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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 Lake Panasoffkee 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. |
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Quota Permit
Information:
Quota permits are not
required for this area.
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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. Shooting hours for legal game shall
be one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
2. It is illegal to hunt over bait or
place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area.
3. Driving a metal object into any tree
or hunting from a tree in which a metal object has been driven is prohibited.
4. Construction or use of permanent
blinds or structures is prohibited.
5. Tampering with or destruction of
equipment, improvements, and water control structures is prohibited.
6. Public access is prohibited in
portions of public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.”
7. The release of any animal is
prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the
landowner or primary land manager.
8. 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 wild hog and crows.
9. The wanton and willful waste of
wildlife is prohibited.
10. Wild hogs may not be transported
alive.
11. A hunting license is not required to
take wild hog.
12. It is unlawful for any person to leave
any garbage or refuse, or in any way litter in the area.
13. It is unlawful to set fire to any
forest, grass or woodlands.
14. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with the law.
- Public Access and Vehicles
Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Public recreational access is
allowed year-round from sunrise until sunset.
2. During periods open for hunting,
public access is allowed from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after
sunset.
3. Vehicles may be parked in designated
parking areas only.
4. Motorized
vehicles and vessels are prohibited on the area.5. 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:
1. Hunters must enter at the designated
entrance.
2. Hunters
may enter the area no earlier than 1.5 hours before sunrise and shall exit the
area no later than 1.5 hours after sunset.
- Guns
Guns:
1. Hunting with centerfire rifles is
prohibited.
2. Hunting wildlife (other than
migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations
handbook for details on hunting with air guns.
3. Children under the age of 16 hunting
with a firearm or air gun 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. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles (rimfire only), muzzleloading guns, pistols, air guns, bows,
crossbows or falconry may be used.
6. For hunting migratory game, only centerfire and muzzleloading 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.
7. Hunting with full-automatic
firearms, centerfire rifles, explosive or drug-injecting devices and set guns
is prohibited.
8. 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 wild hog with dogs is
prohibited.
2. Any dog may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds.
3. 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.
4. Dogs on leashes may be used for
trailing wounded game.
5. Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
During non-hunting periods, the possession of dogs shall only be as authorized
by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
- Camping
- Bag and Possession Limits
Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
2. Gray squirrel, quail, and rabbit - Daily
limit 12 per person, possession limit 24 for each.
3. Migratory
birds - See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook.
4. Armadillo - No bag limit.
5. 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. If you have any questions about this material, please call the Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission at 352-732-1225 (TDD 800-955-8771).
2. The FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will
not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property.
3. 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. Shooting hours for legal game shall
be one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
2. It is illegal to hunt over bait or
place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area.
3. Driving a metal object into any tree
or hunting from a tree in which a metal object has been driven is prohibited.
4. Construction or use of permanent
blinds or structures is prohibited.
5. Tampering with or destruction of
equipment, improvements, and water control structures is prohibited.
6. Public access is prohibited in
portions of public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.”
7. The release of any animal is
prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the
landowner or primary land manager.
8. 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 wild hog and crows.
9. The wanton and willful waste of
wildlife is prohibited.
10. Wild hogs may not be transported
alive.
11. A hunting license is not required to
take wild hog.
12. It is unlawful for any person to leave
any garbage or refuse, or in any way litter in the area.
13. It is unlawful to set fire to any
forest, grass or woodlands.
14. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with the law.
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Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Public recreational access is
allowed year-round from sunrise until sunset.
2. During periods open for hunting,
public access is allowed from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after
sunset.
3. Vehicles may be parked in designated
parking areas only.
4. Motorized
vehicles and vessels are prohibited on the area.5. 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:
1. Hunters must enter at the designated
entrance.
2. Hunters
may enter the area no earlier than 1.5 hours before sunrise and shall exit the
area no later than 1.5 hours after sunset.
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Guns:
1. Hunting with centerfire rifles is
prohibited.
2. Hunting wildlife (other than
migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations
handbook for details on hunting with air guns.
3. Children under the age of 16 hunting
with a firearm or air gun 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. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles (rimfire only), muzzleloading guns, pistols, air guns, bows,
crossbows or falconry may be used.
6. For hunting migratory game, only centerfire and muzzleloading 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.
7. Hunting with full-automatic
firearms, centerfire rifles, explosive or drug-injecting devices and set guns
is prohibited.
8. 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 wild hog with dogs is
prohibited.
2. Any dog may be used to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds.
3. 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.
4. Dogs on leashes may be used for
trailing wounded game.
5. Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
During non-hunting periods, the possession of dogs shall only be as authorized
by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
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Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
2. Gray squirrel, quail, and rabbit - Daily
limit 12 per person, possession limit 24 for each.
3. Migratory
birds - See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook.
4. Armadillo - No bag limit.
5. Non-protected birds (African and Eurasian
collared-doves, common pigeon, Egyptian goose, house sparrow, and common
starling) – No bag limits. |
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