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IMPORTANT: Aerial surveys conducted this year indicated reduced numbers of deer at Everglades, Holey Land, and Rotenberger WMAs. High-water levels during fawning periods at these 3 WMAs likely resulted in high stress and low survival for fawns and adults alike. To address the observed population decline, the FWC issued Executive Order 21-12, which prohibits the take of white-tailed deer during the established 2021-22 archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons at Holey Land and Rotenberger WMAs and cancels the 2021-22 general gun-vehicle seasons at Everglades, Holey land, and Rotenberger WMAs. All other area-specific public access and hunting opportunities in these WMAs (including take of deer during the walk seasons at Everglades WMA) will be allowed unless additional special regulations are issued.
This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the Rotenberger 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]): 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 also 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, at 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-Vehicle – 0 (no permits issued for 2020-21 season), no-cost, general gun-vehicle track permits with 1 antlered deer tag (no exemptions, non-transferable except that a general gun-vehicle permit and tag shall only be transferred in the field by Commission law enforcement supervisors or their designees when a tracked vehicle becomes inoperable and unable to be repaired while within the wildlife management area to which the tracked vehicle is assigned). A positive form of identification is required when using a non-transferable permit, except for a youth under 16 years of age. The sale or purchase of any quota permit or guest permit is prohibited. Note: This is the number of quota permits issued during the 2020-21 season. The total number of quota permits issued for the 2021-22 season may change based on population surveys, water levels, habitat conditions, and other variables.
Please contact the South Region Office for rules of inspection and information on registration of track vehicles at 561-625-5122.
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 are not allowed during general gun-vehicle 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 possess a quota permit. |
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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 or swimming deer 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 under 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 may not be removed from the carcass of any deer 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. Fires other than campfires are prohibited.
19. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle, or boat in accordance with law.
20. The construction of docks of any type is prohibited.
21. Falconers may hunt during the statewide falconry season any time a management area is open for public access. - Public Access and Vehicles
Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Open to public access year-round.
2. Persons may only enter and exit the area from the L-4, Powerline, Miami Canal, and Manley Ditch levees.
3. During the general gun-vehicle season, a general gun-vehicle permit is required to operate a vehicle and the area is closed to all other vehicles and airboats.
4. During the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons, airboats are prohibited.
5. The use of all-terrain vehicles is prohibited, except for the purposes of hunting and scouting from 6 a.m. 2 weeks prior to archery season until 6 p.m. 1 day prior to the opening day of general gun-vehicle season. During the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons, all vehicles except ATVs are prohibited, except on levees designated as open to vehicles.
6. While an all-terrain vehicle is in motion, no person shall occupy any platform or structure attached to it. No all-terrain vehicle may be equipped with a steering mechanism that would enable the all-terrain vehicle to be operated from a platform or structure attached to it.
7. No person shall operate any all-terrain vehicle, motorized two-wheeled vehicle or motorized three-wheeled vehicle unless it is equipped with an orange rectangular flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long displayed at a minimum height of 6 feet above the top of the seat.
8. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane.
9. Vehicles are prohibited on tree islands, tree strands, or wildlife islands.
10. No vessel shall be operated outside of Water Management District canals unless it is equipped with an orange rectangular flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long displayed at a minimum height of 10 feet above the bottom of the vessel.
11. Persons participating in the statewide alligator harvest program may operate airboats and tracked vehicles throughout the area during alligator hunts. - Hunters
Hunters, Check Stations, and Harvest Reporting:
1. Tree stands, deer stands, and elevated shooting platforms are prohibited except from 6 a.m. 2 weeks prior to the opening of archery season until 6 p.m. the Sunday following the end of general gun-vehicle season. All other hunting equipment may not be taken onto the WMA until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the season.
2. During the general gun-vehicle season, all deer harvested shall be tagged immediately with the antlered deer tag provided by the Commission.
3. On weekends during the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun-walk, and general gun-vehicle seasons, deer and wild hog may not be quartered, dismembered, or removed from the area until checked at the staffed check station located at the southeast corner of the Holey Land Wildlife Management Area.
4. Deer may be dismembered in the field or camp, after being checked at a staffed check station on weekends, but each portion shall have a tag affixed to it identifying the name, address, and hunting license number of the person who killed it; the date and location at which it was taken; and shall be readily traceable to the portion of the animal bearing the sex identification.
5. In addition to checking all game at the check station, all hunters must log their harvested deer prior to moving it and report their harvested deer within 24 hours. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer harvest reporting instructions. - Guns
Guns:
1. All boat ramps, parking areas, roads, camping areas, levees, and adjacent powerline pads are closed to hunting.
2. The discharge of a firearm outside periods open to hunting or in areas designated as closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.
3. Hunting with a gun on, from, or across a levee is prohibited.
4. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
5. 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.
6. Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
7. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with airguns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
8. Hunting deer with airguns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) airguns propelling a bolt, arrow, or bullet .30 caliber or larger are allowed.
9. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or airgun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
10. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
11. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, pistols, airguns, bows, crossbows, or falconry may be used.
12. For hunting migratory game, only shotguns, bows, crossbows, or falconry may be used. Shotguns must be 10 gauge or smaller and incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
13. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices, or set guns is prohibited. - Dogs
Dogs:
1. Hunting with dogs is allowed only during the general gun-vehicle season, except that bird dogs and retrievers may be used during snipe and waterfowl seasons and any dog may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds, quail, and rabbits during small game season.
2. Effective July 1, 2021, the taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox, or coyote with dogs is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking. Remote behavior correction devices will be required beginning July 1, 2022.
3. Dogs used for hunting may be taken onto the WMA after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the season.
4. 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.
5. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
6. For purposes other than hunting, dogs are allowed, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. - Camping
Camping:
1. Camping is allowed only on the Miami Canal, Manley Ditch, and Powerline levees.
2. Camps may be set up in the area no earlier than 7 days prior to the archery season and all vehicles, camps, tents, and other camping equipment must be removed by 6 p.m. 7 days after the close of general gun-vehicle season. During the remainder of the year, camping is allowed only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and camps may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours.
3. Each camper shall assure that their campsite is clean at all times.
4. The erection of any permanent structure is prohibited.
5. Only tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles may be used for camping. - Bag and Possession Limits
Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
A. Area limits -
Archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons: Season limit 1 antlered deer.
General gun-vehicle season: 1 antlered deer per antlered deer tag.
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. Turkey - Prohibited.
3. Wild hog - No bag limits or size restrictions.
4. Gray squirrel and rabbits - Daily limit 12 per person, possession limit 24 for each.
5. Quail - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24.
6. Armadillo, beaver, coyote, nutria, opossum, raccoon, and skunk - No bag limits.
7. Bobcat and otter - Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a Trapping License.
8. Migratory birds (except mourning and white-winged doves) - See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook.
9. Non-native reptiles - No bag limits. - General Information
General Information:
1. Information for persons with disabilities can be found at MyFWC.com/ADA.
2. If you have any questions about this material, please call the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 561-625-5122 (TDD 800-955-8771).
3. The FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property.
4. 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 or swimming deer 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 under 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 may not be removed from the carcass of any deer 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. Fires other than campfires are prohibited.
19. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle, or boat in accordance with law.
20. The construction of docks of any type is prohibited.
21. Falconers may hunt during the statewide falconry season any time a management area is open for public access. |
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Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Open to public access year-round.
2. Persons may only enter and exit the area from the L-4, Powerline, Miami Canal, and Manley Ditch levees.
3. During the general gun-vehicle season, a general gun-vehicle permit is required to operate a vehicle and the area is closed to all other vehicles and airboats.
4. During the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons, airboats are prohibited.
5. The use of all-terrain vehicles is prohibited, except for the purposes of hunting and scouting from 6 a.m. 2 weeks prior to archery season until 6 p.m. 1 day prior to the opening day of general gun-vehicle season. During the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons, all vehicles except ATVs are prohibited, except on levees designated as open to vehicles.
6. While an all-terrain vehicle is in motion, no person shall occupy any platform or structure attached to it. No all-terrain vehicle may be equipped with a steering mechanism that would enable the all-terrain vehicle to be operated from a platform or structure attached to it.
7. No person shall operate any all-terrain vehicle, motorized two-wheeled vehicle or motorized three-wheeled vehicle unless it is equipped with an orange rectangular flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long displayed at a minimum height of 6 feet above the top of the seat.
8. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate, or firelane.
9. Vehicles are prohibited on tree islands, tree strands, or wildlife islands.
10. No vessel shall be operated outside of Water Management District canals unless it is equipped with an orange rectangular flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long displayed at a minimum height of 10 feet above the bottom of the vessel.
11. Persons participating in the statewide alligator harvest program may operate airboats and tracked vehicles throughout the area during alligator hunts.
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Hunters, Check Stations, and Harvest Reporting:
1. Tree stands, deer stands, and elevated shooting platforms are prohibited except from 6 a.m. 2 weeks prior to the opening of archery season until 6 p.m. the Sunday following the end of general gun-vehicle season. All other hunting equipment may not be taken onto the WMA until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the season.
2. During the general gun-vehicle season, all deer harvested shall be tagged immediately with the antlered deer tag provided by the Commission.
3. On weekends during the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun-walk, and general gun-vehicle seasons, deer and wild hog may not be quartered, dismembered, or removed from the area until checked at the staffed check station located at the southeast corner of the Holey Land Wildlife Management Area.
4. Deer may be dismembered in the field or camp, after being checked at a staffed check station on weekends, but each portion shall have a tag affixed to it identifying the name, address, and hunting license number of the person who killed it; the date and location at which it was taken; and shall be readily traceable to the portion of the animal bearing the sex identification.
5. In addition to checking all game at the check station, all hunters must log their harvested deer prior to moving it and report their harvested deer within 24 hours. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer harvest reporting instructions.
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Guns:
1. All boat ramps, parking areas, roads, camping areas, levees, and adjacent powerline pads are closed to hunting.
2. The discharge of a firearm outside periods open to hunting or in areas designated as closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.
3. Hunting with a gun on, from, or across a levee is prohibited.
4. Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
5. 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.
6. Hunting deer with rimfire or non-expanding, full metal jacket (military ball) ammunition is prohibited.
7. Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with airguns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.
8. Hunting deer with airguns is prohibited, except pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) airguns propelling a bolt, arrow, or bullet .30 caliber or larger are allowed.
9. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or airgun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.
10. No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
11. For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, pistols, airguns, bows, crossbows, or falconry may be used.
12. For hunting migratory game, only shotguns, bows, crossbows, or falconry may be used. Shotguns must be 10 gauge or smaller and incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
13. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices, or set guns is prohibited. |
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Dogs:
1. Hunting with dogs is allowed only during the general gun-vehicle season, except that bird dogs and retrievers may be used during snipe and waterfowl seasons and any dog may be used to hunt gray squirrel, migratory birds, quail, and rabbits during small game season.
2. Effective July 1, 2021, the taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox, or coyote with dogs is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking. Remote behavior correction devices will be required beginning July 1, 2022.
3. Dogs used for hunting may be taken onto the WMA after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the season.
4. 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.
5. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
6. For purposes other than hunting, dogs are allowed, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. |
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Camping:
1. Camping is allowed only on the Miami Canal, Manley Ditch, and Powerline levees.
2. Camps may be set up in the area no earlier than 7 days prior to the archery season and all vehicles, camps, tents, and other camping equipment must be removed by 6 p.m. 7 days after the close of general gun-vehicle season. During the remainder of the year, camping is allowed only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and camps may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours.
3. Each camper shall assure that their campsite is clean at all times.
4. The erection of any permanent structure is prohibited.
5. Only tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles may be used for camping. |
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Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits.
A. Area limits -
Archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun-walk seasons: Season limit 1 antlered deer.
General gun-vehicle season: 1 antlered deer per antlered deer tag.
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. Turkey - Prohibited.
3. Wild hog - No bag limits or size restrictions.
4. Gray squirrel and rabbits - Daily limit 12 per person, possession limit 24 for each.
5. Quail - Daily limit 12, possession limit 24.
6. Armadillo, beaver, coyote, nutria, opossum, raccoon, and skunk - No bag limits.
7. Bobcat and otter - Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a Trapping License.
8. Migratory birds (except mourning and white-winged doves) - See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook.
9. Non-native reptiles - No bag limits. |
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