The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in cooperation with the South Florida Water Management District, is opening new small-game areas for hunters this year, providing increased opportunities for migratory bird hunting.

The Rocky Glades public small game hunting area in Miami-Dade County and the C-23/24 Reservoir small game hunting area in St. Lucie County are open.

“The FWC is dedicated to providing opportunities to hunters on public lands whenever it can,” said Dr. Jen Williams, public hunt areas biologist for the FWC. “These are prime sites for doves, but other small game also may be available for hunters.”

Both areas follow the statewide migratory bird season. That means hunters can take migratory birds during the entire duration of each phase of dove season and during each of the waterfowl seasons.

The C-23/24 Reservoir area is a 1,139-acre site made up of abandoned orange groves and a reservoir. Rocky Glades is a 158-acre site abutting Everglades National Park. Both were open for special duck season at the end of September and are open for the first phase of dove season, which just began. They will be open Nov. 11 through Jan. 7 for taking hogs and small game such as rabbits, quail and squirrel.

A third area, Allapattah Flats, a 20,945-acre small game hunting area in Martin County, is expected to open by the start of small-game season. It does not follow the statewide migratory bird season. Hunters may take migratory birds there only when that season coincides with the small game season established for that area. Though the area is not ideal for waterfowl this year because it is dry, plenty of hogs and a special-opportunity dove hunting field west of Fox Brown Road should keep hunters happy. Hunters must have a permit to hunt on the special-opportunity dove field, but no permits are required to hunt on the rest of the area.

"The dove field is in a higher, drier location than it has been in past years, so it should attract more doves," Williams said. "It was moved specifically for that reason." Allapattah Flats likely will become a wildlife management area in 2007. Fishing, public access and tent camping are permitted throughout the year on the site, which is mostly improved pasture. There are also pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, bay heads and an 85-acre lake. The Rocky Glades and the C-23/24 Reservoir sites will be used for future water management projects, so hunting opportunities may change.

For more information about hunting or to see brochures on Allapattah Flats, Rocky Glades or the C-23 / 24 Reservoir, visit MyFWC.com online.

(Press Release Courtesy of FWCC.)