5I-4.006. Recreational Activities and Facilities

(1) Swimming and Sunbathing:

(a) All persons shall comply with hours posted by the Service during which use of swimming areas is prohibited.

(b) Swimming areas will be closed to the public, and the use thereof prohibited, at any time the Service determines that such activities are dangerous or otherwise inadvisable.

(c) The washing of persons or objects, with or without soaps or other cleansers, is prohibited in any waters within managed lands.

(d) Pets are prohibited in swimming areas, unless authorized by the Service.

(e) Swimming will be prohibited in any water body, or portion thereof, on managed lands at any time the Service determines there is a threat to the life, limb, or property of any human being or damage to any natural or cultural resource.

(2) Boating:

(a) Boating is allowed on any water body within managed lands unless the water body is posted otherwise. Posting may include restrictions on the use and the type of watercraft propulsion system allowed.

(b) No person shall operate any watercraft in swimming areas.

(3) Fishing:

(a) Fishing by any legal method is allowed in water bodies on managed lands, except where prohibited by the Service. Applicable rules of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission apply.

(b) Fishing is prohibited in swimming areas.

(4) Camping and Day-Use:

(a) A limited number of camping and day-use areas on managed lands may be reserved in advance.

(b) Camping within managed lands is authorized only in designated areas.

(c) No person shall remain in any day-use area during the times it is designated as closed unless a State Forest Use Permit (FDACS-11228, Rev. 07/15) has been issued by the Service in accordance with subsection 5I-4.005(2), F.A.C.

(d) The Service reserves the right to set carrying capacities on managed lands in order to protect the natural resources.

(e) Camping within managed lands, except in designated hunt camps, is limited to 14 consecutive nights to prevent any camper from taking up long term camping at any one campsite and possibly displacing other campers. After 14 consecutive nights, the camper must leave the state forest for at least three nights before returning for a new stay. Changing the registered name of an individual or group to circumvent the 14 consecutive nights, maximum length of stay is prohibited. However based upon medium occupancy at any campground the district or center manager has the authority to extend campsite use between 15 and 29 consecutive nights.

(f) Camping within managed lands where a fee is required is authorized upon payment of that fee.

(g) Except upon authorization by the Service and upon the Service’s determination that there will be no danger to the health, safety, and welfare of the campgrounds, no more than five persons, with a maximum number of one recreational vehicle and one tent or a maximum number of three tents, are allowed per campsite.

(h) Visitors of registered campers in developed campgrounds are allowed provided the total number of visitors or their vehicles do not create a nuisance or hazard to other campers, interfere or obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or interfere with other proper uses of the camping facility.

(i) In accordance with Section 790.15(1), F.S., it is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in Sections 775.082 and 775.083, F.S., to knowingly discharge a firearm in a state forest, unless a person is lawfully defending life or property or performing official duties requiring the discharge of a firearm or discharging a firearm on public roads or properties expressly approved for hunting by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) or the Florida Forest Service. State forests are public places intended and designed to be frequented or resorted to by the public. State forest camping areas and day-use areas, including, but not limited to, hunt camps and the Croom Motorcycle Area are not approved for hunting with firearms, and the discharge of a firearm in these areas is strictly prohibited. In the Croom Motorcycle Area hunting with bows, crossbows, or air guns is allowed during FWC designated game seasons. On lands designated as wildlife management areas or wildlife and environmental areas firearms may be used as outlined in FWC Administrative Rule 68A-15.004 or 68A-17.004, F.A.C. Note: A person in possession of a valid Concealed Weapon or Firearm License may carry concealed handguns on managed lands (including non-wildlife management areas, camping areas and day-use areas) under the provisions of Section 790.06, F.S., throughout the year, unless otherwise prohibited pursuant to state or federal law.

(j) The earliest check-in time for campsites is 3:00 p.m., and the latest checkout time for campsites is 1:00 p.m., unless otherwise posted.

(k) Chainsaw use in camping facilities is prohibited.

(l) Persons who are not registered campers or visitors of registered campers are not allowed to park in camping facilities or use campsites.

(m) Quiet time is 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. Noise should not carry beyond the visitor’s campsite during quite time. Examples include pet noise, generator noise, music, closing car doors, setting car alarms, etc., from within the campsite.

(n) Organized groups must request reservations from the Service, and have written authorization from the Service to use managed lands, provided authorization may be given only if the proposed use will not adversely affect managed lands.

(5) Hunt Camps:

(a) The maximum number of persons allowed in an authorized hunt camp shall be predetermined based on the size and location of the site.

(b) If all hunt camp sites are occupied, then the Service may assign hunters to non-hunt campsites. The district or center manager shall designate the number of persons that will be allowed per non-hunt campsite and the normal non-hunt campsite fee shall be charged. The district or center manager may seasonally assign underutilized designated campsites or campgrounds as Hunt Camps and charge the applicable Hunt Camp fees.

(c) Temporary structures may be erected in hunt camps on managed lands. Any such structure must be removed no later than six days after the end of the hunting season for which the hunt campsite authorization is issued. Persons that do not remove camping equipment, trailers or temporary structures by this ending date will be charged the current primitive camp site rate per day until their removal.

(d) Hunt campsite authorizations are to be displayed on the numbered post designating the individual campsite or at a place as designated by the district or center managers.

(e) Hunt camp permits shall be issued on a renewal basis, first come, first served basis or through a lottery system, depending upon the best resource management technique for each state forest that provides hunt camps. Only one hunt camp permit will be issued annually to a single household for Tate’s Hell State Forest and John M. Bethea State Forest. No more than two hunt camp permits will be issued annually to a single household for Withlacoochee State Forest.

(f) These hunt campsites require a Hunt Camp Permit for the entire length of a specific hunt and are available only to properly licensed hunters during hunting seasons. These areas are closed to camping outside of designated hunting seasons, unless a State Forest Use Permit (FDACS-11228, Rev. 07/15) has been issued by the Service in accordance with subsection 5I-4.005(2), F.A.C.

(6) Service designated Off-Highway Vehicle areas:

(a) No person shall operate an off-highway vehicle inside the boundaries of the Service designated OHV areas unless the vehicle visibly displays a valid Service issued authorization at a location as designated by the Service.

(b) No person shall operate an off-highway vehicle within the Service designated OHV areas between sunset and sunrise.

(c) All persons operating off-highway vehicles on managed lands do so at their own risk and must comply with all established rules.

(d) No person shall operate an off-highway vehicle within the Service designated OHV areas unless such vehicle has a muffler system conforming to the requirements of the Florida Highway Patrol Handbook.

(e) No person shall operate an off-highway vehicle faster than five (5) miles per hour inside the Service designated OHV area camping facilities and day-use parking areas.

(f) No person under the age of 16 shall operate or ride an off-highway vehicle in the Service designated OHV areas without the direct supervision of an adult (18 years or older).

(h) A person who has not attained 16 years of age operating an off-highway vehicle must wear eye protection, over-the-ankle boots, and a safety helmet that is approved by the United States Department of Transportation or Snell Memorial Foundation.

(i) Users are required to follow local regulations as it relates to the operation of each off-highway vehicle.

(7) Bicycles: No person shall operate a bicycle on managed lands except on designated roads, bicycle trails or designed multi-use trails.

(8) Pets:

(a) No pet is allowed on managed lands unless the pet is confined or restrained on a leash no more than ten feet in length, except in those areas designated otherwise. Note: Certain portions of managed lands may prohibit pets, and certain portions of managed lands may allow unconfined or unrestrained pets; such lands will be posted by the Service. The Service shall make such postings upon a determination that there is no threat to public safety or to the condition of the facilities, and that the pets do not constitute a nuisance.

(b) Nuisances include pets which are noisy, vicious, dangerous, disturbing or intimidating to other persons, and those that damage natural or manmade resources.

(c) Owners shall pick up after their pets and properly dispose of all pet waste in trash receptacles.

(d) Pets must be well behaved at all times and confined in the owner’s camping sleep quarters during designated quiet time.

(e) Pets may be allowed in prohibited areas upon showing that a special request has been made to, and permission granted by, the Service. The Service may grant permission upon a determination that there is no threat to public safety, or to the condition of the facilities and that the pets do not constitute a nuisance within the area of request.

Rulemaking Authority 589.011(4), 589.071, 589.12 FS. Law Implemented 589.04, 589.071, 589.19 FS. History–New 5-24-92, Amended 1-19-95, 11-6-95, 5-31-04, 3-2-09, 5-16-12, 9-30-15, 8-28-16.