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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 Public Small Game Hunting 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 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,” 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 at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
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Quota Permit Information:
Dove Hunt - 25, no-cost, daily quota permits (no exemptions)
are available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the
season. Each permit allows one adult and one child under age 16 to hunt and
each may take a daily bag limit.
Transfer of permits: Quota permits are transferable. |
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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. Fires are
prohibited.
2. Construction or
use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited.
3. Tampering with or
destruction of equipment, improvements, and water control structures is
prohibited.
4. Public access is
prohibited in portions of public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or
“Restricted.”
5. The release of
any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization
from 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.
7. The wanton and
willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
8. 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.
9. It is unlawful
for any person to leave any garbage or refuse, or in any way litter in the
area.
10. It is unlawful to
set fire to any forest, grass or woodlands.
11. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp,
vehicle or boat, in accordance with law.
- Public Access and Vehicles
Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Public
recreational access is allowed year-round.
2. All individuals
shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
3. Vehicles may be
operated only on named and numbered roads and may be parked in designated
parking areas or within 25 feet of a named or numbered road.
4. Vehicles may not
be operated on named and numbered roads designated as closed to vehicular
traffic.
5. Horses and
bicycles may be used only on firebreaks and named or numbered roads. 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.
6. Airboats,
outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower, tracked vehicles, motorcycles, and
all-terrain vehicles are prohibited.
- Hunters
Hunters and Check Stations:
1. Dove hunters must
check in at the designated dove field check station upon entering and check out
upon leaving the area and check all game taken.
2. Dove
hunters may enter the area no earlier than one hour before sunrise and shall exit the area no
later than one hour after sunset.
- Guns
Guns:
1. Hunting with
firearms other than shotguns is prohibited.
2. While hunting
migratory birds, shotguns capable of holding more than three shells must be
plugged to a three-shell capacity with a one-piece filler which cannot be
removed without disassembling the gun.
3. Children under
the age of 16 hunting with a firearm must be in the presence of a supervising
adult.
4. No person shall
discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence
of alcohol or drugs.
5. 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. Dogs may be used for hunting.
2. Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting, but must be kept under physical
restraint at all times.
- Camping
- Bag and Possession Limits
Bag and Possession
Limits:
1. Dove (aggregate of mourning
and white-winged doves) - Daily limit 15.
Only one daily bag limit of mourning/white-winged dove may be possessed while in the field or while returning from the field. A hunter may leave their birds with another person if the birds are tagged with the hunter’s signature, address, the total number of birds, by species, and the date of harvest.
2. African and Eurasian
collared-doves, common pigeon – No bag limits.
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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. Fires are
prohibited.
2. Construction or
use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited.
3. Tampering with or
destruction of equipment, improvements, and water control structures is
prohibited.
4. Public access is
prohibited in portions of public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or
“Restricted.”
5. The release of
any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization
from 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.
7. The wanton and
willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
8. 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.
9. It is unlawful
for any person to leave any garbage or refuse, or in any way litter in the
area.
10. It is unlawful to
set fire to any forest, grass or woodlands.
11. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp,
vehicle or boat, in accordance with law. |
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Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Public
recreational access is allowed year-round.
2. All individuals
shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
3. Vehicles may be
operated only on named and numbered roads and may be parked in designated
parking areas or within 25 feet of a named or numbered road.
4. Vehicles may not
be operated on named and numbered roads designated as closed to vehicular
traffic.
5. Horses and
bicycles may be used only on firebreaks and named or numbered roads. 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.
6. Airboats,
outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower, tracked vehicles, motorcycles, and
all-terrain vehicles are prohibited.
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Hunters and Check Stations:
1. Dove hunters must
check in at the designated dove field check station upon entering and check out
upon leaving the area and check all game taken.
2. Dove
hunters may enter the area no earlier than one hour before sunrise and shall exit the area no
later than one hour after sunset.
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Guns:
1. Hunting with
firearms other than shotguns is prohibited.
2. While hunting
migratory birds, shotguns capable of holding more than three shells must be
plugged to a three-shell capacity with a one-piece filler which cannot be
removed without disassembling the gun.
3. Children under
the age of 16 hunting with a firearm must be in the presence of a supervising
adult.
4. No person shall
discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence
of alcohol or drugs.
5. 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. Dogs may be used for hunting.
2. 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. Dove (aggregate of mourning
and white-winged doves) - Daily limit 15.
Only one daily bag limit of mourning/white-winged dove may be possessed while in the field or while returning from the field. A hunter may leave their birds with another person if the birds are tagged with the hunter’s signature, address, the total number of birds, by species, and the date of harvest.
2. African and Eurasian
collared-doves, common pigeon – No bag limits.
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