Fees

A Daily-Use Permit is required to enter Hilochee: Main Unit, unless you have purchased a Wildlife Management Area Permit. The Osprey Unit has no Daily-Use Fee. To hunt or fish you must also possess the appropriate license and permit.

Facilities

There are no facilities.

Map of Hilochee WMA PDF

Map of Hilochee: Osprey Unit PDF

Public Access - Main Unit

The Main Unit is open to public access year round from 1 1/2 hours before sunrise until 1 1/2 hours after sunset.  During non-hunting periods public access other than on foot, bicycle or horse is prohibited.

Hunting Regulations, Map and Hunt Calendar

Vehicle use regulations

  • Persons participating in the raccoon season are allowed on the WMA and may operate motorized vehicles during the raccoon season at anytime beginning 1 1/2 hours before sunset on Thursdays until 1 1/2 hours after sunset on Sundays.
  • All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
  • Motorized vehicles are allowed during hunting periods, on Saturdays and Sundays by persons with a valid fishing permit, and one day prior to each hunting period, except prior to small game and raccoon seasons.
  • Persons participating in the raccoon season may operate motorized vehicles during the raccoon season at anytime  beginning 1 1/2 hours before sunset on Thursdays until 1 1/2 hours after sunset on Sundays.
  • Motorized vehicles may be operated only on named roads.
  • Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas or within 25 feet of a named road.
  • Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
  • No motor vehicle shall be operated on any part of any wildlife management area that has been designated as closed to vehicular traffic.
  • The use of tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles or any boat propelled by an internal combustion engine is prohibited.
  • Horses are prohibited during hunting periods.  During non-hunting periods horses may be ridden only named or designated horse trails.
  • Public access is prohibited in the area posted as "Closed to Public Access."

Rules Regarding Dogs

  • For purposes other than hunting, dogs are allowed, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. Dogs are prohibited in areas posted as "Closed to Public Access" by FWC administrative action. No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the taking of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited.
  • Hunting dogs may be taken onto the WMA after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. one day after the end of the season. Hunting deer with dogs is prohibited. Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs or retrievers are allowed during all seasons, dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less are allowed during the small game season, and dogs of any size are allowed during the raccoon season. Dogs are prohibited in areas posted as "Closed to Public Access" by FWC administrative action. No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the taking of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.

Public Access - Osprey Unit

The Osprey Unit is open to public access year round from 1 1/2 hours before sunrise until 1 1/2 hours after sunset, except during the small game season when public access is allowed at anytime beginning 1 1/2 hours before sunrise on the first day of the season until 1 1/2 hours after sunset on the last day of the season.  During periods when the area is closed to hunting, public access other than on foot, bicycle or horse is prohibited

Hunting Regulations, Map and Hunt Calendar

Vehicle use regulations

  • All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.
  • During all hunts, except small game, only individuals participating in a hunt may operate a motor vehicle on the area.  Motorized vehicle access is allowed one day before each hunt and during each hunt from 1 1/2 hours before sunrise until 1 1/2 hours after sunset, except small game.  During small game season any individual may operate a motor vehicle on the area from 1 1/2 hours before sunrise on the first day of the season until 1 1/2 hours after sunset on the last day of the season.
  • Motor veicles must be operated on named roads and parked in designated parking areas or within 25 fee of a named road.
  • Motor vehicles must enter and exit the area at the designated entrance located at the intersection of C.R. 557 and Robert L. Tanner Grade.
  • The use of airboats, outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower, tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.
  • Horses are prohibited on days open for hunting.
  • Horses are allowed on named roads or designated trails only.
  • Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.
  • No motor vehicle shall be operated on any part of any wildlife management area that has been designated as closed to vehicular traffic.

Rules Regarding Dogs

  • For purposes other than hunting, dogs are allowed, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times. Dogs are prohibited in areas posted as "Closed to Public Access" by FWC administrative action. No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the taking of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited.
  • Hunting dogs may be taken onto the WMA after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. one day after the end of the season. Hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited except during the wild hog-dog season; hunting with more than three free-running dogs per hunting group is prohibited. Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs and dogs with shoulder height of 15 inches or less, is prohibited, except dogs of any size may be used during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons. Dogs are prohibited in areas posted as "Closed to Public Access" by FWC administrative action. No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the taking of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited. Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.

Location - Main Unit

Lake and Polk counties. From I-4 take Exit 55 and turn north onto U.S. Hwy. 27 toward Clermont.  The entrance is on U.S. Hwy. 27, approximately 13 miles north of I-4 on the left (west).  From the north, the entrance is approximately 10 miles south of Clermont on U.S. Hwy. 27.  There are also 2 additional entrances located on C.R. 474 west of U.S. Hwy. 27; one on the north side of the road, approximately 2.3 miles west of U.S. Hwy. 27 and one on the south side of the road, approximately 3 miles west of U.S. Hwy. 27.

Location - Osprey Unit

Polk County.  From I-4 take Exit 48 onto C.R. 557 south toward Winter Haven.  The main entrance is on C.R. 557, approximately 1/2 mile south of I-4 on the left (east).  From the south, the entrance is approximately 6 miles north of Lake Alfred.  There are also three additional entrances located on the north side of C.R. 17 east of C.R. 557, one on the east side of C.R. 557 north of I-4, and one at the west end of Homerun Boulevard west of U.S. Hwy. 27.

View a location map PDF of Main Unit and Osprey Unit.

Nearby

Additional wildlife viewing sites in the vicinity.

Lake Louisa State Park

Nearest Cities/Towns

Clermont (13 miles north), Orlando (20 miles northeast), and Lakeland (23 miles southwest).



FWC Facts:
Cranes are quite omnivorous. They feed on seeds, grain, berries, insects, earthworms, mice, small birds, snakes, lizards, frogs and crayfish, but they do not "fish" like herons.

Learn More at AskFWC