News Release

FWC announces access plan for Aucilla WMA in Jefferson, Taylor counties

September 6, 2007
Contact: Beth Scott (850) 488-3831

• Map (230 KB) 

People visiting Aucilla Wildlife Management Area, near Tallahassee, this fall will notice changes to the road system. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has launched an access plan that will upgrade some roads and close others as part of an effort to provide access to area users, protect cultural resources and enhance wildlife habitat.

The plan affects access points to the area as follows:

• All entrances along U.S. 98 and SR 59 will be accessible Nov. 1 – Jan. 15. This allows deer-dog hunters continued access so they can control their dogs and prevent trespassing on nearby private property.

• The small-game unit entrance south of U.S. 98 will be open Sept. 15 – March 15 to accommodate gun, archery and small-game seasons.

• Outside of these time frames, six entrance/exit points providing access to the entire area will be open to the public for vehicles.

FWC staff divided the road network in the area, including parts of Jefferson and Taylor counties, into primary roads, secondary roads, unimproved roads and service and closed roads.

Primary roads are in high-use areas and will be maintained and accessible to vehicles in all types of weather. About 53 miles of secondary roads will support two-wheel-drive vehicles in most instances, but inclement weather may require four-wheel-drive in some areas.

The secondary roads will support general recreational use in most sections of the designated area.

Another 43 miles of unimproved roads will be used to supplement the primary and secondary systems. These roads will be open to public use, however, four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended. Some maintenance, such as installation of culverts and construction of low-water crossings, will restore normal water-flow patterns.

Roads closed to promote and protect wildlife habitat and cultural resources generally fall in the category of short, spur roads once used to access timber areas.

Some connecting roads also were closed to enlarge hunting areas or improve water flow. Foot traffic will be allowed on all closed roads.

"There are thousands of acres of habitat managed by FWC in these two counties,” FWC wildlife biologist Morgan Wilbur said. "We’re trying to give hunters and other recreational users access and, at the same time, produce the best outcome for the wildlife habitat and the area’s cultural resources.”

The access plan was developed by FWC staff who worked with local landowners, hunting groups and the Division of Historical Resources to develop an approach to vehicular travel in the management area.

The plan’s goal is to balance hunting and other recreational activities, protect cultural resources and enhance and restore wildlife habitat and natural communities.