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Fellsmere Area 1 PSGHA
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	Regulations Summary and Area Map July 01, 2022 - June 30, 2023


	This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the Fellsmere Area 1 Public Small Game Hunting Area (PSGHA). Regulations that are new or differ substantially from last year are shown in bold print. For exact wording of the wildlife laws and regulations, see the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s wildlife code, on file with the Secretary of State and state libraries. This brochure and the Florida Hunting Regulations handbook should provide the information necessary for you to plan your hunting activities. These publications are available at MyFWC.com. Persons using PSGHAs are required to have appropriate licenses, permits and stamps. The following persons are exempt from all license and permit requirements (except for the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp [federal duck stamp], 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. Licenses and permits may be purchased from county tax collectors, license agents, by telephone at 888-486-8356 or at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. A no-cost Migratory Bird Permit is available when purchasing a hunting license. Any waterfowl hunter 16 years of age or older must possess a federal duck stamp (available where hunting licenses are sold, at most post offices or at www.duckstamp.com).
	Quota Permit Information: Quota permits are not required for this area.






	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. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or any other food for wildlife on this area. 2. 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. 3. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited. 4. Public access is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.” 5. 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. 6. The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the landowner or primary land manager. 7. Littering is prohibited. 8. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any vehicle or boat, in accordance with law. 9. Construction or use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited. 10. Tampering with or destruction of equipment (including signs), improvements, and water control structures is prohibited. 11. Fires are prohibited. 12. No person shall cut or destroy any tree on, or remove any tree, shrub or protected plant from this area without written permission from St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). Public Access and Vehicles Public Access, Vehicles and Vessels: 1. Public recreational access is allowed year round from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset ONLY per St. Johns River Water Management District authority, s. 40C-9 F.A.C. 2. Vehicles may be operated only in designated areas and may be parked only in designated parking areas. 4. Airboats, tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, swamp buggies and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles are prohibited. 5. No vessel shall be operated at a speed greater than 25 mph on this area. 6. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or boat ramp area. Hunters Hunters: 1. Please report your leg bands at reportband.gov. 2. Hunting equipment may not be taken onto the area until after 8 a.m. 1 day before the opening of the season and shall be removed from the area before 6 p.m. on the last day of the season. 3. The use of shot, other than steel or other nontoxic shot approved for use by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is prohibited. Guns Guns: 1. The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS. 2. Taking wildlife with a gun on or from any levee is prohibited. 3. Taking wildlife with firearms other than shotguns is prohibited. 4. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined. 5. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm must be in the presence of a supervising adult. 6. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Dogs Dogs: 1. Only waterfowl retrievers may be used for hunting waterfowl. 2. For purposes other than hunting, dogs are allowed but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. Camping Camping: Prohibited. Bag and Possession Limits Bag and Possession Limits: 1. Waterfowl and coot – Consult http://myfwc.com/hunting/by-species/ or the Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for detailed information on September duck season and duck, light goose and coot season. 2. Snipe – Consult http://myfwc.com/hunting/by-species/ or the Florida Hunting Regulations handbook (including possession limits) for detailed information on snipe season. General Information General Information: 1. Land surfaces underwater are irregular. Exercise caution while on foot. 2. For information regarding recreational use other than hunting, please call the SJRWMD at 386-329-4404. 3. The SJRWMD management activities include prescribed burning and timber management most months of the year, including hunting seasons. For more information, please visit https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/announcements/ or the SJRWMD at landmgmt@sjrwmd.com or 386-329-4404. 4. Report fires to the Florida Forest Service at 863-467-3221. 5. Information for persons with disabilities can be found at MyFWC.com/ADA. 6. If you have any questions about this material, please call the Fish and Wildlife Commission at 352-732-1225 (TDD 800-955-8771). 7. The FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property.
	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. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or any other food for wildlife on this area. 2. 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. 3. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited. 4. Public access is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.” 5. 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. 6. The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the landowner or primary land manager. 7. Littering is prohibited. 8. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any vehicle or boat, in accordance with law. 9. Construction or use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited. 10. Tampering with or destruction of equipment (including signs), improvements, and water control structures is prohibited. 11. Fires are prohibited. 12. No person shall cut or destroy any tree on, or remove any tree, shrub or protected plant from this area without written permission from St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD).

	Public Access, Vehicles and Vessels: 1. Public recreational access is allowed year round from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset ONLY per St. Johns River Water Management District authority, s. 40C-9 F.A.C. 2. Vehicles may be operated only in designated areas and may be parked only in designated parking areas. 4. Airboats, tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, swamp buggies and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles are prohibited. 5. No vessel shall be operated at a speed greater than 25 mph on this area. 6. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or boat ramp area.
	Hunters: 1. Please report your leg bands at reportband.gov. 2. Hunting equipment may not be taken onto the area until after 8 a.m. 1 day before the opening of the season and shall be removed from the area before 6 p.m. on the last day of the season. 3. The use of shot, other than steel or other nontoxic shot approved for use by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is prohibited.



	Guns: 1. The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS. 2. Taking wildlife with a gun on or from any levee is prohibited. 3. Taking wildlife with firearms other than shotguns is prohibited. 4. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined. 5. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm must be in the presence of a supervising adult. 6. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
	Dogs: 1. Only waterfowl retrievers may be used for hunting waterfowl. 2. For purposes other than hunting, dogs are allowed but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
	Camping: Prohibited.
	Bag and Possession Limits: 1. Waterfowl and coot – Consult http://myfwc.com/hunting/by-species/ or the Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for detailed information on September duck season and duck, light goose and coot season. 2. Snipe – Consult http://myfwc.com/hunting/by-species/ or the Florida Hunting Regulations handbook (including possession limits) for detailed information on snipe season.


	Seasons ( Count: 3) Waterfowl and Snipe Seasons September wood duck and teal season: September 17, 18, 21 September teal season: September 24, 25 Youth Waterfowl Hunt: November 12 Duck, goose, snipe and coot seasons: November 19, 20, 23, 26, 27, December 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 21, 24, 25, 28, 31, January 1, 4, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 25, 28, 29 Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunt:: February 4, 5 Youth Waterfowl Hunt: February 11 Snipe only season: February 12 Permit, Stamp and License Requirements – Hunting license, military license or ID (if hunting during the Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunts), management area permit, migratory bird permit, state waterfowl permit (unless hunting snipe only) and federal duck stamp (unless hunting snipe only). Legal to Take – Wood duck, teal, Canada and Egyptian geese during September wood duck and teal season; teal, Canada and Egyptian geese during September teal season; ducks, geese (including Egyptian goose) and coot during duck, goose and coot season and the Veterans and Active Military and Youth Waterfowl Hunts; and snipe during snipe season. Regulations Unique to Waterfowl Seasons – All Migratory Bird Regulations shall apply. 1. Hunting duck, geese, coot and snipe with lead shot is prohibited. 2. Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset. Trapping Prohibited. Fishing and Frogging Allowed year round. Permit, Stamp and License Requirements – Fishing license (if fishing) or management area permit (if frogging). Legal to Take – See Florida Freshwater Fishing Regulations Summary. Regulations Unique to Fishing and Frogging - All General Freshwater Fishing Regulations shall apply. 1. The take of frogs with any firearm is prohibited.


	General Information: 1. Land surfaces underwater are irregular. Exercise caution while on foot. 2. For information regarding recreational use other than hunting, please call the SJRWMD at 386-329-4404. 3. The SJRWMD management activities include prescribed burning and timber management most months of the year, including hunting seasons. For more information, please visit https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/announcements/ or the SJRWMD at landmgmt@sjrwmd.com or 386-329-4404. 4. Report fires to the Florida Forest Service at 863-467-3221. 5. Information for persons with disabilities can be found at MyFWC.com/ADA. 6. If you have any questions about this material, please call the Fish and Wildlife Commission at 352-732-1225 (TDD 800-955-8771). 7. The FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property.




	Cooperation Requested: If you see law violators or suspicious activities, contact your nearest Commission regional office or call 888-404-FWCC. You may qualify for a cash reward from the Wildlife Alert Reward Association. The U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information please write to: The Office for Human Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. The project described in this publication is part of a program funded by federal dollars under the Wildlife Restoration Act. Federal funds pay 20 percent of the cost of the program.