Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

FROG POND
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
1999-2000
REGULATIONS SUMMARY AND AREA MAP
A COOPERATIVE PUBLIC HUNTING AREA
SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Equal Opportunity Agencies

This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational uses on the Frog Pond Wildlife Management 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 should familiarize themselves with all regulations for the area. For the exact wording of the wildlife laws and regulations, see Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's wildlife code on file with the Secretary of State and state libraries. This brochure should provide the information necessary for you to plan your hunting activities.
For information pertaining to hunting on private lands and trapping, consult the current Florida Hunting Handbook. This publication is available from any Commission office as well as county tax collectors and their subagents.

PERMIT, STAMP AND LICENSE INFORMATION:
Persons utilizing the wildlife management areas are required to have appropriate licenses, stamps and permits. 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 age 16 and Florida residents in the U.S. Armed Forces, not stationed in Florida and home on leave for 30 days or less with orders in possession, are exempt from most 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 management 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. Special-Opportunity Permit: A Frog Pond special- opportunity dove hunt permit may be purchased for $35. There are 75 special-opportunity dove hunt permits available for this area. A permit is required of each person entering the area to hunt (no exemptions). To obtain a special-opportunity permit, call Jets Florida Outdoors at (305) 221-1371 or go to their store at 9696 Bird Road, Miami Fl 33165 during regular business hours. Permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests for refunds must be made at the dove field on the date the permit was valid, and will only be accepted if the permit was not used. The Commission will make every effort to manage these dove fields for successful hunting; however, we cannot guarantee the doves will cooperate. If you purchase a permit and decide you cannot use it, you can transfer the permit to another hunter prior to entering the area.
3. Migratory Bird Permit: This free permit is required when hunting migratory game birds.

RULES AND REGULATIONS:
1. OPEN SEASON: Saturdays only during the mourning dove and white-winged dove season as established by the Commission.
2. SHOOTING HOURS: Noon until sunset.
3. LEGAL TO TAKE: Only mourning and white-winged doves.
4. CAUTION: It is the hunter's responsibility to positively identify doves before shooting. Shooting at other species of birds is prohibited.
5. BAG LIMITS: Doves--12 daily per hunter, including no more than four white-winged doves.

GENERAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA REGULATIONS:
1. Hunters must possess a special-opportunity dove huntpermit.
2. It is unlawful to set fire to any forest, grass or woodlands or for any individual or group of individuals to build a warming fire or campfire and leave same unextinguished (Chapter 590, Florida Statues).
3. No person shall cut or destroy any tree or remove any tree, shrub or protected plant (as listed in F.S. 581.185) from any wildlife management area without written permission from the landowner or primary land manager.
4. It is unlawful for any person to leave any garbage or refuse including spent shells, or in any way litter in the management area.
5. The wanton or willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
6. No person shall release any wildlife on this wildlife management area.
7. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this wildlife management area.
8. Public access is prohibited in areas posted as "RESTRICTED" for protection of threatened or endangered species or environmentally sensitive areas.
9. All hunters shall check in and out at the designated hunt headquarters when entering or exiting the area. Hunters may enter the area beginning at 11 a.m. and must exit the area by one hour after sunset.
10. No person shall have a gun in manual possession while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
11. Children under the age of 16 may not be in possession of a firearm unless in the presence of a supervising adult.
12. The possession of firearms other than shotguns is prohibited. Possession of shotgun shells containing shot sizes other than No. 7½, 8, 8½, and 9 is prohibited.
13. Hunting with dogs other than retrievers is prohibited.
14. The use of vehicles off established roads is prohibited.
15. Vehicles shall not be parked in such a manner as to obstruct roads, gates or firelanes.
16. No motor vehicle shall be operated on any part of the wildlife management area designated and posted as "CLOSED" because of inclement weather, poor road conditions, construction, management activities or wildlife surveys.
17. Hunt stations shall be assigned on a first-come, first- served basis at the hunt headquarters.
18. Hunters may occupy only the station for which they have a tag.
19. Hunting more than 100 feet from the assigned station is prohibited.

DOVE HUNTING SAFETY TIPS:
1. Be sure to carefully check your shells before you enter the field. Be sure you do not possess prohibited shot sizes, and be sure you have the correct shells for your gun. Also, make sure your gun is plugged to hold no more than 3 shells.
2. Do not load your gun until you have reached your shooting position. Unload your gun when you leave your shooting position.
3. Although hunting parties are allowed to switch hunting stations if another becomes vacant, guns should not be loaded and hunting should be suspended whenever you are moving to a new hunting station.
4. At all times, know where other hunters are located on the field, and make sure other hunters know where you are.
5. Identify your safe zone of fire and only shoot within this zone. Your safe zone of fire is the area you can safely shoot considering the location of other hunters, roads, and field boundaries.
6. Do not shoot at low-flying birds; remember to always shoot skyward and not toward the horizon. Always wear safety glasses and a cap with a bill to protect your eyes from falling shot. Keep in mind that a shotgun firing a dove hunting load can cause injury out to 300 yards.
7. Be patient and careful when retrieving downed birds. Visually mark the location of the downed bird before you leave your shooting position. Be sure other hunters in your area have stopped shooting and are aware that you are entering the field.
8. Do not attempt to shoot at doves when you are retrieving a downed bird or when you are away from your shooting position for any other reason.
9. Do not hunt outside the boundaries of the dove field.
10. Always obey the 10 commandments of firearms safety.

DOVE FIELD LOCATION:
Take State Road 9336 (formerly S.R. 27) south and west out of Homestead, Florida, approximately eight miles. The dove field is located just outside the entrance to the Everglades National Park on the south side of S.R. 9336. A sign will mark the entrance to the check station and the dove field at Aerojet Road.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
1. Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 must have passed a Commission-approved hunter safety course prior to being issued a hunting license.
2. 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 a wildlife management area. Target practice and random discharge of firearms have become increasing threats to the quality of the hunting experience.
PLEASE DO NOT LITTER. TAKE OUT TRASH WITH YOU.
In recent years, unauthorized and uncontrolled fires have caused severe damage to area wildlife and wildlife habitats. Controlled fires are beneficial only when they are of the proper size and location, and when area conditions are suitable. UNCONTROLLED FIRES DO NOT BENEFIT WILDLIFE. Please use caution with campfires, smoking materials and vehicles to prevent damage to wildlife habitats.
The U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on 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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