FWC Home : Recreation : Wildlife Management Areas : Okaloacoochee Slough

Okaloacoochee Slough WMA

Managed in cooperation with
Florida Division of Forestry
South Florida Water Management District

Okaloacoochee Slough WMA encompasses nearly 35,000 acres in Collier and Hendry counties on CR 832, 3.5 miles from SR 29 between LaBelle and Immokalee. Although a cooperator on the majority of this area, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is the lead management agency on close to 3,000 acres.

The slough itself extends northward to the Caloosahatchee River and southward about 50 miles into Big Cypress Swamp. The WMA, with its diverse natural communities—slough, marsh, cypress, wet prairie, pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, and oak-palm hammocks—provides important habitat for the endangered Florida panther and the crested caracara. Deer, hog, small game, and turkey hunting are all excellent: quota hunt permits are required to hunt deer, turkey and hog (though hogs may be taken during small game season without a quota).  Small game is open to all with a management area permit and hogs may be taken during small game season.

Camping is permitted year-round by all at one campground and there are two additional campgrounds for hunters with quota permits during hunting seasons.  There is also a walk-in campground with two campsites which is open except during quota hunts.

There are 39 miles of trails open for wildlife viewing, hiking, non-motorized biking, and horseback riding. This area is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.  Children under the age of 16 are required to wear a helmet when horseback riding on public lands.  For more detailed information go to Nicole's Law .  All horseback riders must have proof of current negative Coggins Test results for their horses when on state lands. Fishing is available in the canals and some small borrow pits, but is not exceptional. Paddling is a possibility, but areas to paddle are limited, and poling is usually necessary except during the height of the wet season. There are no designated launch areas.

• Visit Florida Division of Forestry's information on Okaloacoochee Slough.

• Visit SFWMD's Public Use Guide.

• View FWC's Regulations Summary for Okaloacoochee Slough for an area map, hunting seasons, permits, fees, and area regulations.

• View State Forest Trail Map