 dogs may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds, quail, rabbits, and non-protected birds during small game season; and doves, snipe, waterfowl, and non-protected birds during their respective statewide seasons.
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 and in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. - Camping
Camping:
Allowed only at designated campsites and is managed by
Florida Forest Service. See the “Florida Forest Service Rules and Information”
section below for more information about camping. - 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 ae 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.
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 - Archery
season - daily limit 1, season limit 2; Spring turkey season - 1 per youth
turkey or spring turkey quota permit.
B. Statewide limits - Daily limit 2, all fall seasons combined limit 2, possession limit 2; Spring season 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. Armadillo, beaver, coyote, nutria, opossum, raccoon, and skunk - No bag limits.
7. Bobcat and otter - Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a trapping license.
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 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 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.
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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. 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. The planting or introduction of any non-native plant is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
15. Wild hog may not be transported alive.
16. A hunting license is not required to hunt wild hog.
17. Littering is prohibited.
18. Fires other than campfires are prohibited.
19. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with law.
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. |
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Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Open to public recreational access year-round.
2. Vehicles may only be operated on named or numbered roads and named or numbered trails.
3. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane.
4. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
5. The use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles, recreational off-highway vehicles (side-by-sides), swamp buggies, tracked vehicles, or unlicensed or unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.
6. Horses are allowed only on named or numbered roads or trails. 7. 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.
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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. During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters must report at the check station upon entering and leaving the area and check all harvested game.
3. During periods when the check station is staffed, no deer or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at the check station.
4. After being checked
at the check station, deer and turkey may be dismembered in the field or camp
but each portion shall have a tag affixed to it identifying the name, address
and hunting license number of the person who killed it; the date and location at
which it was taken; and shall be readily traceable to the skull plate with any
attached antler, if applicable, for deer, and the head and beard, if
applicable, for turkey.
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.
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Guns:
1. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
2. 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.
3. Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
4. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with airguns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
5. Hunting deer with airguns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) airguns propelling a bolt, arrow, or bullet .30 caliber or larger are allowed.
6. Hunting turkey with airguns is prohibited, except PCP airguns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed.
7. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or airgun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
8. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
9. For hunting
non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, muzzleloading guns, pistols,
airguns, bows, crossbows, or falconry may be used.
10. For hunting migratory
game, only centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns, bows, crossbows, 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.
11. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices, or set guns is prohibited.
12. 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. Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except dogs may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds, quail, rabbits, and non-protected birds during small game season; and doves, snipe, waterfowl, and non-protected birds during their respective statewide seasons.
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 and in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. |
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Camping:
Allowed only at designated campsites and is managed by
Florida Forest Service. See the “Florida Forest Service Rules and Information”
section below for more information about camping.
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Bag and Possession Limits:
A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, and quail, except when these bag limits ae 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.
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 - Archery
season - daily limit 1, season limit 2; Spring turkey season - 1 per youth
turkey or spring turkey quota permit.
B. Statewide limits - Daily limit 2, all fall seasons combined limit 2, possession limit 2; Spring season 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. Armadillo, beaver, coyote, nutria, opossum, raccoon, and skunk - No bag limits.
7. Bobcat and otter - Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a trapping license.
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. |
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