OffRoad Vehicles at Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area

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Off-Road Vehicles at Bull Creek Wildlife
Management Area
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Statutory ResponsibilityFS 373.1391 (1) (a)

• Lands shall be managed and maintained, to the
  extent practicable, in such a way as to ensure a
  balance between public access, general public
  recreational purposes, and restoration and
  protection of their natural state and condition.

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Statutory Responsibility ContinuedFS
373.1391 (1) (b)

• Whenever practicable, such lands shall be open
  to the general public for recreational usesto
  the maximum extent possible considering the
  environmental sensitivity and suitability of
  those lands.

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Bull Creek WMA Regulations

• Vehicles or horses may be used on named and
  numbered roads. Vehicles may be operated off-road
  during small game season.
• This off-road provision during small game season
  was originally done to accommodate quail hunting.
• Two years ago the hogs were added to the legal to
  take during small game season.

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Problems

• ORV use has transitioned from an activity in
  support of small game hunting to a predominant
  use independent of hunting.
• Users surveyed during small game season indicated
  39.75 were there for off-road riding. That
  equates to 1125 people solely there to ride ORVs
  from January 10 to March 6. This does not
  include the hunters who used ORVs.

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Problems

• Adding hogs to the legal take during small game
  season contributed to an increase in ORV (Swamp
  Buggy) use and damage.
• The current level of use, and manner of use (both
  ATVs and Swamp Buggies), is creating resource
  damage.

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Source photo taken 5/12/05
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Source photo taken 5/12/05
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Source photo taken 5/12/05
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Source photo taken 5/12/05
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Source photo taken 5/12/05
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Comments from Hunters

• Stop the use of swamp buggies in walk (in) areas
  during small game season
• Close all WMAs, especially Bull Creek, to swamp
  buggies like vehicles. They have caused massive
  destruction to plants and sanctuaries that the
  wildlife hide (thickets and ponds) in.
• There were thousands of small trees up to 6
  inches in diameter pushed over or broken

Source FWCC Public input forms
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Comments from Friends of Bull Creek

• Hog hunting during small game season has been
  open for the past (2) seasons. Unfortunately,
  this has attracted buggies from other areas with
  poor behavior and little respect for the
  environmentSingle and multiple buggies are being
  used to drive hogs from cover for the purpose of
  harvest.

Source letter to FWCC
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Source Air Photo taken May 27, 2005
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Comments amongst ORV users

• Regarding Bull CreekBeen There, Done That,
  Going Back!!! Rode for 5 hrs, 58 miles. Can go
  offtrack, some water and mud. Fun to explore but
  need gps if going deep. officer said 36 atvs
  there, 82 hunters, mostly in buggies, some
  walking, had shotguns, everyone very nice. Seen 3
  banshees(hopped up) and one 450r Flying down fire
  breaks, 70 no helmets, wonder when were going to
  loose more state land?? Due to a few? Some deep
  water,

Source ATVconnection
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Comments amongst ORV users

• Recently on a trip into bull creek we had a
  chance to race a bit on some tight trails off
  Cematary Rd and I had no problem keeping up with
  his Z. On the longer straights though, it was all
  Z.... LOL

Source ATV Florida
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Comments amongst ORV users

• Bull Creek has the same rules as far as atv's
  go. Been hunting at both places for a few years
  now.  Right now until April 24 it is Turkey
  season. You can also run down hogs at Bull Creek
  during small game. One of the few places that
  allow hog hunting at that time.

Source ATV Florida
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District Response

• District staff drafted a letter to FWCC asking
  them to Please amend the regulations for the
  Bull Creek WMA to prohibit ORVs beginning in the
  2005-06 hunting season.

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FWCC Response

• FWCC staff have recommended a rule change
  Vehicles or horses may be used only on named or
  numbered roads.
• This rule change removes the portion Vehicles
  may be operated off-road during small game
  season. thereby prohibiting off-road use.

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What are the steps?

• August- September FWCC will notify public of
  proposed rules. Written comments will be
  solicited.
• September 21-23 FWCC Commission meeting will
  present proposed rules (St. Petersburg FL).
  Public can address Commissioners
• November 30 December 2 FWCC Commission meeting
  proposed rules will again be discussed (South
  Florida).
• February 2006 FWCC Commission meeting proposed
  rules will receive final vote.
• July 2006 New rules will

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Recommended Action

• Based on all the facts, including feedback from
  the Southern RPM on June 16th, District staff
  recommend the following
• Limit all vehicles to named and numbered roads
  and work with FWCC to consider adding existing
  roads that are not currently named or numbered.
• Eliminate hogs from the legal to take during
  small game season.
• During the 2005-2006 (before new rules take
  effect) encourage Law Enforcement to enforce
  existing rules as they may apply.