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Tate's Hell PSGHA
  pfs  3714

Regulations Summary and Area Map

July 01, 2023 - June 30, 2024
 
 
This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on Tate's Hell Public Small Game Hunting Area (PSGHA). 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 and the Florida Hunting Regulations handbook 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 must possess a wildlife management area permit (a hunting license is not required to hunt wild hog). The following persons are exempt from all license and permit requirements: 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. 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.

Quota Permit Information:
Quota permits are not required for this area.

Area Regulations
  • General
    General Area Regulations:
    All general laws and regulations relating to wild animal life or freshwater aquatic life 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. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area.
    2. Driving a metal object into any tree, or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven, is prohibited.
    3. No person shall cut, damage, or remove any natural, man-made, or cultural resource without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
    4. Taking or attempting to take wild hog with the aid of live decoys, set guns, artificial light (see exception for wild hog-dog season), net, trap, snare, drug or poison is prohibited. Recorded calls and sounds may be used to hunt wild hog.
    5. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
    6. Hunting, fishing, or trapping is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as closed to those activities.
    7. People, dogs, vehicles and other recreational equipment are prohibited in areas posted as “Closed to Public Access” by FWC administrative action.
    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. The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the landowner or primary land manager.
    10. The planting or introduction of any plant is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
    11. Wild hog may not be transported alive.
    12. A hunting license is not required for the take of wild hog. 
    13. Littering is prohibited.
    14. Fires are prohibited.
    15. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with law.
  • Public Access and Vehicles
    Public Access and Vehicles:
    1. Open to public access year-round.
    2. Motor vehicles may be operated only on designated roads.
    3. The use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles, side-by-sides, swamp buggies, tracked vehicles, and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited, except as allowed by the Florida Forest Service.
    4. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic. 
    5. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
    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.
  • Hunters
    Hunters:
    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.
  • Guns
    Guns:
    1. Hunting with a gun or archery equipment on or from the rights-of-way of State Road 65, County Road 67 or U.S. 98 is prohibited.
    2. Only shotguns, rifles, pistols, air guns, bows or crossbows may be used for hunting.
    3. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or airgun 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. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices and set guns is prohibited.
    6. 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. Wild hog may be hunted with dogs.
    2. 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 and behavior correction.
    3. No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the hunting of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited.
    4. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
    5. 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.
  • Camping
    Camping:
    Camping is allowed only in designated campsites indicated on the hunt map and shall be limited to tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles only. See Florida Forest Service Rules and Information below.
  • Bag and Possession Limits
    Bag and Possession Limits: Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
  • 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 850-265-3676 (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.
General Area Regulations:
All general laws and regulations relating to wild animal life or freshwater aquatic life 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. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area.
2. Driving a metal object into any tree, or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven, is prohibited.
3. No person shall cut, damage, or remove any natural, man-made, or cultural resource without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
4. Taking or attempting to take wild hog with the aid of live decoys, set guns, artificial light (see exception for wild hog-dog season), net, trap, snare, drug or poison is prohibited. Recorded calls and sounds may be used to hunt wild hog.
5. The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
6. Hunting, fishing, or trapping is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as closed to those activities.
7. People, dogs, vehicles and other recreational equipment are prohibited in areas posted as “Closed to Public Access” by FWC administrative action.
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. The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit from FWC or written authorization from the landowner or primary land manager.
10. The planting or introduction of any plant is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.
11. Wild hog may not be transported alive.
12. A hunting license is not required for the take of wild hog. 
13. Littering is prohibited.
14. Fires are prohibited.
15. A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with law.
Public Access and Vehicles:
1. Open to public access year-round.
2. Motor vehicles may be operated only on designated roads.
3. The use of airboats, all-terrain vehicles, side-by-sides, swamp buggies, tracked vehicles, and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited, except as allowed by the Florida Forest Service.
4. No motor vehicle shall be operated in areas designated as closed to vehicular traffic. 
5. Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
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.
Hunters:
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.
Guns:
1. Hunting with a gun or archery equipment on or from the rights-of-way of State Road 65, County Road 67 or U.S. 98 is prohibited.
2. Only shotguns, rifles, pistols, air guns, bows or crossbows may be used for hunting.
3. Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or airgun 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. Hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices and set guns is prohibited.
6. 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:
1. Wild hog may be hunted with dogs.
2. 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 and behavior correction.
3. No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the hunting of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited.
4. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
5. 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.
Camping:
Camping is allowed only in designated campsites indicated on the hunt map and shall be limited to tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles only. See Florida Forest Service Rules and Information below.
Bag and Possession Limits: Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
 
Seasons ( Count: 1)
  • Wild Hog-Dog Season
    2023 hunt dates: May 5-7 (High Bluff Area), May 12-14 (Womack Creek Area), May 26-28 (Crooked River Area)
    September 1-3 (High Bluff Area), September 8-10 (Womack Creek Area), September 22-24 (Crooked River Area)
    2024 hunt dates: May 3-5 (High Bluff Area), May 10-12 (Womack Creek Area), May 24-26 (Crooked River Area)
    Permit, Stamp, and License Requirements - Management Area Permit.
    Legal to Hunt - Wild hog.
    Regulations Unique to Wild Hog-Dog Season
    1. Hunts begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning and end at midnight Sunday evening.
    2. Wild hog may be taken during the day (with or without dogs) or at night by the aid of a light with dogs and a firearm, provided that no wild hog shall be shot during the period from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise until bayed by dogs. Hunting wild hog by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat, or animal is prohibited.
    3. Please read the “Dogs” section for important updates related to hunting with dogs.
 
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 850-265-3676 (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.
Florida Forest Service Rules and Information:
1. Most Florida State Forest campsites are reservable on any mobile device or computer by visiting FloridaStateForests.ReserveAmerica.com, or by calling ReserveAmerica at (877) 879-3859.
2. The Florida Forest Service requires a fee at some day-use areas and all campgrounds. Hunters are exempt from paying day-use fees 2 weeks prior to and during scheduled hunts. All campground and other fees apply. For information on general recreation, fees, and hunt camps please contact the Florida Forest Service at 850-697-0010.
3. Florida traffic laws relating to vehicles and vehicle operators apply on this area.
4. No person shall operate any vehicle on managed lands controlled by the FFS at a speed greater than 30 mph, unless otherwise posted.
5. Constructing, placing, or maintaining free-standing structures or other improvements at hunt camps is allowed as long as such improvements are removed when a hunt camp is vacated.
6. Florida Forest Service management includes prescribed burning and timber management most months of the year, including hunting seasons. Area users should contact the Florida Forest Service for information and location of burn areas, 850-697-0010.
Cooperation Requested:
If you see law violators or suspicious activities, contact your nearest Commission regional office or call 888-404-FWCC. You may qualify for a cash reward from the Wildlife Alert Reward Association.
The FWC receives financial assistance from the Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The DOI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or you need more information, please contact the FWC at: FWC, Office of Human Resources, 620 S Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32399, (850) 488-6411, or write to: Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.