New Hunting Regulations On Cross Florida Greenway

OCALA -- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Greenways & Trails has established new hunting regulations for the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.

Effective October 28, 2001, hunting will be allowed on the Cross Florida Greenway only in the Wildlife Management Areas managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. These areas include the Caravelle Ranch WMA and the Ocala WMA.

The FFWCC and OGT have been working closely for more than a year to determine which areas on the Cross Florida Greenway are appropriate for hunting. Designation of hunting areas requires action by both agencies. OGT adopted the rule and FFWCC designated areas, or modified existing areas, as Wildlife Management Areas.

Public workshops were held by FFWCC and OGT early this year in Palatka, Ocala and Inglis to discuss the proposed Cross Florida Greenway rule. Many attendees provided input on the proposed rule and other management issues.

On May 25, the FFWCC adopted a proposed order re-establishing the Caravelle Ranch WMA in Putnam and Marion counties, adding approximately 11,486 acres of hunting areas.

The Cross Florida Greenway rule also allows migratory waterfowl hunting within the CFG on all sovereign submerged lands, as well as on Rodman Reservoir and Lake Rousseau. All waterfowl hunting is subject to all laws of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the FFWCC.

Other lands that are being discussed as additions to the WMA system to allow small game hunting are the west side of the Ocklawaha River between Gores Landing and the Eureka Bridge. The Executive Director of the FFWCC can designate areas for small game hunting during the upcoming hunting season. There are, however, some administrative issues that must be resolved before this can occur. If resolved, the area will most likely be opened for small game hunting. In order to comply with the FFWCC rules, small game hunting would not begin until after November 10, 2001.

All other areas on the Cross Florida Greenway will be posted "NO HUNTING," effective October 28.