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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 Myakka State Forest 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. |
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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,” 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.
Quota Permit
Information:
Quota permits are not required for this area.
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Daily-Use Permit Information:
Persons engaged in hunting must obtain a Daily
Hunt Report Card upon entry and retain it in their possession. Report Cards are
available at the self-service check station located on Shell Road. |
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Area Regulations
- General
General Area Regulations:
In addition to the regulations that follow, all general laws
and regulations relating to wildlife and fish shall apply unless specifically
exempted for this area.
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. Tampering with or
destruction of equipment, improvements, and water control structures is
prohibited.
5. Public access is
prohibited in portions of public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or
“Restricted.”
6. The release of
any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization
from the landowner or primary land manager.
7. 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.
8. The wanton and
willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
9. 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.
10. Wild hogs may not
be transported alive.
11. A hunting license
is not required for the take of 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 law.
- Public Access and Vehicles
Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Public
recreational access is allowed year-round but only from sunrise until sunset,
unless camping at designated campsites.
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
operated only on named or numbered roads.
4. Vehicles may be
parked in designated parking areas only.
5. Airboats,
tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and unlicensed and unregistered
motorcycles are prohibited.6. 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.
- Personal Property
Personal Property:
1. Any lost or abandoned property (including, but not limited to hunting equipment) on the area is subject to disposal in accordance with 5I-4.005, F.A.C. and Chapter 705 F.S., except hunting equipment is allowed beginning 48 hours prior to a hunting season until 48 hours after that season closes.
2. The FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property. - Hunters
Hunters, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting:
1. Hunters must
enter at the designated entrance at the intersection of River Road and Shell
Road and obtain a Daily Hunt Report Card at the self-service check station and
retain it in their possession.
2. After obtaining a
Report Card, hunters may enter the area at the designated entrances on East
River Road, Foresman Boulevard and Jennings Boulevard.
3. Hunters must
check out and report all game taken by depositing their Report Card at the
check station before leaving the area at the end of the day.
4. 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, unless camping at designated campsites.
5. Hunting is
prohibited in that portion of the area located west of Winchester Boulevard.
- Guns
Guns:
1. Hunting is
allowed only with bows (including compound and recurve bows) or crossbows (with
a disabled crossbow permit) during archery season.
2. Hunting is
allowed only with muzzleloading guns during muzzleloading gun season.
3. Hunting with
archery equipment or guns, other than air guns, centerfire or muzzleloading shotguns, crossbows, bows
(including compound and recurve bows) or falconry is prohibited during small
game season.
4. Hunting wildlife
(other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting
Regulations handbook for details on hunting with air guns.
5. 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.
6. Hunting at night
with a gun is prohibited.
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. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, rifles, handguns, explosive or drug-injecting devices and
set guns is prohibited.
10. 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. Dogs may be used for hunting during small game season.
3. Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical
restraint at all times.
- 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, possession limit 24 for each game species.
3. Migratory
birds - See Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations pamphlet.
4. Non-protected birds (African and Eurasian
collared-doves, common pigeon, Egyptian goose, house sparrow, and common
starling) – No bag limits. 5. Non-native reptiles - No bag limits.
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General Area Regulations:
In addition to the regulations that follow, all general laws
and regulations relating to wildlife and fish shall apply unless specifically
exempted for this area.
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. Tampering with or
destruction of equipment, improvements, and water control structures is
prohibited.
5. Public access is
prohibited in portions of public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or
“Restricted.”
6. The release of
any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization
from the landowner or primary land manager.
7. 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.
8. The wanton and
willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
9. 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.
10. Wild hogs may not
be transported alive.
11. A hunting license
is not required for the take of 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 law. |
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Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Public
recreational access is allowed year-round but only from sunrise until sunset,
unless camping at designated campsites.
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
operated only on named or numbered roads.
4. Vehicles may be
parked in designated parking areas only.
5. Airboats,
tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and unlicensed and unregistered
motorcycles are prohibited.6. 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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Personal Property:
1. Any lost or abandoned property (including, but not limited to hunting equipment) on the area is subject to disposal in accordance with 5I-4.005, F.A.C. and Chapter 705 F.S., except hunting equipment is allowed beginning 48 hours prior to a hunting season until 48 hours after that season closes.
2. The FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property.
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Hunters, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting:
1. Hunters must
enter at the designated entrance at the intersection of River Road and Shell
Road and obtain a Daily Hunt Report Card at the self-service check station and
retain it in their possession.
2. After obtaining a
Report Card, hunters may enter the area at the designated entrances on East
River Road, Foresman Boulevard and Jennings Boulevard.
3. Hunters must
check out and report all game taken by depositing their Report Card at the
check station before leaving the area at the end of the day.
4. 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, unless camping at designated campsites.
5. Hunting is
prohibited in that portion of the area located west of Winchester Boulevard.
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Guns:
1. Hunting is
allowed only with bows (including compound and recurve bows) or crossbows (with
a disabled crossbow permit) during archery season.
2. Hunting is
allowed only with muzzleloading guns during muzzleloading gun season.
3. Hunting with
archery equipment or guns, other than air guns, centerfire or muzzleloading shotguns, crossbows, bows
(including compound and recurve bows) or falconry is prohibited during small
game season.
4. Hunting wildlife
(other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting
Regulations handbook for details on hunting with air guns.
5. 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.
6. Hunting at night
with a gun is prohibited.
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. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, rifles, handguns, explosive or drug-injecting devices and
set guns is prohibited.
10. 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. Dogs may be used for hunting during small game season.
3. Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs, but must be kept under physical
restraint at all times. |
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Camping:
Primitive camping is
available at Myakka State Forest. All reservations are made through Reserve
America. Visit https://FloridaStateForests.ReserveAmerica.com or call 877-879-3859.
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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, possession limit 24 for each game species.
3. Migratory
birds - See Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations pamphlet.
4. Non-protected birds (African and Eurasian
collared-doves, common pigeon, Egyptian goose, house sparrow, and common
starling) – No bag limits. 5. Non-native reptiles - No bag limits. |
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