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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 Apalachicola 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]): 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 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: Quota permits are not required for this area.
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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 for 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 head and evidence of sex may not be removed from the carcass of any deer or turkey on the area.
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. It is unlawful to set fire to any forest, grass or woodlands.
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 access year round.
2. Motorized vehicles are allowed only on designated, named or numbered roads and mixed-use roads, except all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and unlicensed and unregistered vehicles (including motorcycles) are allowed only on designated motorized trails and mixed-use roads. The use of ATVs is prohibited on Northwest Florida Water Management District (WMD) lands (see map).
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. A marked footpath called the Florida National Scenic Trail (Florida Trail) traverses the area. This trail is open to hikers throughout the year.
- Hunters
Hunters and Harvest Reporting:
1. Hunting equipment may not be taken onto the WMA until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the season.
2. Quail hunting is prohibited in the Quail Enhancement Area (QEA) except during the quail season. Other wildlife may be hunted in the QEA as described in this brochure. For more information on hunting quail in the QEA, see myfwc.com/hunting/by-species/quail/.
3. All hunters must log their harvested deer prior to moving it and report their harvested deer within 24 hours. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer harvest reporting instructions.
- Guns
Guns:
1. Hunting with a gun or archery equipment is prohibited on or from the rights-of-way of U.S. Highway 319, State Roads 12, 65, 263, 267, 373, 379, County Roads 67, 260, 299, 368, 375, or that portion of County Road 22 east of the Ochlockonee River.
2. Hunting deer is prohibited within 50 yards of the rights-of-way of County Road 375.
3. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (see exceptions for fox, raccoon, opossum and bobcat season).
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 non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
6. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
7. Hunting deer with air guns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns propelling a bolt, arrow or bullet .30 caliber or larger are allowed.
8. Hunting turkey with air guns is prohibited, except PCP air guns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed. During general gun season, PCP air guns propelling a bullet .20 caliber or larger may also be used for hunting turkey.
9. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun 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, rifles, pistols, air guns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used.
12. For hunting migratory game, only 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.
13. 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.
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. Effective July 1, 2021, the taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking. Remote behavior correction devices will be required beginning July 1, 2022.
2. Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs and retrievers, is prohibited in the Still Hunt Areas (see map).
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 on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
5. For purposes other than hunting, dogs are allowed, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
6. Bird dogs may be trained June 1 through March 6, except on the Quail Enhancement Area where bird dogs may be trained November 1 through December 31 only.
7. Deer dogs may be trained October 30 through November 18 in the designated Fox Hunt Area (see map).
- Camping
Camping:
1. Camping in the National Forest is allowed year round but is limited to a 14-day stay, except during the general gun season. During the general gun season, camping is allowed only in designated campsites indicated on the hunt map and is limited to tents, trailers or self-propelled camping vehicles. Campers may stay in the campsites from 14 days before to 14 days after the general gun season. Hickory, Whitehead and Mack Landings have restrooms and water and require camping fees. All other hunt camps are free of charge and have no permanent restrooms or water. For additional information on camping in the Apalachicola National Forest, contact the U.S. Forest Service at 850-926-3561 or 850-643-2282.
2. Within the portion of the area posted as Northwest Florida Water Management District land, camping is allowed throughout the area (except where posted as “no camping”), but shall not exceed 14 days within any consecutive 30-day period. Camping within designated campgrounds (see map) is allowed by permit only and subject to permit provisions. To make a camping reservation, please visit www.nwfwater.com. Camping is limited to tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles only. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers are prohibited, unless contained in mobile campers. Lumber, sheet metal or other building materials are prohibited. - Bag and Possession Limits
Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
A. Area limits - See statewide limits below.
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. Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
3. Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
A. Area limits - Daily limit 1.
B. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
4. Gray squirrel and rabbit - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24 for each.
5. Quail - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24, except in the Quail Enhancement Area where the daily limit is 6 per person.
6. Raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk and nutria - 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. - 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 850-265-3676 (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 for 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 head and evidence of sex may not be removed from the carcass of any deer or turkey on the area.
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. It is unlawful to set fire to any forest, grass or woodlands.
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 access year round.
2. Motorized vehicles are allowed only on designated, named or numbered roads and mixed-use roads, except all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and unlicensed and unregistered vehicles (including motorcycles) are allowed only on designated motorized trails and mixed-use roads. The use of ATVs is prohibited on Northwest Florida Water Management District (WMD) lands (see map).
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. A marked footpath called the Florida National Scenic Trail (Florida Trail) traverses the area. This trail is open to hikers throughout the year.
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Hunters and Harvest Reporting:
1. Hunting equipment may not be taken onto the WMA until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the season.
2. Quail hunting is prohibited in the Quail Enhancement Area (QEA) except during the quail season. Other wildlife may be hunted in the QEA as described in this brochure. For more information on hunting quail in the QEA, see myfwc.com/hunting/by-species/quail/.
3. All hunters must log their harvested deer prior to moving it and report their harvested deer within 24 hours. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer harvest reporting instructions.
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Guns:
1. Hunting with a gun or archery equipment is prohibited on or from the rights-of-way of U.S. Highway 319, State Roads 12, 65, 263, 267, 373, 379, County Roads 67, 260, 299, 368, 375, or that portion of County Road 22 east of the Ochlockonee River.
2. Hunting deer is prohibited within 50 yards of the rights-of-way of County Road 375.
3. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (see exceptions for fox, raccoon, opossum and bobcat season).
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 non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
6. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
7. Hunting deer with air guns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns propelling a bolt, arrow or bullet .30 caliber or larger are allowed.
8. Hunting turkey with air guns is prohibited, except PCP air guns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed. During general gun season, PCP air guns propelling a bullet .20 caliber or larger may also be used for hunting turkey.
9. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun 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, rifles, pistols, air guns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used.
12. For hunting migratory game, only 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.
13. 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.
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.
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Dogs:
1. Effective July 1, 2021, the taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking. Remote behavior correction devices will be required beginning July 1, 2022.
2. Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs and retrievers, is prohibited in the Still Hunt Areas (see map).
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 on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
5. For purposes other than hunting, dogs are allowed, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
6. Bird dogs may be trained June 1 through March 6, except on the Quail Enhancement Area where bird dogs may be trained November 1 through December 31 only.
7. Deer dogs may be trained October 30 through November 18 in the designated Fox Hunt Area (see map).
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Camping:
1. Camping in the National Forest is allowed year round but is limited to a 14-day stay, except during the general gun season. During the general gun season, camping is allowed only in designated campsites indicated on the hunt map and is limited to tents, trailers or self-propelled camping vehicles. Campers may stay in the campsites from 14 days before to 14 days after the general gun season. Hickory, Whitehead and Mack Landings have restrooms and water and require camping fees. All other hunt camps are free of charge and have no permanent restrooms or water. For additional information on camping in the Apalachicola National Forest, contact the U.S. Forest Service at 850-926-3561 or 850-643-2282.
2. Within the portion of the area posted as Northwest Florida Water Management District land, camping is allowed throughout the area (except where posted as “no camping”), but shall not exceed 14 days within any consecutive 30-day period. Camping within designated campgrounds (see map) is allowed by permit only and subject to permit provisions. To make a camping reservation, please visit www.nwfwater.com. Camping is limited to tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles only. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers are prohibited, unless contained in mobile campers. Lumber, sheet metal or other building materials are prohibited. |
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Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
A. Area limits - See statewide limits below.
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. Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
3. Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
A. Area limits - Daily limit 1.
B. Statewide limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
4. Gray squirrel and rabbit - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24 for each.
5. Quail - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24, except in the Quail Enhancement Area where the daily limit is 6 per person.
6. Raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk and nutria - 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. |
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