Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

FORT DRUM WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
2000-2001
REGULATIONS SUMMARY AND AREA MAP
A COOPERATIVE PUBLIC WILDLIFE AND RECREATIONAL AREA
ST. JOHNS RIVER 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 use on the Fort Drum 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. 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 and the quota hunt application forms 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 area 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 for 30 days or less 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 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 during the small-game season.
3. Special-Opportunity Permits: A $50 special-opportunity permit is required to hunt on this area during the deer season, there are no exemptions. There are 20 special-opportunity permits available by application for the deer season. Special-opportunity permit applications are available at regional offices of the Commission on or about May 1.
A $50 special-opportunity permit is required to hunt on this area during the hog hunts, there are no exemptions. There are 20 special-opportunity permits available by application for each hog hunt. Special-opportunity permit applications are available at Regional Offices of the Commission on or about May 1.
A $50 special-opportunity permit is required to hunt on this area during the spring turkey season, there are no exemptions. There are 5 special-opportunity permits available by application for each spring turkey hunt. Special-opportunity turkey permit applications are available at regional offices of the Commission on or about December 29.
Transfer of Permits: Special-opportunity permits are transferable, except that any exempt permit is only transferable to another exempt person. The sale or purchase of any quota hunt permit or special-opportunity permit is prohibited.
4. Wild Turkey Permit: This $5 permit is required if hunting turkeys.
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.

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS:
1. Deer--1 antlered deer (having at least one antler with 4 or more points) per special-opportunity permit. Antlerless deer (except spotted fawns) may be taken by antlerless deer permit only.
2. Wild hogs--No size or bag limit.
3. Turkey--1 turkey per special-opportunity permit.
4. Gray squirrel, quail and rabbit--Daily limit 12, possession limit 24 for each game species.
5. Armadillo--No bag limits.
6. Migratory game birds--See Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations pamphlet.

GENERAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 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 management 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. Access during special-opportunity hunts is prohibited to persons not in possession of a special-opportunity permit except that a non-permitted individual may accompany a permittee for the purpose of hunting or scouting provided the non-permitted individual does not occupy a vehicle separate from the permittee or leave the immediate vicinity (25 feet or less) of the permittee. Non-permitted individuals may not possess a gun.
2. Public access is prohibited in areas posted as "RESTRICTED" for protection of threatened or endangered species or environmentally sensitive areas.
3. Wild hogs may not be transported alive.
4. No person shall cut or destroy any tree on or remove any tree, shrub or plant from this wildlife management area without written permission from the landowner or primary land manager.
5. Driving a metal object into any tree or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven is prohibited.
6. It is unlawful for any person to leave any garbage or refuse or in any way litter in the wildlife management area.
7. The wanton or willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
8. 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 1:00 p.m.
9. 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.
10. The head and evidence of sex may not be removed from the carcass of any deer or turkey on the area.
11. No person shall release any wildlife on this wildlife management area.
12. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this wildlife management area.
13. Killing swimming deer is prohibited.
14. Taking any turkey while it is on the roost is prohibited.
15. Taking fox is prohibited.
16. Taking fox squirrel is prohibited.
17. Taking or attempting to take game with the aid of live decoys, traps, snares, nets, drugs, lights or recorded game calls is prohibited.
18. 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.
19. Deer and turkey 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.
20. During non-hunting periods, access shall be through designated points along State Road 60. Hunters shall enter and exit at gate 1 only.

GUNS OR DOGS:
21. Hunting with dogs is prohibited except bird dogs and retrievers may be used during the small game season and dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
22. Hunting with gun and light is prohibited.
23. 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.
24. Guns are allowed only during periods in which their use for hunting is allowed.
25. No person shall have a gun in manual possession while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
26. Children under the age of 16 may not be in possession of a firearm unless in the presence of a supervising adult.
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. No person shall possess any dog when hunting with dogs is prohibited, unless the dog is a non-hunting breed and kept under restraint.

VEHICLES:
29. Horses are permitted only during non-hunting periods and then only on designated trails.
30. During periods open to hunting, vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads. Hunters are requested to park vehicles at designated parking areas and power-line pads. During the remainder of the year, vehicles may be operated only on Entrance Road.
31. Vehicles shall not be parked in such a manner as to obstruct roads, gates or firelanes.
32. The use of tracked vehicles, airboats, motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited.
33. No motor vehicle shall be operated on any part of the wildlife management area designated and posted as "CLOSED" by administrative action because of inclement weather, poor road conditions, construction, management activities or wildlife surveys.

CAMPING:
34. Camping is permitted at designated campsites only.
35. During special-opportunity hunts, only permittees may use tents, trailers or self-propelled camping vehicles. During the remainder of the year, only tent camping shall be permitted.
36. During periods of hunting, authorized camping and hunting equipment may be taken on the area after 8 a.m. one-day before the opening of each season and shall be removed from the area before 6 p.m. one day following the close of each season.

HUNT HEADQUARTERS:
37. Hunters must check in and out at the hunt headquarters when entering or exiting the area.
38. Hunt headquarters hours are 5 a.m. through 9 p.m. during Eastern Daylight Saving Time and 5 a.m. through 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time except during the spring turkey season when hours are 4:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

SPECIAL-OPPORTUNITY HOG:
September 5 through 7, 12 through 14, and 19 through 21.
Permit, Stamp and License Requirements--Hunting license, special-opportunity permit, state waterfowl permit and federal waterfowl stamp (if hunting ducks), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory game birds).
Legal to Take--Wild hog, rabbit, armadillo and migratory game birds in season.
Regulations Unique to Special-Opportunity Hog Hunt--All General Wildlife Management Area Regulations shall apply.

SPECIAL-OPPORTUNITY DEER:
November 11 through 17.
Permit, Stamp and License Requirements--Hunting license, special-opportunity permit, state waterfowl permit and federal waterfowl stamp (if hunting ducks), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory game birds).
Legal to Take--Deer with one or more antlers having at least four points, antlerless deer (except spotted fawn) by antlerless deer permit only, wild hogs, gray squirrel, quail, rabbit, armadillo, and migratory game birds in season.
Regulations Unique to the Special-Opportunity Deer Hunt--All General Wildlife Management Area Regulations shall apply.

SMALL GAME:
December 9 through 24.
Permit, Stamp and License Requirements--Hunting license, wildlife management area permit, state waterfowl permit and federal waterfowl stamp (if hunting ducks), migratory bird permit (if hunting migratory game birds).
Legal to Take--Gray squirrel, quail, rabbit, armadillo, and migratory game birds in season.
Regulations Unique to the Small Game Hunt--All General Wildlife Management Area Regulations shall apply and the possession of centerfire rifles is prohibited.

SPECIAL-OPPORTUNITY SPRING TURKEY:
March 17 through 23, March 31 through April 6 and April 14 through 20.
Permit, Stamp and License Requirements--Hunting license, special- opportunity permit and a wild turkey permit.
Legal to Take--Bearded turkeys or gobblers.
Regulations Unique to the Special-Opportunity Spring Turkey Hunt--All General Wildlife Management Area Regulations shall apply and the taking of hogs is prohibited.

TRAPPING:
Trapping is prohibited.

MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS:
Rails, common moorhen, mourning doves, white-winged doves, snipe, ducks, coots, woodcock and crows may be hunted during seasons established by the Commission for these species which coincide with the small game, special-opportunity deer and special-opportunity hog seasons.
Permit, Stamp and License Requirements--Hunting license, wildlife management area permit, (during small game season), special-opportunity quota hunt permit (during deer and hog seasons), state waterfowl permit and federal waterfowl stamp (if hunting ducks), migratory bird permit.
Legal to Take--See Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations pamphlet.
Regulations Unique to Migratory Game Birds--In addition to these regulations, all General Wildlife Management Area Regulations shall apply and the use of lead shot for taking ducks and coots is prohibited.

FISHING AND FROGGING:
Fishing is permitted throughout the year.
Frogging is prohibited.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
1. Florida Statute 267.13 prohibits digging in or otherwise defacing Indian mounds, collecting artifacts or disturbing archaeological and historic sites on state-owned lands.
2. Defacing, molesting or destroying signs or other property on or about this management area is punishable by law.
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)}.
5. For information on recreational use other than hunting please contact the St. Johns River Water Management District at (407) 676-6614.

COOPERATION REQUESTED:
Keep in mind that portions of this area are actively grazed under a private lease. Remember to close all gates after passing through them and do not disturb the cattle found on the area.
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.
Since you have the privilege to use this wildlife management area, go the extra mile to exercise great caution and care while hunting, fishing, sightseeing or using the area in any way. Leave the area better than you found it. Hunters, wildlife, the environment and conservation in general can only benefit.
Your conduct on this area may determine your future use of the area.
PLEASE DO NOT LITTER. TAKE TRASH OUT WITH YOU.
The U.S. Department of 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 $2,095,005 or 33 percent of the cost of the program.

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