Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission


JOHN G. AND SUSAN H. DUPUIS, JR.
WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AREA
1999-2000
REGULATIONS SUMMARY AND AREA MAP
A COOPERATIVE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL AND RECREATIONAL AREA
SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
An Equal Opportunity Agency

This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the John G. and Susan H. DuPuis Jr. Wildlife and Environmental Area. To make it easier to learn about regulation changes on this area, regulations that are new or differ substantially from last year are shown in bold print. Area users still should familiarize themselves with all regulations for the area. For the exact wording of the fish and 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.
For additional information pertaining to hunting, trapping and fishing, consult the current editions of the Florida Hunting Handbook and the Florida Freshwater Sport Fishing Guide. These publications are available from any Commission office as well as county tax collectors and their subagents.

PERMIT, STAMP AND LICENSE INFORMATION:
Persons utilizing the wildlife and environmental areas are required to have appropriate licenses, stamps and permits for hunting and/or fishing. Florida residents who are 65 years of age or older, and residents certified totally and permanently disabled as determined by a licensed Florida physician, Armed Forces or Veterans Administration, may obtain exemption certificates for most licenses, stamps and permits from the county tax collector. Hunters under the age of 16 and Florida residents in the U.S. Armed Forces, not stationed in Florida and home on leave with orders in possession, are exempt from most permit, stamp and license requirements on this area.
Hunting License, Trapping License, Fishing License and Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Wildlife Management Area, Wild Turkey and State Waterfowl permits may be purchased from county tax collectors, their subagents, or by telephone.
Unless exempted, all hunters on this wildlife and environmental area must have the following in their possession and display them upon request of any Commission employee.
1. Hunting License: Information on the categories and costs of hunting licenses is available in the Florida Hunting Handbook.
2. Wildlife Management Area Permit: This $25 permit is required to hunt on this area.
3. Quota Hunt Permit: A no-cost, special quota hunt permit is required for each person (no exemptions) to hunt on this area during the archery and muzzleloading gun seasons. There are 75 special quota hunt permits available by application for each three-day period during the archery and muzzleloading gun seasons.
A no-cost, regular quota hunt permit is required for each person (no exemptions) to hunt on this area during the general gun and general gun hog hunts. There are 75 regular quota hunt permits available for each hunt period during general gun season and 100 regular quota permits for each general gun hog hunt. A mobility-impaired quota hunt permit is required to hunt ( no exemptions) during the mobility-impaired general gun hunt. There are 25 mobility impaired quota permits available by application for the mobility-impaired general gun hunt.
Special and regular quota hunt permit applications are available from county tax collectors or their subagents on or about June 1. Mobility-impaired quota hunt applications are available from regional offices of the Commission on or about June 28. To apply for a quota hunt permit, obtain an application and follow the printed instructions.
A spring turkey quota hunt permit is required to hunt on this area (no exemptions) for each spring turkey hunt. There are 35 spring turkey quota hunt permits available by application for each three-day hunt. Spring turkey quota hunt applications are available at regional offices of the Commission and county tax collectors' offices on or about January 3.
Transfer of Permits: Quota hunt and antlerless deer permits are transferable, except that any exempt permit is transferable only to another exempt person. Mobility-impaired quota hunt permits are non-transferrable except to persons who have been issued a mobility-impaired certificate by the Commission. The sale or purchase of any quota hunt permit or antlerless deer permit is prohibited.
4. Archery Permit: This $5 permit is required when hunting during the archery season.
5. Muzzleloading Gun Permit: This $5 permit is required when hunting during the muzzleloading gun season.
6. Wild Turkey Permit: This $5 permit is required when hunting turkeys.
7. State Waterfowl Permit: This $3 permit is required while hunting ducks.
8. Federal Duck Stamp: Any hunter 16 years of age or older must possess a federal duck stamp while hunting ducks. This $15 stamp is available at post offices.
9. Migratory Bird Permit: This free permit is required when hunting migratory game birds.
10. Fishing License: Information on the categories and costs of fishing licenses is available in the Florida Freshwater Fishing Regulations Summary.

OPEN SEASONS:
1. Fishing--Permitted when the area is open for public use.
2. Archery--September 11 through 13, 18 through 20 and 24 through 26.
3. Muzzleloading Gun--October 9 through 11, 16 through 18 and 22 through 24.
4. General Gun--October 30 through November 1 and November 6 through 8.
5. General Gun for Mobility-Impaired--November 13 through 14.
6. General Gun Hog Hunt--November 16 through 18, 23 through 25, November 30 through December 2 and 7 through 9.
7. Small Game--December 11 through January 30.
8. Spring Turkey--March 7 through 9, 18 through 20, and 25 through 27.
9. Trapping is prohibited.
10. Frogging is prohibited.

LEGAL TO TAKE:
Only those species listed below are legal to take.
1. White-tailed Deer--Deer with at least one forked antler (at least two points one inch or greater in length) and having one or more antlers at least five inches in length visible above the hairline may be taken during the muzzleloading gun, mobility-impaired general gun and general gun hunt Any deer (except spotted fawns and spike bucks with one or more antlers exceeding five inches in length) may be taken during the archery season. Antlerless deer ( except spotted fawns) may be taken by antlerless deer permit only during other seasons. (see No. 2 under General Information)
2. Turkey--Bearded turkeys or gobblers only may be taken during the spring turkey season.
3. Wild Hogs--(No size or bag limit.) May be taken during the archery, muzzleloading gun, mobility-impaired general gun, general gun and special hog hunts.
4. Small Game--Quail, gray squirrel, rabbit, armadillo, bobcat, raccoon, opossum, coyote and skunk. Migratory game birds may be taken when small game season coincides with the migratory bird season.
5. Fish--See Freshwater Sport Fishing Guide and Regulations Summary.

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS:
1. Deer--One antlered deer per quota hunt permit, one antlerless deer per antlerless deer permit.
2. Wild hog--No bag or size limit.
3. Turkey--One per quota hunt permit.
4. Gray squirrel, quail or rabbit--Daily limit 12, possession limit 24 for each species
5. Armadillo, coyote, opossum, raccoon and skunk--No bag limits.
6. Bobcat--Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a trapping license.
7. Migratory game birds--See Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations pamphlet.

GENERAL AREA REGULATIONS:
In addition to the regulations which follow, all general laws and regulations relating to wild animal life or freshwater aquatic life shall apply unless specifically excepted for this wildlife and environmental area. Hunting, the taking of wildlife or fish, and participating in other recreational activities on this area shall be allowed only during the open seasons and in the manner set forth herein.
1. During the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun for mobility impaired, spring turkey and general gun hog seasons, no person shall enter or exit the area except through Gate 3, and all such persons shall possess a quota hunt permit for the area. During small game season and the remainder of the year, vehicle access is through Gate 6 and hiking access is through Gate 2 by foot only.
2. Driving a metal object into any tree or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven is prohibited.
3. Unauthorized removal or cutting of live or dead trees or plants is prohibited.
4. Unauthorized planting of trees, shrubs or other vegetation is prohibited.
5. Hawks, owls, ospreys, eagles, kites and other birds of prey are protected by federal and state law.
6, The taking of fox or fox squirrel is prohibited.
7. Wild hogs may not be transported alive.
8. Fires are prohibited except at designated areas.
9. It is unlawful for any person to leave any garbage or refuse or in any way litter in the area.
10. The wanton or willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
11. Non-migratory game may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. During spring turkey season, shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.
12. The head and evidence of sex may not be removed from the carcass of any deer or turkey on the area.
13. No person shall release any wildlife on this area.
14. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area.
15. Killing swimming deer is prohibited.
16. The use of live decoys, traps, snares, nets or recorded game calls is prohibited.
17. Hunting is prohibited in areas posted as "CLOSED."
18. The possession or consumption of intoxicating beverages is prohibited.
19. Public access is prohibited in areas posted as "RESTRICTED" for the protection of endangered or threatened species or environmentally sensitive areas.
20. Any person hunting deer or accompanying another person hunting deer shall wear at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent-orange material above the waistline as an outer garment. This is not required when hunting during an archery-only season.
21. Each hunter participating in the general gun for mobility impaired season is required to attend a pre-hunt orientation meeting.
22. Mobility-impaired hunters may be accompanied by another person who shall not be required to meet hunting license, permit or stamp requirements, provided he or she assists the mobility-impaired hunter in a non-hunting capacity.
23. If hunting ducks, coots, snipe or doves, all regulations in the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulation pamphlet shall apply.
24. The disturbance or removal of any manmade, cultural or natural materials or features, or non-renewable resources is prohibited.

GUNS AND DOGS:
25. Hunting with gun and light is prohibited.
26. For taking non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, pistols, longbows (including compound and recurved bows), or birds of prey may be used.
27. For hunting deer, muzzleloading guns firing a single bullet must be at least .40 caliber; those firing two or more balls must be 20-gauge or larger.
28. Hunting deer with full-jacketed bullets or any rimfire cartridge is prohibited.
29. Fully automatic firearms, silencer-equipped firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than five rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices, or setguns are prohibited.
30. Guns are allowed only during periods in which their use for hunting is allowed.
31. No person shall have a gun in manual possession while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
32. Children under the age of 16 may not be in possession of a firearm unless in the presence of a supervising adult.
33. Hunting with dogs or allowing them to pursue or molest wildlife is prohibited, except that retrievers may be used during the small game season.
34. Guns are prohibited in areas posted as "CLOSED."
35. The possession of any firearm containing shells or cartridges, or any capped or primed muzzleloading gun is prohibited at the check station or designated campsite.
36. Shooting from a moving vehicle is prohibited.
37. The possession or use of firearms other than shotguns is prohibited during the small game season.
38. The discharge of firearms within a 1/4 mile of the hiking trail campsites is prohibited.
39. The possession of a firearm or crossbow is prohibited during archery season.
40. Only muzzleloading guns are allowed during muzzleloading gun season.

VEHICLES:
41. Vehicles shall be operated only on named or numbered roads, except during the mobility-impaired general gun season when ATVs may be used off roads. All other roads are closed to vehicle traffic.
42. Vehicles shall not be parked in such a manner as to obstruct roads, gates or firelanes.
43. The use of tracked vehicles, buggies, airboats, motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited. (except ATVs may be used during the mobility-impaired general gun season).
44. Florida traffic laws relating to vehicles and vehicle operators apply on this area. The operation of an unregistered and unlicensed vehicle is prohibited. Commission off-road vehicle permits are not valid on this area.
45. Horses are prohibited during periods of the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun hog, general gun for mobility impaired and spring turkey seasons. During the remainder of the year, horses may be used only on designated horse trails and named or numbered roads. The use of horses on all other roads and trails is prohibited. Persons horseback riding on the area shall enter and exit only at Gate 3.

CAMPING:
46. Camping is permitted during quota-permit hunts for those possessing a current Dupuis quota hunt permit. Camping during quota hunts is restricted to the campsite adjacent to Gate 3.
47. During periods closed to quota-permit hunts, camping is allowed only at designated primitive sites on hiking trails, at the designated equestrian staging area at Gate 3, and the drive-in campsite on Jim Lake Grade. Camping for small game hunters is restricted to the Jim Lake Grade Site or primitive sites on hiking trails.
48. Only tents, trailers or self-propelled camping vehicles may be used for camping.
49. During quota-permit hunts, authorized camping equipment may be taken on the area after 8 a.m. one day before each three-day hunt of the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun hog, general gun for mobility-impaired and spring turkey seasons. Authorized camping equipment shall be removed from the area before 5 p.m. one day following each three-day hunt of the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun hog, general gun for mobility-impaired and spring turkey seasons.

CHECK STATIONS:
50. During archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun hog, general gun for mobility-impaired and spring turkey seasons, all hunters shall check in and out at the check station at Gate 3 when entering or leaving the area and check all game taken.
51. No deer, hog or turkey may be dismembered until checked at the check station.
52. Check station hours are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time, and 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. during spring turkey season. During the small game season, hunters should register harvested game at the self-check station when leaving the area through Gate 6.

SEARCH:
53. A wildlife officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat when he or she reasonably believes a violation has been committed.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
1. This land was acquired under the Save Our Rivers (SOR) program. The purpose of a wildlife and environmental area is to conserve and protect unique and irreplaceable wildlife habitats, restore areas to their original condition as much as possible, and allow controlled multiple recreational and educational uses consistent with this purpose.
2. Any hunter desiring to take an antlerless deer must submit a quota hunt application during the application period for random drawing and have checked the box provided for the random drawing of antlerless permits. Antlerless deer permits will be issued from the Tallahassee office and will be valid only on the area and for the dates indicated on the permit.
3. Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 must have passed a Commission- approved hunter safety course prior to being issued a hunting license.
4. If you have any questions about this material, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (561) 625-5122 {(800) 955-8771 (TDD)}.

COOPERATION REQUESTED:
Please do not discharge firearms at anything other than legal game while in this area. Random discharge of firearms has become an increasing threat to the quality of hunting and the general outdoor experience.
PLEASE DO NOT LITTER. TAKE TRASH OUT WITH YOU.
Since you have the privilege to use this wildlife and environmental area, go
the extra mile to exercise great caution and care while fishing, hunting, sightseeing or using the area in any way--leave the area better than you found it. People, wildlife, the environment and conservation in general can only benefit.
During the mobility-impaired general gun season, hunters are requested not to drive vehicles a half-hour before sunrise to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to a half-hour after sunset.
The U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: The Office for Human Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.
The project described in this publication is part of a program funded by federal dollars under the Wildlife Restoration Act. Federal funds pay $1,827,066 or 31 percent of the cost of the program.

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