Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

HOMOSASSA
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
2000-2001
REGULATIONS SUMMARY AND AREA MAP
A COOPERATIVE PUBLIC WILDLIFE
AND RECREATIONAL AREA
WITHLACOOCHEE STATE FOREST
DIVISION OF FORESTRY
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 Homosassa 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 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 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 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, except during special-opportunity spring turkey season.
3. Quota Hunt Permit: All hunters are required to have a quota hunt permit during the general gun hog seasons; there are no exemptions for this area. There are 25 regular quota hunt permits available by application for each general gun hog hunt. Regular quota hunt applications are available from county tax collectors or their subagents on or about June 1. To apply, obtain an application and follow the printed instructions.
4. Special-Opportunity Turkey Permit: A $175 special-opportunity permit is required to hunt on this area during the special-opportunity turkey season; there are no exemptions. There are 5 special-opportunity permits available by application for each hunt. Special-opportunity applications are available from regional offices of the Commission on or about December 29.
Transfer of Permits: Quota hunt and special-opportunity hunt permits are transferable, except that any exempt permit is transferable only to another exempt person. The sale or purchase of any quota hunt permit or special-opportunity hunt permit is prohibited.
5. Wild Turkey Permit: This $5 permit is required if hunting turkeys.
6. State Waterfowl Permit: This $3 permit is required while hunting ducks.
7. 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.
8. Migratory Bird Permit: This free permit is required when hunting migratory game birds.

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS:
1. Wild hog--No size or bag limit.
2. Turkey--1 gobbler or bearded turkey per special-opportunity turkey permit.
3. Gray Squirrel, quail and rabbit--Daily limit 12, possession limit 24 for each game species.
4. Bobcat, mink and otter--Possession limit 1 unless in possession of a Trapping License.
5. Raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk and nutria--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. Public access is prohibited in areas posted as "RESTRICTED" for protection of threatened or endangered species or environmentally sensitive areas.
2. 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.
3. Driving a metal object into any tree or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven is prohibited.
4. It is unlawful for any person to leave any garbage or refuse or in any way litter in the wildlife management area.
5. The wanton or willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.
6. 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.
7. 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 Statutes).
8. No person shall release any wildlife on this wildlife management area.
9. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this wildlife management area.
10. Wild hogs may not be transported alive.
11. Taking fox is prohibited.
12. Taking fox squirrel is prohibited.
13. Taking gopher tortoise is prohibited.
14. Taking or attempting to take game with the aid of live decoys, traps, snares, nets, drugs, lights or recorded game calls is prohibited.
15. Hunting is prohibited in areas posted as "CLOSED."
16. Public access to the area is prohibited during the period from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m..
17. A special-opportunity permit shall be required for every person entering the area during special-opportunity hunts except that a non-permitted individual may accompany a permittee. While hunting or scouting, a non-permitted individual may accompany a permittee and participate in the hunt but shall not occupy a vehicle separate from the permittee or possess a gun, and shall be in the immediate vicinity (25 feet or less) of the permittee.

GUNS OR DOGS:
18. Hunting with gun and light is prohibited.
19. Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less, may be used.
20. Fully-automatic guns, silencer-equipped guns, explosive or drug-injecting devices and setguns are prohibited.
21. The possession of centerfire rifles is prohibited.
22. Guns are allowed only during periods in which their use for hunting is allowed.
23. No person shall have a gun in manual possession while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
24. Children under the age of 16 may not be in possession of a firearm unless in the presence of a supervising adult.
25. No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest wildlife during any period in which hunting with dogs is prohibited.

VEHICLES:
26. Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads. Bicycles may be operated only on named or numbered roads and designated firelanes.
27. Vehicles may be parked at designated parking areas only.
28. Vehicles shall not be parked in such a manner as to obstruct roads, gates or firelanes.
29. The use of tracked vehicles, airboats, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles or horses is prohibited.
30. 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.
31. Florida traffic laws relating to vehicles and operators apply on this area. The operation of an unregistered and unlicensed vehicle is prohibited. Commission off-road permits are not valid on this area.

CAMPING:
32. Camping is prohibited.

HUNT HEADQUARTERS:
33. Small game hunters shall sign-in and out at game registration boxes when entering or exiting the area and record all game taken.
34. Wild hog and spring turkey hunters shall enter and exit at designated entrances and are required to register at hunt headquarters.
35. Hunt headquarters hours are 5 a.m. through 9 p.m. during wild hog season and 4:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. during spring turkey season.
36. Wild hog and spring turkey hunters are required to check their harvested game at the hunt headquarters.

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

GENERAL GUN HOG:
September 7 through 10 and September 14 through 17.
Permit, Stamp and License Requirements--Hunting license, wildlife management area permit and regular quota hunt permit.
Legal to Take--Wild hogs only.
Regulations Unique to the General Gun Hog Season--In addition to these regulations, all General Wildlife Management Area Regulations shall apply.

SMALL GAME:
November 11 through December 3 and December 23 through January 7.
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, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, skunk, beaver, coyote, nutria and migratory game birds in season. Bobcat, mink and otter after November 30. Taking of wild hogs is prohibited.
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 TURKEY:
March 17 through 23 and March 31 through April 6.
Permit, Stamp and License Requirements--Hunting license, special-opportunity turkey permit, wild turkey permit.
Legal to Take--Bearded turkey or gobbler.
Regulations Unique to the Special-Opportunity Turkey Hunt--In addition to these regulations, all General Wildlife Management Area Regulations shall apply.

TRAPPING:
Trapping is prohibited.

MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS:
Rails, common moorhens, 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 season.
Permit, Stamp and License Requirements--Hunting license, wildlife management area permit, 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--All General Wildlife Management Area Regulations and Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations shall apply and the use of lead shot for taking ducks and coots is prohibited.

FISHING AND FROGGING:
Permitted throughout the year.
Permit, Stamp and License Requirements--Fishing license (not required when frogging).
Regulations Unique to Fishing and Frogging--All General Wildlife Management Area Regulations and statewide fishing regulations shall apply and the possession of guns is permitted only during periods when hunting is allowed.

DIVISION OF FORESTRY REGULATIONS:
1. A valid fuel wood permit from the Division of Forestry is required before firewood may be removed from the area.
2. Construction of permanent or semipermanent structures on state forests 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 (352) 732-1225 {(800) 955-8771 (TDD)}.
5. Division of Forestry management area plans include burning in most months of the year. For personal safety reasons, area users should contact the Division of Forestry for information and location of burn areas, (352) 754-6896.

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.
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 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 $2,095,005 or 33 percent of the cost of the program.

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