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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 Holton Creek 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], 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. Any waterfowl hunter 16 years of age or older
must possess a federal duck stamp. |
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Quota Permit Information:
General Gun Mobility-impaired - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 4 hunts.
Spring Turkey Mobility-impaired - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.
Permit applications: Hunters must submit electronic applications for quota 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.
Guest hunters: Guest permits are not issued for Holton Creek WMA mobility-impaired season hunts.
Youth and mentor license holders: If a youth or mentor supervisor is hunting during any hunt for which quota permits are issued, at least 1 person in the party must be in possession of a quota permit.
Assistant for mobility-impaired hunters: Mobility-impaired hunters may be accompanied by 1 non-hunting assistant that may participate in the hunt (no license required), but the assistant may not harvest wildlife with archery equipment or a gun.
Transfer of permits: Holton Creek mobility-impaired quota permits are transferable, but only to another certified mobility-impaired hunter. However, only 1 quota permit may be used per individual, per hunt. Quota permits issued to exempt hunters are transferable only to another person with the same type of exemption, except permits marked "exempt senior" may be transferred to a youth younger than 16 years of age. The sale or purchase of any quota permit is prohibited. |
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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.
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 and wild hog.
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 skull plate with any attached antler, if applicable, shall remain with any harvested deer. The head and beard, if applicable, shall remain with any harvested turkey. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
14. The planting or introduction of any 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, except during hunting seasons and the day before each hunt when only persons participating in the hunts and hikers using the Florida Trail are allowed.
2. During the day before each hunting period (scout day), the use of vehicles by persons not participating in the hunt is prohibited.
3. Public access is prohibited from 1 ½ hours after sunset until 1 ½ hours before sunrise.
4. Persons must enter and exit the area from Road 20-1, the Florida Trail or via the Suwannee River.
5. Vehicles may be operated only on numbered roads.
6. Airboats, ATVs, tracked vehicles, unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles are prohibited, except ATVs may be used by certified mobility-impaired hunters during all hunts.
7. Horses are allowed only during periods closed to hunting, only during daylight hours, and only on designated roads.
8. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
9. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
10. A marked footpath called the Florida Trail traverses the area. This trail is open to hikers throughout the year.
11. Class 1 electric bicycles may be operated according to rules for
traditional, non-motorized bicycles. All other electric bicycles may be
operated only on numbered roads open to motorized vehicles. For more
information visit MyFWC.com/ebike. - Hunters
Hunters, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting:
1. Tree stands and elevated shooting platforms may not be taken onto the area until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of any hunt and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of every hunt.
2. Hunters must check in at the check station upon entering and check out upon leaving the area and check all game harvested.
3. Check station hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Eastern Daylight Saving Time and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time, except during the day before each general gun mobility-impaired season hunt when hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
4. Mobility-impaired hunters must attend a pre-hunt orientation meeting (see each season for dates and location).
5. In addition to checking all game at the check station, hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report any deer or turkey they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions. - Guns
Guns:
1. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
2. 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.
3. Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
4. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
5. 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.
6. Hunting turkey with air guns is prohibited, except PCP air guns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed.
7. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
8. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
9. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, muzzleloading guns, pistols, air guns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used.
10. 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.
11. 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. Hunting with dogs is prohibited.
2. 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.
3. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
4. Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. - Bag and Possession Limits
Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
A. Area limits - 1 per quota permit. Only 1 permit may be used per hunt.
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 - 1 per quota permit. Only 1 permit may be used per hunt.
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. Raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk and nutria - No bag limits.
6. Bobcat and otter - Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a trapping license.
7. Non-protected birds (African and Eurasian collared-doves, common pigeon, Egyptian goose, house sparrow, and common starling) - No bag limits. - General Information
General Information:
1. It is recommended that mobility-impaired hunters scout the area prior to the pre-hunt orientation to identify desired and alternate hunt locations.
2. Information for persons with disabilities can be found at MyFWC.com/ADA.
3. If you have any questions about this material, please call the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 386-758-0525 (TDD 800-955-8771).
4. The FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property.
5. 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.
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 and wild hog.
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 skull plate with any attached antler, if applicable, shall remain with any harvested deer. The head and beard, if applicable, shall remain with any harvested turkey. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
14. The planting or introduction of any 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, except during hunting seasons and the day before each hunt when only persons participating in the hunts and hikers using the Florida Trail are allowed.
2. During the day before each hunting period (scout day), the use of vehicles by persons not participating in the hunt is prohibited.
3. Public access is prohibited from 1 ½ hours after sunset until 1 ½ hours before sunrise.
4. Persons must enter and exit the area from Road 20-1, the Florida Trail or via the Suwannee River.
5. Vehicles may be operated only on numbered roads.
6. Airboats, ATVs, tracked vehicles, unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles are prohibited, except ATVs may be used by certified mobility-impaired hunters during all hunts.
7. Horses are allowed only during periods closed to hunting, only during daylight hours, and only on designated roads.
8. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
9. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
10. A marked footpath called the Florida Trail traverses the area. This trail is open to hikers throughout the year.
11. Class 1 electric bicycles may be operated according to rules for
traditional, non-motorized bicycles. All other electric bicycles may be
operated only on numbered roads open to motorized vehicles. For more
information visit MyFWC.com/ebike.
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Hunters, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting:
1. Tree stands and elevated shooting platforms may not be taken onto the area until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of any hunt and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of every hunt.
2. Hunters must check in at the check station upon entering and check out upon leaving the area and check all game harvested.
3. Check station hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Eastern Daylight Saving Time and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time, except during the day before each general gun mobility-impaired season hunt when hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
4. Mobility-impaired hunters must attend a pre-hunt orientation meeting (see each season for dates and location).
5. In addition to checking all game at the check station, hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report any deer or turkey they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.
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Guns:
1. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
2. 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.
3. Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
4. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
5. 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.
6. Hunting turkey with air guns is prohibited, except PCP air guns propelling a bolt or arrow are allowed.
7. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
8. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
9. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, muzzleloading guns, pistols, air guns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used.
10. 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.
11. 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. Hunting with dogs is prohibited.
2. 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.
3. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
4. Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. |
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Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
A. Area limits - 1 per quota permit. Only 1 permit may be used per hunt.
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 - 1 per quota permit. Only 1 permit may be used per hunt.
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. Raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk and nutria - No bag limits.
6. Bobcat and otter - Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a trapping license.
7. Non-protected birds (African and Eurasian collared-doves, common pigeon, Egyptian goose, house sparrow, and common starling) - No bag limits. |
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