Despite the drought this year, most South Florida hunters will encounter wet conditions when they visit local wildlife management areas during archery season, which opens Saturday at the J.W. Corbett, Holey Land, Rotenberger, Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMAs.
BIG CYPRESS
Area: 565,848 acres
Archery: Sept. 1-30 in all units and Nov. 10-Jan. 1 in Deep Lake
Muzzleloader: Oct. 6-21, except Deep Lake
General gun: Nov. 10-Jan. 1, except Deep Lake
Small game: Jan. 2-Feb. 3
Spring turkey: March 1-April 6
Permits: A quota hunt permit is required to hunt in the Bear Island, Stairsteps, Loop, Corn Dance and Turner River units Nov. 10-18, Nov. 19-25 and Dec. 22-Jan. 1 and Nov. 26-Dec. 21 in Bear Island during general gun season; in Bear Island from Oct. 6-14 and 15-21 of the muzzleloading gun season; and in the Deep Lake Unit Nov. 10-18, 19-25 and Dec. 22-Jan. 1. Permits are transferable
Comment: The most popular of the local WMAs last season with 14,049 man-days of hunting – an increase of nearly 1,700 days over the hurricane-affected 2005-06 season – Big Cypress produced 238 bucks last year, which was 102 more than the previous season. In addition, hunters killed three wild hogs and 28 wild turkeys (15 more than the spring of 2006), 67 ducks, 213 snipe, 11 quail and 23 squirrels. Access to Big Cypress National Preserve is controlled by the National Park Service. For information on the preserve call 239-695-1205 or visit
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J.W. CORBETT
Area: 60,288 acres
Archery: Saturday-Sept. 16
Muzzleloader: Sept. 29-Oct. 14
General gun: Nov. 3-Jan. 1, quota permit for first nine days
Small game: Jan. 2-Feb. 10
Spring turkey: March 1-April 6, Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays only
Comment: The second-most popular WMA in the region, Corbett had 13,103 man-days of hunting. A total of 151 deer were killed last season – 41 more than the previous season – and 25 of those deer were does taken by bowhunters. Hunters also killed 181 wild hogs, up from 122. The spring turkey take also was up – 40 birds compared with 13 in 2006 – for the first season that turkey hunting was allowed on Wednesdays in addition to the weekends. Corbett also produced 40 ducks, 35 doves, 197 snipe, four quail, 12 squirrels, five raccoons and one otter.
EVERGLADES AND FRANCIS S. TAYLOR
Area: 671,831 acres
Archery: Saturday-Sept. 16
Muzzleloader: Sept. 29-Oct. 14 (Conservation Area 3A North only)
General gun-walk: Oct. 20-28 (Conservation Areas 3A North and 2 only) and Dec. 1-30 between the Old Miami Canal and the new Miami Canal in Conservation Area 3A North only.
General gun-vehicle: Nov. 3-18, permit only (unless hunting ducks by airboat).
Comment: Deer hunters killed nine bucks last season. Duck hunting was good early during the regular season and late in the season in Water Conservation Area 3A South, north and west of the L-67A Canal.
HOLEY LAND
Area: 35,350 acres
Archery: Saturday-Sept. 16
Muzzleloader: Sept. 29-Oct. 14
General gun-walk: Oct. 20-28
General gun-vehicle: Nov. 3-18, permit only (unless hunting ducks by airboat).
Comment: Deer hunters killed 23 bucks last season, one of the best in recent memory. That total is nine more than the 2005 season, which was closed until the middle of the muzzleloader season because of high water. One boar hog also was killed.
ROTENBERGER
Area: 28,760 acres
Archery: Saturday-Sept. 16
Muzzleloader: Sept. 29-Oct. 14
General gun-walk: Oct. 20-28
General gun-vehicle: Nov. 3-18, permit only
Comment: For the second consecutive season, deer hunters killed eight bucks. Duck hunting can sometimes be good in the northwest corner of Rotenberger adjacent to STA 5.
DUPUIS
Area: 21,935 acres
Archery: Sept. 7-9, 14-16 and 21-23
Muzzleloader: Oct. 5-7, 12-14 and 19-21
General gun: Oct. 26-28 and Nov. 2-4
General gun for mobility-impaired: Nov. 10-11
General gun hog hunt: Nov. 13-15, 20-22, Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 4-6
Small game: Dec. 8-Jan. 27, no permit needed
Spring turkey: March 4-6, 14-16 and 21-23
Permits: All hunting is by permit only unless otherwise noted, but permits are transferable.
Comment: The No. 3 hunting area with 2,476 man-days of hunting last season, Dupuis produced 52 deer – 34 bucks and 18 does – which was 10 fewer than the 2005 season. The good news is the hog take was way up – 139 pigs compared with only 55 in 2005. Hunters killed 20 turkeys, three more than the previous spring. Bird hunters shot 256 doves, nearly 100 fewer than the previous season, plus 37 snipe and three quail. Hunters also killed 22 squirrels and one rabbit.
FISHEATING CREEK
Area: 18,272 acres
Archery: Sept. 14-16 and 21-23
Muzzleloader: Oct. 12-14 and 19-21
General gun: Nov. 2-4 and 23-25
General gun hog: Dec. 8-9
Spring turkey: March 1-4, 7-10, 14-17, 21-24 and March 28-31
Special opportunity spring turkey: March 1-7 and 15-21
Permits: All hunting is by permit only, but permits are transferable.
Comment: The area is best known for its spring turkey hunting and its special opportunity hunts on the area east of U.S. Highway 27 attract hunters from all over the country seeking a cheap alternative to bagging the Osceola leg of their grand slam. Hunters killed 21 gobblers, eight more than the previous spring. During the fall, hunters killed only five bucks and seven hogs.
OKALOACOOCHEE SLOUGH
Area: 34,722 acres
Archery: Sept. 8-14 and 15-23
Muzzleloader: Oct. 13-15
General gun: Oct. 27-30 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4
General gun hog: Nov. 17-23
Small game: Nov. 24-Dec. 16, no permit needed
Spring turkey: March 1-4 and 5-9
Permits: All hunting is by permit only unless otherwise noted, but permits are transferable.
Comment: The deer and hog numbers were up last season as hunters killed 69 bucks (36 more than in 2005) and 107 wild hogs (up from 69). Turkey hunters killed eight gobblers, down from 11. The area’s dove field, which is open for 12 Saturday afternoon hunts during the dove season with 100 free permits issued on a first-come, first-served basis, produced only 40 doves. Hunters also killed 229 snipe, two quail, 18 rabbits and 23 squirrels.
DINNER ISLAND RANCH
Area: 21,714 acres
Archery: Sept. 8-14 and 15-23
Muzzleloader: Oct. 13-15
General gun: Oct. 27-30 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4
Family hunt: Nov. 10-11 and 17-18
Spring turkey: March 1-4 and 5-9
Permits: All hunting is by permit only, but permits are transferable.
Comment: Hunters killed 36 bucks last year, a dozen more than in 2005. They also killed 192 wild hogs, a big jump over the 60 pigs killed the previous season, thanks to the introduction of family hunts last year, which allow an adult and two youngsters 8-15 to each kill one hog. Turkey hunters killed 21 gobblers compared with 13 the previous spring. Like OK Slough to the northwest, Dinner Island offers 100 free permits on a first-come, first-served basis for 12 Saturday afternoon dove hunts. Last season hunters shot only 44 doves.
SPIRIT-OF-THE-WILD
Area: 7,487 acres
Archery: Sept. 8-14 and 15-23
Muzzleloader: Oct. 13-15
General gun: Oct. 27-30 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4
Spring turkey: March 1-4 and 5-9
Permits: All hunting is by permit only, but permits are transferable.
Comment: Bordering the west side of OK Slough, the area produced 10 bucks last season – seven more than in 2005 – and 36 wild hogs, up from 25. No turkeys were taken this past spring (four gobblers were killed in 2006).
JOHN C. AND MARIANA JONES/HUNGRYLAND
Area: 12,415 acres
Archery: Sept. 8-11, 15-18, 22-25 and Sept. 29-Oct. 2
Muzzleloader: Oct. 13-15
General gun: Oct. 27-29, Nov. 3-5 and 10-12
Small game: Nov. 17-Dec. 2, no permit needed
Permits: All hunting is by permit only unless otherwise noted, but permits are transferable.
Comment: Although hunting opportunities were increased last season with two more archery hunts and an extra general gun hunt, hunters killed only 12 bucks compared with 20 in 2005. The wild hog take was 81, up from 53. The area is one of the few that allows hunters to kill wild hogs during the small game season. Bird hunters shot 105 doves, 32 snipe and two quail.
OTHER HUNT AREAS
Picayune Strand (Collier County): Hunters killed 15 bucks, three wild hogs, seven turkeys and 37 ducks last season.
Crew (Collier/Lee): Six bucks, seven hogs and one gobbler.
Allapattah Flats (Martin): 103 wild hogs, 204 doves, 50 snipe, 17 quail and 10 squirrels.
Southern Glades (Miami-Dade): No one hunted here.
Frog Pond (Miami-Dade): This dove field south of Homestead produced 1,154 birds.
MIGRATORY BIRD SEASONS
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has proposed hunting season dates for migratory birds, which must be approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the FWC next month. Early duck season for wood ducks and teal would be Sept. 22-26. Regular duck season would be Nov. 17-25 and Dec. 8-Jan. 27 with a six-bird daily bag limit. Dove season would be Oct. 6-29, Nov. 10-25 and Dec. 8-Jan. 6. Snipe season would be Nov. 1-Feb. 15. Rail and common moorhen season would be Sept. 1-Nov. 9
SOURCE: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION TEXT BY: OUTDOORS WRITER STEVE WATERS
INFORMATIONAL BOX:
HUNTING SEASONS
(Seasons on wildlife management areas may be different from these seasons)
Archery: South Zone (south of State Road 70), Sept. 8-Oct. 7; Central Zone, Sept. 22-Oct. 21; Northwest Zone, Oct. 13-Nov. 11.
Crossbow: South Zone, Oct. 8-12; Central Zone, Oct. 22-26; Northwest Zone, Nov. 26-Dec. 2.
Muzzleloader: South Zone, Oct. 13-21; Central Zone, Oct. 27-Nov. 4; Northwest Zone, Nov. 16-18 and Feb. 14-24.
General gun (antlered deer and wild hog): South Zone, Oct. 27-Jan. 6; Central Zone, Nov. 10-Jan. 20; Northwest Zone, Nov. 22-25 and Dec. 8-Feb. 13.
Antlerless deer: South Zone, Nov. 3-9; Central Zone, Nov. 17-23; Northwest Zone, Dec. 15-21.
Fall turkey: South Zone, Nov. 10-Jan. 6; Central Zone, Nov. 10-Jan. 6; Northwest Zone, Nov. 22-25 and Dec. 8-Jan. 13.
Spring turkey: South Zone, Mar. 1-Apr. 6; Central Zone, Mar. 15-Apr. 20; Northwest Zone, Mar. 15-Apr. 20.
Quail and squirrel: Nov. 10-March 2.
Bobcat and otter: Dec. 1-March 1.
Wild hog, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, coyote, nutria, skunk and beaver: No closed season.
