Tag: deer

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Hunting

Hunting within CREW Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) is managed by FWC. For more information about hunting, visit the FWC website, or download this year’s hunting brochure below.

Download this year’s CREW Hunting Guide.

CREW Marsh Unit Map

CREW Flint Pen Strand Unit Map

Hunting on the CREW Wildlife and Environmental Area (WEA) is regulated by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

There are several quota hunts within the CREW WEA each year.

2023 DATES

  • Archery – August 5-13
  • Muzzleloading Gun – September 2-4
  • General Gun – November 18-26
  • Small Game Season – December 2 – 31
  • Spring Turkey – March 2-5, 6-10

Hunting takes place at two locations within the CREW WEA: The CREW Marsh Unit (only at Gate 5 – Cypress Dome Trails and Caracara Prairie Preserve) and in the non-hikable area of the Flint Pen Strand Unit  (off Bonita Beach Road). Please check MyFWC.com for updated information.

When hunting seasons are in session, signs are posted to inform other users.

Hunting or the taking of wildlife are only allowed during the established quota periods and a quota permit is required to hunt any legal game during the established quota hunts. 

Information about current hunting regulations for CREW, getting quota permits, and season dates are found the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website and at each of the Hunting Information kiosks in the Gate 5 and main Flint Pen Strand parking lots.

Information and directions to the CREW Trails

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CREW Deer Monitoring Reveals Unexpected Wildlife Encounter

Monitoring wildlife populations helps us understand the health and status of various species and provides essential information when making land and wildlife management decisions at CREW.

Kathleen Smith, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission biologist assigned to CREW, conducts  deer surveys in portions of CREW using remote sensing cameras. In addition to providing information on the deer populations, these surveys help test specific methods for estimating deer populations. Using baited stations with remote sensing cameras set up nearby, the bait stations and cameras are deployed for about two weeks. Then the photos are analyzed and deer numbers, gender, ages, and activity recorded.

Anytime remote cameras are set up in the woods, it is expected that a variety of wildlife will appear and be captured as they enter the viewfinder of the camera. But you don’t always expect “action shots” of animals doing crazy things in the wild. This year, however, was an exception. As the photos got downloaded to the computers, and Kathleen and her team were quickly flipping through them, one particular action shot caught their attention. Take a look at the following sequence of photos to see what caught their eye… (click on each photo for a larger image)

Raccoon visits bait station (Photo by FFWCC)
Raccoon visits bait station (Photo by FFWCC)

Alligator attacks raccoon (Photo by FFWCC)
Alligator attacks raccoon (Photo by FFWCC)

Alligator after attack on raccoon (Photo by FFWCC)
Alligator after attack on raccoon (Photo by FFWCC)

How’s that for a surprise? Pretty amazing timing for a remote camera shot! And so much for the bait station! What do you think…did the raccoon get away?

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