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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 Guana River –Lake Ponte Vedra Public Small Game Hunting
Area (PSGHA). 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, quota application worksheets and the Florida Hunting Regulations
handbook should provide the information necessary for you to plan your hunting activities. These publications area 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, or Guana River Waterfowl Permit):
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). |
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Quota Information:
Waterfowl – 40, no-cost, nontransferable quota permits (no
exemptions) for each Saturday and Sunday hunt during Early Waterfowl, for each Saturday hunt during General Waterfowl and Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl days. A quota permit is not required on any Wednesday hunt dates and during Youth Waterfowl hunts. A maximum of three hunters shall be allowed per quota permit or youth hunting group.
Guest hunters may hunt only while the host is on the area. Only persons 15 years of age and younger may hunt during Youth Waterfowl. Youth hunters also must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult during youth hunts, per F.S.
790.22. During Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl days, only individuals with a valid military hunting license or veteran/military ID are allowed to hunt. See "Waterfowl Season" section below for a complete list of license and permit requirements.
Permit applications: Hunters must submit electronic
applications for quota permits and quota preference points at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Quota hunt worksheets, application periods, deadlines, instructions, and a summary of recent quota hunt rule changes are available at MyFWC.com. Quota application periods
occur throughout the year; please refer to the hunting handbook or MyFWC.com
for specific dates. Worksheets will be available about 2 weeks prior to each
application period. Hunters are limited to 1 permit per hunt. No more than 5
Guana River – Lake Ponte Vedra waterfowl quota permits can be acquired per
person per permit type. Up to 3 hunters may hunt per permit. Permits are valid
only for the date listed on the permit. |
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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. It is illegal to
hunt over bait or place any bait or any other food for wildlife on this area.
2. No person shall
cut, damage or remove any natural, man-made or cultural resource without
written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
3. 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.
4. The wanton and
willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
5. Hunting, fishing
or trapping is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as closed to those
activities.
6. Public access is
prohibited on any portion of the area posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.”
7. 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.
8. The release of
any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization
from the landowner or primary land manager.
9. The planting or
introduction of any non-native plant is prohibited, without written
authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
10. Construction or
use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited.
11. All materials
used for temporary blinds and spent shell casings must be removed after each
hunt.
12. Littering is
prohibited.
13. Tampering with or
destruction of equipment (including signs), improvements, and water control
structures is prohibited.
14. Fires are
prohibited.
15. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any vehicle or boat, in accordance with law.
- Public Access and Vehicles
Public Access,
Vehicles and Vessels:
1. Lake Ponte Vedra
is open for recreational use year round, only from Guana dam to a line two miles north of the dam (See map). Non-hunting recreational access to the remainder of Lake Ponte Vedra is only allowed from February 10 through November 10.
2. From November 11 through February 9, the use of boats on Lake Ponte Vedra north of the line two miles north of the dam is prohibited except by hunters and hunting guests participating in hunting.
3. Vessels with internal combustion engines larger than 10 h.p. are prohibited on Lake Ponte Vedra, except alligator hunting participants may use airboats and boat motors larger than 10 h.p.
when hunting alligators.
4. Public access to the Guana Dam Control Structure or any portion of it is prohibited.
5. Only one vehicle
per hunting party may access the area on scheduled quota permit hunt dates. During youth
waterfowl hunts up to two vehicles per hunting party may access the area.
6. Persons accessing, parking or launching boats at the Guana Dam are required to pay an access fee to the Department of Environmental Protection.
7. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
8. Vehicles may be
parked only in designated parking areas (see map). Parking along A1A is
prohibited.
9. Parked vehicles
may not obstruct a road, gate or boat ramp area.
10. For additional information for the upland portion of the Guana River WMA please see the Guana River WMA regulations at MyFWC.com.
- 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 and cooperator staff may remove any of these items if they are not properly labeled. 2. 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, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting:
1. Please report leg
bands at reportband.gov.
2. Lake Ponte Vedra
will be open for scouting from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 16 and Nov. 30.
3. Hunters
and guests shall enter and exit Six Mile Landing in one vehicle.
4. All hunters shall check in at the check station when entering the area and shall
declare their hunting guests to the check station operator at that time.
5. Once checked in, hunters and their guests may launch at Six Mile Landing, Guana Dam,
or private property. Hunters wishing to launch at Six Mile Landing
shall form a single file line from the ramp to A1A.
6. During the
waterfowl hunts, the Six Mile Landing Check Station hours are 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.
7. All hunters must
check out and check all game harvested prior to 1 p.m.
8. That portion of
Lake Ponte Vedra from the Guana Dam to a point ½ mile north is closed to
hunting except for alligator hunting.
9. Hunting at the
wildlife observation towers or nature trail boardwalks is prohibited. 10. Hunting is prohibited in areas posted as "Closed to Hunting."
- 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 F.S.
2. Hunting at night
with a gun is prohibited.
3. The take of
wildlife with guns other than shotguns is prohibited.
4. Shotguns used for
taking wildlife 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.
7. Non-toxic
shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must be used when hunting
on this area.
- Dogs
Dogs:
1. Dogs may be used for hunting waterfowl during open seasons.
2. When hunters are
at the check station, their dogs must be left restrained at the hunter’s
vehicle.
3. Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs but must be kept under physical
restraint at all times.
- Camping
- 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 352-732-1225 (TDD 800-955-8771).
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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. It is illegal to
hunt over bait or place any bait or any other food for wildlife on this area.
2. No person shall
cut, damage or remove any natural, man-made or cultural resource without
written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
3. 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.
4. The wanton and
willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
5. Hunting, fishing
or trapping is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as closed to those
activities.
6. Public access is
prohibited on any portion of the area posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.”
7. 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.
8. The release of
any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization
from the landowner or primary land manager.
9. The planting or
introduction of any non-native plant is prohibited, without written
authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
10. Construction or
use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited.
11. All materials
used for temporary blinds and spent shell casings must be removed after each
hunt.
12. Littering is
prohibited.
13. Tampering with or
destruction of equipment (including signs), improvements, and water control
structures is prohibited.
14. Fires are
prohibited.
15. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any vehicle or boat, in accordance with law. |
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Public Access,
Vehicles and Vessels:
1. Lake Ponte Vedra
is open for recreational use year round, only from Guana dam to a line two miles north of the dam (See map). Non-hunting recreational access to the remainder of Lake Ponte Vedra is only allowed from February 10 through November 10.
2. From November 11 through February 9, the use of boats on Lake Ponte Vedra north of the line two miles north of the dam is prohibited except by hunters and hunting guests participating in hunting.
3. Vessels with internal combustion engines larger than 10 h.p. are prohibited on Lake Ponte Vedra, except alligator hunting participants may use airboats and boat motors larger than 10 h.p.
when hunting alligators.
4. Public access to the Guana Dam Control Structure or any portion of it is prohibited.
5. Only one vehicle
per hunting party may access the area on scheduled quota permit hunt dates. During youth
waterfowl hunts up to two vehicles per hunting party may access the area.
6. Persons accessing, parking or launching boats at the Guana Dam are required to pay an access fee to the Department of Environmental Protection.
7. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
8. Vehicles may be
parked only in designated parking areas (see map). Parking along A1A is
prohibited.
9. Parked vehicles
may not obstruct a road, gate or boat ramp area.
10. For additional information for the upland portion of the Guana River WMA please see the Guana River WMA regulations at MyFWC.com.
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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 and cooperator staff may remove any of these items if they are not properly labeled. 2. 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, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting:
1. Please report leg
bands at reportband.gov.
2. Lake Ponte Vedra
will be open for scouting from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 16 and Nov. 30.
3. Hunters
and guests shall enter and exit Six Mile Landing in one vehicle.
4. All hunters shall check in at the check station when entering the area and shall
declare their hunting guests to the check station operator at that time.
5. Once checked in, hunters and their guests may launch at Six Mile Landing, Guana Dam,
or private property. Hunters wishing to launch at Six Mile Landing
shall form a single file line from the ramp to A1A.
6. During the
waterfowl hunts, the Six Mile Landing Check Station hours are 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.
7. All hunters must
check out and check all game harvested prior to 1 p.m.
8. That portion of
Lake Ponte Vedra from the Guana Dam to a point ½ mile north is closed to
hunting except for alligator hunting.
9. Hunting at the
wildlife observation towers or nature trail boardwalks is prohibited. 10. Hunting is prohibited in areas posted as "Closed to Hunting."
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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 F.S.
2. Hunting at night
with a gun is prohibited.
3. The take of
wildlife with guns other than shotguns is prohibited.
4. Shotguns used for
taking wildlife 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.
7. Non-toxic
shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must be used when hunting
on this area. |
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Dogs:
1. Dogs may be used for hunting waterfowl during open seasons.
2. When hunters are
at the check station, their dogs must be left restrained at the hunter’s
vehicle.
3. 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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