Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission


SOUTHERN GLADES
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

This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the Southern Glades 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. For the exact wording of fish and wildlife laws and regulations, see 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 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 or 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 age 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 all 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 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. Wildlife Management Area Permit: This $25 permit is required to hunt on this area.
3. Archery Permit: This $5 permit is required when hunting during the archery hunt.
4. Muzzleloading Gun Permit: This $5 permit is required when hunting during the muzzleloading gun hunt.
5. State Waterfowl Permit: This $3 permit is required while hunting ducks.
6. 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.
7. Migratory Bird Permit: This free permit is required when hunting migratory game birds.
8. Fishing License: Information on the categories and costs of fishing licenses is available in the Florida Freshwater Fishing and Area Regulations pamphlet.

OPEN SEASONS:
1. Fishing--Permitted throughout the year.
2. Frogging--December 6 through March 4.
3. Archery--September 11 through October 10.
4. Muzzleloading Gun--October 15 through 17.
5. General Gun--October 30 through December 5.
6. Duck, Coot and Snipe--May be hunted during seasons established by the Commission for these species (see Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations pamphlets).

LEGAL TO TAKE:
Only those species listed below are legal to take.
1. White-tailed Deer--Deer with one or more antlers at least five inches in length visible above the hairline may be taken during the archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons.
2. Wild Hogs--Wild hogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or more may be taken during the archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons.
3. Migratory game birds--Ducks, coots and snipe may be taken during seasons established by the Commission for these species. See Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations pamphlet for information on species of ducks legal to take.

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS:
1. Deer--Daily limit 2, possession limit 4.
2. Wild Hog--Daily limit 1, possession limit 2.
3. Duck, Coot and Snipe--See Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations pamphlets.

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 or the taking of wildlife or fish on this area shall be allowed only during the open seasons and in the manner set forth herein.
1. Leaving litter or any visible man-made objects in the area is prohibited and a violation of F.S. 403.413.
2. Driving a metal object into any tree or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven is prohibited.
3. Killing swimming deer is prohibited.
4. It is unlawful to damage, destroy or remove any trees or other vegetation from state lands.
5. Fires are prohibited.
6. Building materials, permanent household goods and the erection of permanent structures are prohibited.
7. No person shall release any wildlife on this wildlife and environmental area, nor shall they plant any vegetation on this area, without landowner or Commission authorization.
8. Taking fox is prohibited.
9. Hawks, owls, ospreys, kites, eagles and other birds of prey are protected by federal and state laws.
10. The use of live decoys, traps, snares, nets or recorded game calls is prohibited.
11. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area.
12. Non-migratory game may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
13. 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.
14. Deer may be dismembered in the field or camp, 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.
15. The disturbance or removal of any manmade or cultural or natural materials or features, or non renewable resources is prohibited
16. Public access is prohibited in areas posted as "Restricted" for protection of threatened or endangered species or environmentally sensitive areas.

GUNS OR DOGS:
17. Dogs are prohibited except waterfowl retrievers may be used during the duck, coot and snipe seasons.
18. For taking non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, pistols, longbows (including compound and recurved bows), crossbows (during the general gun hunt only) or birds of prey may be used.
19. The possession of firearms is prohibited during periods when the area is not open to hunting by the use of firearms.
20. Only muzzleloading guns are permitted on the area during muzzleloading gun season.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. Hunting deer with full-jacketed bullets or any rimfire cartridge is prohibited.
24. Children under the age of 16 may not be in possession of a firearm unless in the presence of a supervising adult.
25. Hunting with gun and light is prohibited.
26. The possession of any firearm containing shells or cartridges or capped or primed muzzleloading guns is prohibited on levees, improved roads and at check stations. The discharge of guns is prohibited on, from or across any check station, levee or improved road.
27. Hunting or the discharge of any firearm east of C-109, within 500 yards of the Dade Work Camp or any building is prohibited.
28. The use or possession of a loaded firearm while under the influence of alcoholic beverages, chemical substances or controlled substances is prohibited (F.S. 790.151).
29. The possession of firearms or crossbows during the archery season is prohibited.

VEHICLES:
30. Motorized vehicles and boats (including tracked vehicles, ATVs and airboats) are prohibited in the area except that airboats may be used in Units 1 and 4 from December 1 through March 1, and outboard motor boats may be used within canals.
31. Vehicles shall not be parked in such a manner as to obstruct roads, gates or trails.

CAMPING:
32. Camping is prohibited.

SEARCH:
33. 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 provide controlled multiple recreational and educational uses consistent with this purpose.
2. Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 must have passed a Commission-approved hunter safety course prior to being issued a hunting license.
3. 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. Target practice and random discharge of firearms have become increasingly threatening to the quality of the hunting and the general outdoor experience.
PLEASE DO NOT LITTER. TAKE TRASH OUT WITH YOU.
Since you have the privilege of using 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.
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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