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Guana River - Lake Ponte Vedra PSGHA
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	Regulations Summary and Area Map July 01, 2024 - June 30, 2025


	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).
	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 at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Worksheets listing hunts, application periods, deadlines and instructions are available at MyFWC.com or county tax collector’s offices. 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.






	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. 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. 17 and Dec. 1. 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 Camping: Prohibited. 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). 3. 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. 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, 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.
	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. 17 and Dec. 1. 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: 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: 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: Prohibited.


	Seasons ( Count: 3) Trapping Prohibited. Waterfowl Season September wood duck and teal season: September 21, 22, 25, 28, 29 Youth Hunt: November 16 Duck, light goose and coot season: November 23, 27, 30, December 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, January 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunt: February 1 Youth Hunt: February 8 Permit, Stamp and License Requirements - Quota permit if hunting during a Saturday or Sunday hunt (excluding youth hunts), 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 and federal duck stamp. Legal to Hunt - Ducks, geese (including Egyptian goose), and coot. See migratory bird season dates, bag limits, and regulations. Regulations Unique to Waterfowl Season - 1. Hunting ducks, geese, or coot with lead shot is prohibited. 2. Legal shooting hours for ducks, geese, and coot are ½ hour before sunrise until noon. 3. Waterfowl hunting from permanent blinds or structures is prohibited. 4. Non-hunting assistants with required licenses and permits may actively participate in Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunting Days, provided they may not harvest wildlife with a gun. 5. Adults with required licenses and permits may actively participate in Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days, provided they may not harvest wildlife with a gun. Fishing and Frogging Allowed year round. Allowed year round on Lake Ponte Vedra, but only from the Guana Dam to a line 2 miles north of the dam, and on the remainder of Lake Ponte Vedra only from February 10 through November 10. Permit, Stamp and License Requirements - Fishing license (if fishing) or management area permit (if frogging). Legal to Take - See Florida Freshwater and/or Saltwater Fishing Regulations Summaries. Regulations Unique to Fishing and Frogging - All General Freshwater Fishing Regulations and General Saltwater Regulations shall apply. 1. Fish may be taken with hook and line only. 2. Fishing with more than 3 poles or 3 rods and reels is prohibited. 3. The possession or use of gill nets, trawls, seines, gigs or spearguns is prohibited in Lake Ponte Vedra, except that gigs may be used to harvest frogs. 4. The use of cast nets or gigs within 50 yards of the water control structure located on the Guana Dam is prohibited. 5. Shooting frogs is allowed during waterfowl season. Frogs may only be taken by firearms during daylight hours.


	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). 3. 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 FWC receives financial assistance from the Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The DOI 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 or you need more information, please contact the FWC at: FWC, Office of Human Resources, 620 S Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32399, (850) 488-6411, or write to: Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights, Dept. of the Interior, 1849 C St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.