Wildlife Management Areas Offer Many Hunting Opportunities

With 12 wildlife management areas in the Polk County area, there are numerous opportunities to hunt on public lands managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

These WMAs provide hunting for deer, turkey, wild hogs, dove and small game at nominal fees.

The best chance for successful hunts at wildlife management areas is during the first week of the season.

Hunters on WMAs can check online at MyFWC.com/hunting to determine dates to apply for permits. Hunters are selected in random drawings, and there is no limit on the number of $5 applications.

In addition to WMA hunts, special opportunity hunts for wild hogs are held at the SUMICA tract on the northern shores of Lake Walk-in-the-Water east of Lake Wales. These hunts are managed by the Polk County Environmental Lands Program and the South Florida Water Management District.

The FWC also manages large blocks of land for special-opportunity hunts for deer, hogs, turkey and quail. About 50 special-opportunity hunts are managed statewide by the FWC in cooperation with the Florida Division of Forestry and water management districts. For a fee up to $150, hunters gain access to backwoods that receive little hunting pressure.

The Green Swamp WMA northwest of Lakeland along State Road 471 is the largest WMA in the region, covering almost 50,000 acres.

Other WMAs in Polk County are Arbuckle (13,531 acres), Avon Park Air Force Range (82,000), Hilochee (9,369), KICCO (7,426), Kissimmee River Public Use Area (24,873), Lake Marion Creek (8,083), Upper Hillsborough (5,178) and Walk-in-the-Water (5,958).

Dove hunters fill permits at the Fussell Farm Special-Opportunity Dove Field located about three miles north of Polk City off Fussell Road. There are also two dove fields at the Hilochee WMA on the Polk-Lake County border.

For information on quota hunt permits on WMAs and special-opportunity hunts, check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Web site at MyFWC.com or call the Lakeland office of the commission at 863-648-3205.

For information on hunting rules, site maps and special use permit applications at SUMICA, call the Polk County Natural Resources Division at 863-534-7377.

PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGES

POLK COUNTY SKEET AND TRAP CLUB

RANGEMASTERS: Earl Peckham, Jim Hunter and Dale Farwell

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays; and 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays.

WHERE: Race Pit Road, Winter Haven.

FACILITIES: Five skeet fields, four trap fields.

COST: $4 per round (25 targets) for members for trap or skeet. Nonmembers pay an additional $6 range fee. Annual membership $100 plus initiation fee of $20.

PHONE: 863-299-4853

SADDLE CREEK RANGE

RANGEMASTER: Bob Hott

WHEN: Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except holidays.

WHERE: Morgan Combee Road, Lakeland.

FACILITIES: Pistol and rifle range with no skeet or trap.

COST: $5 per three hours.

PHONE: 863-499-2613.

TENOROC SHOOTING SPORTSAND TRAINING

RANGEMASTERS: Bob Sanchez, Kevin Hogan. Lloyd Robertson and Manny Fiesta

WHEN: Monday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: 3755 Tenoroc Mine Road, Lakeland.

FACILITIES: Rifle and pistol ranges; five-stand sporting clays and archery range.

COST: $10 per day for rifle and pistol ranges, or $12 for both; 3-D archery range is $10 per day; sporting clays are $20 per 50 targets or $40 per 100.

PHONE: 863-666-2500

PRIVATE

LAKELAND RIFLE AND PISTOL CLUB

RANGEMASTER: None

WHEN: 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

WHERE: 2000 Lasso Lane.

FACILITIES: Rifle and pistol ranges; trap and skeet ranges; and sporting clays.

COST: $175 annual dues after $200 application fee. Members only.

PHONE: 863-665-0092