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Where to spring turkey hunt without a quota permit February 18, 2008 If you weren’t lucky enough to get drawn for a
special-opportunity or spring turkey quota permit, don’t fret; there are
numerous wildlife management areas (WMAs) that don’t require them.
These hunts are made possible through the FWC’s partnerships with the state’s Division of Forestry, Florida’s water management districts, the U.S. Forest Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the National Park Service and Department of Defense, who participate in the state’s public-hunting system. Hunters need only a hunting license ($17 for residents, $46.50 for nonresident 10-day license), management area permit ($26.50) and turkey permit ($5 for residents, $100 for nonresidents) to spring turkey hunt on the following areas. These licenses and permits can be purchased in Florida at county tax collectors’ offices and at most retail outlets that sell hunting and fishing supplies. They also can be bought with a credit card by calling 1-888-486-8356 or going online at www.wildlifelicense.com. The spring turkey season runs March 1 – April 6 in the South Hunting Zone and March 15 – April 20 in the Central and Northwest zones, unless otherwise noted below. Shooting hours during spring turkey season on WMAs are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. Panhandle Florida (Eastern turkey’s range) Apalachicola National Forest – 581,837 acres in Franklin, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties. Camping allowed. Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area – 81,754 acres in Franklin and Gulf counties. Camping allowed. Management area permit not required. Aucilla WMA – 47,532 acres in Jefferson and Taylor counties. Camping allowed. Big Bend WMA: Blackwater WMA – 191,148 acres in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Camping allowed. Eglin Air Force Base – 265,000 acres in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. Hunting and camping allowed only by permit from Jackson Guard Natural Resource Office by calling 850-883-1152. Only shotguns, bows or muzzleloaders may be used. Escambia River WMA – 34,476 acres in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Camping allowed. Joe Budd WMA – 11,039 acres in Gadsden County. Saturdays and Sundays only. There are 20, no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on first-come, first-served basis. Only bows or muzzleloaders may be used. Camping allowed. Lower Econfina River WMA – 2,837 acres in Taylor County. Season runs March 15-23. Mallory Swamp WMA – 29,463 acres in Lafayette County. Season runs March 15-30. Ochlockonee River WMA – 2,790 acres in Leon County. Saturdays and Sundays only. Only shotguns, bows or muzzleloaders may be used. Osceola WMA – 266,270 acres in Baker and Columbia counties. Camping allowed. Pine Log WMA – 6,911 acres in Bay and Washington counties. Season runs March 15-30. Camping allowed. Point Washington WMA – 12,414 acres in Walton County. Santa Fe Swamp Wildlife and Environmental Area – 5,627 acres in Bradford County. Only bows or muzzleloaders may be used. Steinhatchee Springs WMA – 20,909 acres in Lafayette, Dixie and Taylor counties. Season runs March 15 – April 6. There are 40, no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on first-come, first-served basis to hunt the first nine days. Talquin WMA – 3,053 acres in Leon County. Saturdays and Sundays only. Twin Rivers WMA – 9,288 acres in Madison, Hamilton and Suwannee counties. Season runs March 21-23 and April 11-13. There are 12, no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on first-come, first-served basis. Upper Chipola River WMA – 7,377 acres in Jackson County. Camping allowed only by permit from Northwest Florida Water Management District by calling 850-539-5999. Peninsular Florida (Osceola
turkey’s range) Arbuckle WMA – 13,531 acres in Polk County. Season runs March 18-20 and April 1-3. There are 10, no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on first-come, first-served basis. Camping allowed only by permit from Division of Forestry by calling 863-635-7801. Big Bend WMA-Jena Unit – 12,522 acres in Dixie County. A no-cost, daily use permit is required and available at the check station. Big Cypress WMA – 565,848 acres in Collier, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Season runs March 1 – April 6. Camping allowed. Bull Creek WMA – 23,646 acres in Osceola County. Camping allowed. Devil’s Hammock WMA – 7,635 acres in Levy County. Season runs March 15-23. There are 15, no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on first-come, first-served basis. Green Swamp WMA – 49,768 acres in Polk, Sumter and Lake counties. Hunters must have a quota permit to hunt the first weekend, but there are 200, no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of season. Camping allowed. J.W. Corbett WMA – 60,288 acres in Palm Beach County. Season runs March 1 – April 6, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only. Camping allowed. Jumper Creek WMA – 10,512 acres in Sumter County. Camping allowed. Kissimmee River Public Use Area – 23,433 acres in Glades, Highlands, Okeechobee, Osceola and Polk counties. Area is split between Central and South hunting zones. When hunting the South Zone, the season runs March 1 – April 6. For camping information only, call the South Florida Water Management District at 800-250-4200, ext. 3019. Management area permit not required. Lochloosa WMA – 11,149 acres in Alachua County. Camping allowed only by permit from St. Johns River Water Management District by calling 386-329-4404. Richloam WMA – 58,146 acres in Hernando, Pasco, Sumter and Lake counties. Hunters must have a quota permit to hunt the first nine days, but those without may hunt the remainder of the season, beginning March 24 through April 20. Camping allowed only by permit from Division of Forestry by calling 352-754-6896. Three Lakes WMA – 52,976 acres in Osceola County. Camping allowed. Upper Hillsborough WMA – 5,178 acres in Polk and Pasco counties. Wednesdays and Thursdays only. There are 75, no-cost, daily quota permits available at the check station on first-come, first-served basis. Camping allowed. Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA – 119,419 acres in Brevard and Indian River counties. Camping allowed. Click on above area links to download management area rules and regulations, including a map of the area. These brochures also are available at tax collectors’ offices in counties close to wildlife management areas. For more information on spring turkey hunting season, visit MyFWC.com/hunting. |
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