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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 Hilochee
Wildlife Management Area Dove Field. 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. |
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Permit, Stamp and License Information:
Persons using Public
Small Game Hunting 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”, 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 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.
Quota Permit
Information:
Dove - 30, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for
each of 10 hunts. Permits are transferable. One youth under 16 years of age may
accompany an adult dove permit holder and may hunt under the supervision and in
the presence of the permit holder, provided that the permit holder and youth
may each take one daily bag limit of doves.
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.
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Area Regulations
- General
- Public Access and Vehicles
Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Public
access within the dove field is prohibited except by dove hunt permit holders
and their guests. Access at any other
time prior to the last dove hunt is prohibited.
2. Dove hunters may enter the area no earlier
than one (1) hour before sunrise and exit the area no later than 1 hour after sunset.
3. All vehicles must be parked in the
designated parking area(s).4. 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 and Guests:
1. Each
permitted hunter may be accompanied by one youth hunter and one non-hunting
guest. The non-hunting guest shall
remain under the supervision and in the presence of the permitted hunter at all
times during the hunt.
- General Hunting Regulations
Regulations Specific to Dove Season:
1. Dove hunting is allowed only within the
posted dove field boundaries.
2. Hunters must pick up all shotgun shells and
other trash before leaving the dove field.
- Guns
Guns:
1. Hunting with firearms other than shotguns is
prohibited.
2. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge
and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and
chamber combined.
3. Children under the age of 16 may not be in
possession of a firearm unless in the presence of a supervising adult.
4. The discharge of a firearm outside of
periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s.790.15
FS.
5. No person shall discharge a firearm or have
a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Dogs
Dogs:
1. Dogs are
allowed for hunting on the posted dove fields during dove hunts. - Bag and Possession Limits
Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Aggregate of
mourning and white-winged dove - Daily limit 15.
Only one daily bag limit of mourning/white-winged dove may be possessed while in the field or returning from the field. A hunter may leave his or her birds with another person if the birds are tagged with the hunter’s signature and address, the total number of birds, by species, and the date birds were harvested.
2. African collared-dove, Eurasian collared-dove and rock dove - no limit.
- Direction
Directions to the Hunting Area:
The Hilochee Dove Field is located 13 miles
south of Clermont in Lake County (see area map). From intersection of US 27 and CR 474, travel
west approximately 3.7 miles and turn left onto dirt road (Lake Road). The dove field will be on the left (east) of Lake
Road (look for the dove field).
- Report a Band
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General Area Regulations:
Please consult the 2024-25 Hilochee Wildlife Management Area Brochure for area specific regulations at
MyFWC.com. |
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Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Public
access within the dove field is prohibited except by dove hunt permit holders
and their guests. Access at any other
time prior to the last dove hunt is prohibited.
2. Dove hunters may enter the area no earlier
than one (1) hour before sunrise and exit the area no later than 1 hour after sunset.
3. All vehicles must be parked in the
designated parking area(s).4. 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 and Guests:
1. Each
permitted hunter may be accompanied by one youth hunter and one non-hunting
guest. The non-hunting guest shall
remain under the supervision and in the presence of the permitted hunter at all
times during the hunt.
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Regulations Specific to Dove Season:
1. Dove hunting is allowed only within the
posted dove field boundaries.
2. Hunters must pick up all shotgun shells and
other trash before leaving the dove field. |
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Guns:
1. Hunting with firearms other than shotguns is
prohibited.
2. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge
and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and
chamber combined.
3. Children under the age of 16 may not be in
possession of a firearm unless in the presence of a supervising adult.
4. The discharge of a firearm outside of
periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s.790.15
FS.
5. No person shall discharge a firearm or have
a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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Dogs:
1. Dogs are
allowed for hunting on the posted dove fields during dove hunts.
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Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Aggregate of
mourning and white-winged dove - Daily limit 15.
Only one daily bag limit of mourning/white-winged dove may be possessed while in the field or returning from the field. A hunter may leave his or her birds with another person if the birds are tagged with the hunter’s signature and address, the total number of birds, by species, and the date birds were harvested.
2. African collared-dove, Eurasian collared-dove and rock dove - no limit.
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