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Tenoroc PSGHA
  pfs  3978

Regulations Summary and Area Map

July 01, 2024 - June 30, 2025


 
 

This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the Tenoroc 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.

 

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”, 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.


Quota Permit Information:

Dove - 25, no-cost, daily permits (non-transferable, no exemptions) shall be issued each day of the hunt at the check station on a first-come, first-served basis. One youth under 16 years of age may accompany an adult dove permit holder and may hunt under the supervision and in the presence of the permit holder, provided that the permit holder and youth may each take one daily bag limit of doves.

Wild hog - 45, no-cost, daily permits (non-transferable, no exemptions) shall be issued each day of the hunt at the check station on a first-come, first-served basis. One youth under 16 years of age may accompany an adult wild hog permit holder and may hunt under the supervision and in the presence of the permit holder.

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.  Driving a metal object into any tree, or hunting from a tree in which a metal object has been driven is prohibited.

    2.  It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area.

    3.  Wild hogs may not be transported alive.

    4.  Fires are prohibited.

    5.  Construction or use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited.

    6.  Tampering with or destruction of equipment, improvements, and water control structures is prohibited.

    7.  Public access is prohibited in portion of the public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or “Restricted”.

    8.  The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit form FWC.

    9.  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.

    10.  A hunting license is not required to hunt wild hog.

    11.  The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.

    12.  Littering is prohibited.

    13.  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 access within the dove field is prohibited except by dove hunt permit holders and their guests. Access at any other time is prohibited.

    2.  Public access during the hog management hunts is prohibited except by hog management hunt permit holders and their guests.

    3.  Check station hours during the wild hog management hunts will be 5:30 am to 9:00 pm (daylight savings time) and 5:30 am to 8:00 pm (standard time).

    4.  Vehicles may be operated only on the improved roads designated on the area brochure map during the hog management hunt (see brochure map). 

    5.  All vehicles must be parked in the designated parking area(s) or boat ramps.  No vehicle shall obstruct a boat ramp or road.

    6.  Horses, fishing, frogging and trapping are prohibited during the wild hog management hunts.

    7.  Airboats, tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), swamp buggies, and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles are prohibited.

    8.  The operation of vessels shall be in accordance with the Tenoroc Fish Management Area regulations during the hog management hunts.
    9.  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, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting:

    1.  Dove and hog hunters shall check in and out at the designated check station when entering or exiting the area, retain in their possession a daily quota permit and check all wildlife taken.

    2.  Dove hunters may enter the dove field no earlier than one hour before sunrise and exit the area no later than 1 hour after sunset.

    3.  Dove hunters are required to fill out and return their harvest report to the check station upon exiting.

    4.  Each permitted hunter may be accompanied by one youth hunter.
  • Guns
    Guns:

    1.  Hunting with firearms other than shotguns is prohibited during the dove season.

    2.  For hunting migratory game, shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

    3.  Taking wildlife with rifles, pistols, shotguns, crossbows, bows, and air guns is allowed during the wild hog management hunt, except that hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds is prohibited.

    4.  Children under the age of 16 may not be in possession of a firearm unless in the presence of a supervising adult.

    5.  No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

    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.  Dogs are allowed for hunting on the posted dove fields during dove hunts.
    2.  Hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except that dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded wildlife.
  • Camping

    Camping:

    Prohibited.
  • Bag and Possession Limits
    Bag and Possession Limits:
    1. Dove - Aggregate of mourning and white-winged dove - Daily limit 15.
         Only one daily bag limit of mourning/white-winged dove may be possessed while in the field or returning from the field. A hunter may leave his or her birds with another person if the birds are tagged with the hunter’s signature and address, the total number of birds, by species, and the date birds were harvested.
    2.  Wild hog - no size or bag limit.
    3.  African and Eurasian collared-doves, common pigeon – No bag limits. 
  • Direction
    Directions to the Hunting Area:
    The Tenoroc Dove Field is located east of Lakeland in Polk County (see area map). From the intersection of SR 33 and SR 659 (Combee Road), travel south approximately 1.3 miles and turn left onto Tenoroc Mine Road. The check station will be approximately 1.5 miles on the left at the Tenoroc Welcome Center. To go to the dove field, travel east from the Welcome Center approximately 0.2 miles to the Tenoroc PUA Field Office. The dove field is approximately 1.5 miles (look for the signs) south of the field office.
  • Report a Band
    Report a Band on the Internet: www.reportband.gov

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.  Driving a metal object into any tree, or hunting from a tree in which a metal object has been driven is prohibited.

2.  It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area.

3.  Wild hogs may not be transported alive.

4.  Fires are prohibited.

5.  Construction or use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited.

6.  Tampering with or destruction of equipment, improvements, and water control structures is prohibited.

7.  Public access is prohibited in portion of the public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or “Restricted”.

8.  The release of any animal is prohibited, except by permit form FWC.

9.  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.

10.  A hunting license is not required to hunt wild hog.

11.  The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.

12.  Littering is prohibited.

13.  A Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with the law.

Public Access and Vehicles:

1.  Public access within the dove field is prohibited except by dove hunt permit holders and their guests. Access at any other time is prohibited.

2.  Public access during the hog management hunts is prohibited except by hog management hunt permit holders and their guests.

3.  Check station hours during the wild hog management hunts will be 5:30 am to 9:00 pm (daylight savings time) and 5:30 am to 8:00 pm (standard time).

4.  Vehicles may be operated only on the improved roads designated on the area brochure map during the hog management hunt (see brochure map). 

5.  All vehicles must be parked in the designated parking area(s) or boat ramps.  No vehicle shall obstruct a boat ramp or road.

6.  Horses, fishing, frogging and trapping are prohibited during the wild hog management hunts.

7.  Airboats, tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), swamp buggies, and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles are prohibited.

8.  The operation of vessels shall be in accordance with the Tenoroc Fish Management Area regulations during the hog management hunts.
9.  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, Check Stations and Harvest Reporting:

1.  Dove and hog hunters shall check in and out at the designated check station when entering or exiting the area, retain in their possession a daily quota permit and check all wildlife taken.

2.  Dove hunters may enter the dove field no earlier than one hour before sunrise and exit the area no later than 1 hour after sunset.

3.  Dove hunters are required to fill out and return their harvest report to the check station upon exiting.

4.  Each permitted hunter may be accompanied by one youth hunter.
Guns:

1.  Hunting with firearms other than shotguns is prohibited during the dove season.

2.  For hunting migratory game, shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

3.  Taking wildlife with rifles, pistols, shotguns, crossbows, bows, and air guns is allowed during the wild hog management hunt, except that hunting with full-automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds is prohibited.

4.  Children under the age of 16 may not be in possession of a firearm unless in the presence of a supervising adult.

5.  No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

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.  Dogs are allowed for hunting on the posted dove fields during dove hunts.
2.  Hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited, except that dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded wildlife.

Camping:

Prohibited.
Bag and Possession Limits:
1. Dove - Aggregate of mourning and white-winged dove - Daily limit 15.
     Only one daily bag limit of mourning/white-winged dove may be possessed while in the field or returning from the field. A hunter may leave his or her birds with another person if the birds are tagged with the hunter’s signature and address, the total number of birds, by species, and the date birds were harvested.
2.  Wild hog - no size or bag limit.
3.  African and Eurasian collared-doves, common pigeon – No bag limits. 
 
Seasons ( Count: 2)
  • Dove Season
    September 28, October 5, 19, November 9, 23, 30, December 21, January 4, 11, 25
    Permit Stamp and License Requirements - Daily quota permit, hunting license, management area permit, and migratory bird permit.
    Legal to Take - African collared-dove, Eurasian collared-dove, mourning dove, rock dove (common pigeon) and white-winged dove only.

    Regulations Specific to Dove Season -

    1.  Dove hunting is allowed only within the posted dove field boundaries.

    2.  Hunters must pick up all shotgun shells and other trash before leaving the dove field.

    3.  Shooting hours - One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

  • Hog Management Hunt
    February 18-19, March 4-5, 18-19, April 1-2, 15-16, 29-30
    Permit, Stamp and License Requirements - Daily quota permit and management area permit.
    Legal to Take - Wild hog only.
    Regulations Unique to the Hog Management Hunt -
    1.
      Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
 
Directions to the Hunting Area:
The Tenoroc Dove Field is located east of Lakeland in Polk County (see area map). From the intersection of SR 33 and SR 659 (Combee Road), travel south approximately 1.3 miles and turn left onto Tenoroc Mine Road. The check station will be approximately 1.5 miles on the left at the Tenoroc Welcome Center. To go to the dove field, travel east from the Welcome Center approximately 0.2 miles to the Tenoroc PUA Field Office. The dove field is approximately 1.5 miles (look for the signs) south of the field office.
Report a Band on the Internet: www.reportband.gov

Cooperation Requested:

     If you spot law violators or suspicious activities, contact your nearest Commission regional office or call 1-888-404-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 & 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, Dept. of the Interior, 1849 C St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.