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IMPORTANT: During the 2023 small game season and the first two Saturdays of the 2023-24 statewide mourning and white-wing dove season, the check station at Joe Budd WMA will not be staffed. During these times, hunters are not required to check in and out of the area or check harvested game. A daily quota permit will not be required to hunt during the 2023 small game season. Check station and permit requirements remain in effect for archery, archery/muzzleloading gun, youth turkey, and spring turkey seasons.
This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the Joe Budd 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 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:
Archery - 35, no-cost, quota permits for each of 5 hunts.
Archery - 140, no-cost, zone tags are available for each of 5 hunts to hunters without a quota permit by random drawing of those persons present at the check station at 2 p.m. on Thursday prior to each hunt.
Archery/Muzzleloading Gun - 35, no-cost, quota permits for each of 3 hunts.
Archery/Muzzleloading Gun - 140, no-cost, zone tags are available for each of 3 hunts to hunters without a quota permit by random drawing of those persons present at the check station at 2 p.m. on Thursday prior to each hunt.
Small Game - 110, no-cost, daily quota permits are available each day of the season, first-come, first-served, at the check station.
Youth Turkey - 20, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions) are available each day of the hunt, first-come, first-served, at the check station.
Spring Turkey - 20, no-cost, quota permits for each of 6 hunts.
Zone Tags: Zone tags are required for each person to hunt on the area except during small game season. During the archery and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons, the area is divided into 7 zones with Zone A limited to 18 hunters, Zones B, C and D limited to 14 hunters each, Zone E limited to 6 hunters, Zone F limited to 32 hunters and Zone G limited to 42 hunters. During spring turkey season, the area is divided into 7 zones with Zone A limited to 3 hunters, Zones B, C, and D limited to 2 hunters each, Zone E limited to 1 hunter, Zone F limited to 4 hunters and Zone G limited to 6 hunters. Zone tags for archery and archery/muzzleloading gun hunts will be issued to hunters without quota hunt permits by random drawing at the check station at 2 p.m. on the Thursday prior to each 3-day hunt period. A person may reserve a zone tag for 1 additional hunter, but must have their valid license and permits in his/her possession to do so. Holders of quota hunt permits and exempt hunters are not required to attend the drawing on Thursdays and will be issued a special zone tag, good for the zone of their choosing, at the check station. Any unissued zone tags will be available on hunt days after morning stand hours (approximately 8:30 a.m.). Zone tags may not be transferred from 1 hunter to another. If available, 1 zone tag may be exchanged for another at the check station during each hunt.
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.
Guest hunters: For each non-transferable archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, wild hog, spring turkey and mobility-impaired quota permit issued through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, a quota permit holder (host) may take a guest hunter by obtaining a guest permit. Guest hunters are not allowed during youth turkey hunts or for daily quota permit holders or walk-on zone tag recipients. A guest hunter must possess a completed guest permit while hunting except the following persons may be a guest hunter without a guest permit: a youth under 16 years of age, a youth supervisor, a mentor license holder or a mentor license supervisor. A host may only bring 1 guest hunter at a time and may only use 1 guest permit per day. The following persons are not considered to be guest hunters: other quota permit holders, non-hunters and exempt hunters (on areas and during seasons that allow exemptions). The guest hunter and host must enter and exit the area together and must share a street-legal vehicle while hunting on the area. The guest hunter may hunt only while the host is on the area and must hunt in the same zone to which the host is assigned. Refer to the quota hunt worksheets for additional information.
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. During a hunt that allows exemptions, a non-exempt supervisor of a youth must have a quota permit to hunt.
Transfer of permits: Quota and guest permits are not transferable. Except for youth under 16 years of age, a positive form of identification is required when using a non-transferable permit. The sale or purchase of any quota permit or guest 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. These provisions are not required when hunting with a bow and arrow during archery season.
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, wild hog and crows.
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 head and evidence of sex shall remain with any deer harvested on the area and shall not be removed from the carcass of any turkey harvested on the area.
14. The planting or introduction of any non-native 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 but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except during archery, archery/muzzleloading gun, small game and dove seasons, and prior to 1 p.m. during the youth spring turkey and spring turkey seasons when public access is allowed only by individuals authorized to participate in the hunt.
2. No person shall enter the area during any period in which the entry gate is closed.
3. During archery and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons, entry into the area is prohibited during stand hours (½ hour before sunrise until 1 hour after sunrise and from 1 hour before sunset to ½ hour after sunset). During spring turkey season, entry into the area is prohibited from ½ hour before sunrise until 1 hour after sunrise.
4. All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
5. Motor vehicles shall be operated only on improved roads shown on the brochure map.
6. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
7. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
8. Florida traffic laws relating to vehicles and vehicle operators apply on this area. The use of an unregistered or unlicensed vehicle is prohibited.
9. 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, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting:
1. No person shall hunt in any zone other than that for which she or he has obtained a zone tag.
2. All hunters shall maintain possession of check station-issued daily permits while on the area.
3. Hunting equipment may not be taken onto the area until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of any season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of every season.
4. Hunters must check in at the check station when entering and check out when leaving the area and check all game harvested.
5. Check station hours are 1½ hours before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset during the archery, archery/muzzleloading gun, and spring turkey seasons and 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset during the dove and small game seasons.
6. In addition to checking all game at an area 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 with a gun or archery equipment on or from the rights-of-way of High Bluff Road or C.R. 268 is prohibited.
2. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
3. 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.
4. Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
5. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed during the small game season only. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
6. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
7. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
8. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, pistols, air guns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used.
9. For hunting migratory game, only shotguns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
10. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire rifles, 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, except any dog may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds in season) and non-protected birds during the small game season.
2. The take of deer and wild hog 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. - Camping
Camping:
Camping is prohibited except at the High Bluff campground by permit from the Florida Forest Service (FFS). See Florida Forest Service Rules and Information below. - Bag and Possession Limits
Bag and Possession Limits: A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, and quail, except when these bag limits are specified as per person. The host is responsible for violations that exceed the bag limit.
1. Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
A. Area limits - See statewide limits below.
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 - Daily limit 1.
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 per person, possession limit 24 for each.
5. Quail Daily limit 12, possession limit 24.
6. Raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk and nutria - No bag limits.
7. Bobcat and otter - Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a trapping license.
8. Migratory birds - See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook.
9. 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. Wildlife management areas and state forests are not just for hunting and fishing. They have been purchased for preservation to benefit all of Florida’s residents and you don’t have to hunt or fish to enjoy them. The same habitat management practices that provide hunting and fishing opportunities also create opportunities for wildlife viewing.
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 850-265-3676 (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. These provisions are not required when hunting with a bow and arrow during archery season.
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, wild hog and crows.
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 head and evidence of sex shall remain with any deer harvested on the area and shall not be removed from the carcass of any turkey harvested on the area.
14. The planting or introduction of any non-native 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 but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except during archery, archery/muzzleloading gun, small game and dove seasons, and prior to 1 p.m. during the youth spring turkey and spring turkey seasons when public access is allowed only by individuals authorized to participate in the hunt.
2. No person shall enter the area during any period in which the entry gate is closed.
3. During archery and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons, entry into the area is prohibited during stand hours (½ hour before sunrise until 1 hour after sunrise and from 1 hour before sunset to ½ hour after sunset). During spring turkey season, entry into the area is prohibited from ½ hour before sunrise until 1 hour after sunrise.
4. All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
5. Motor vehicles shall be operated only on improved roads shown on the brochure map.
6. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
7. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
8. Florida traffic laws relating to vehicles and vehicle operators apply on this area. The use of an unregistered or unlicensed vehicle is prohibited.
9. 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, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting:
1. No person shall hunt in any zone other than that for which she or he has obtained a zone tag.
2. All hunters shall maintain possession of check station-issued daily permits while on the area.
3. Hunting equipment may not be taken onto the area until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of any season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of every season.
4. Hunters must check in at the check station when entering and check out when leaving the area and check all game harvested.
5. Check station hours are 1½ hours before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset during the archery, archery/muzzleloading gun, and spring turkey seasons and 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset during the dove and small game seasons.
6. In addition to checking all game at an area 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 with a gun or archery equipment on or from the rights-of-way of High Bluff Road or C.R. 268 is prohibited.
2. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
3. 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.
4. Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
5. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed during the small game season only. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
6. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
7. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
8. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, pistols, air guns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used.
9. For hunting migratory game, only shotguns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
10. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire rifles, 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, except any dog may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbits, gray squirrel, and migratory birds in season) and non-protected birds during the small game season.
2. The take of deer and wild hog 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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Camping:
Camping is prohibited except at the High Bluff campground by permit from the Florida Forest Service (FFS). See Florida Forest Service Rules and Information below. |
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Bag and Possession Limits: A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, and quail, except when these bag limits are specified as per person. The host is responsible for violations that exceed the bag limit.
1. Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
A. Area limits - See statewide limits below.
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 - Daily limit 1.
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 per person, possession limit 24 for each.
5. Quail Daily limit 12, possession limit 24.
6. Raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk and nutria - No bag limits.
7. Bobcat and otter - Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a trapping license.
8. Migratory birds - See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook.
9. Non-protected birds (African and Eurasian collared-doves, common pigeon, Egyptian goose, house sparrow, and common starling) - No bag limits. |
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