Has anyone ever heard of the Ask the FWC site?

[mrbones]

Take a look at this:

http://askit.myfwc.com/cgi-bin/myfwc.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php

Now, here's an important question. "Where can I ride my 4-wheeler?"

Here's the link (long) to this question http://askit.myfwc.com/cgi-bin/myfwc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1960&p_created=1132086189&p_sid=7nmNivOi&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NCZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1hdHY*&p_li=&p_topview=1:

Here's the answer:
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The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) guidebook contains essential information for OHV users and answers to frequently asked questions about OHV use on public lands, roads and trails. The guidelines are available on the web at: http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_recreation/ohv_index.html.

Riding on Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Wildlife Management areas (WMAs):  Some WMAs allow all terrain vehicle (ATV) riding on named roads and levees, others require a certain wheelbase, and others don't allow it at all.  To see which WMAs allow ATVs, go to the Hunting Regulations Handbook at http://myfwc.com/hunting/  and look in the Public Hunting Areas section of the handbook.

Before riding on a WMA, under the “Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Regulations and Maps” heading for the brochure that WMA. Look under the heading "Public Access and Vehicles" to see the ATV restrictions for that WMA. For a hardcopy of the WMA regulations, contact your local FWC Region office. For the region map and listings go to http://myfwc.com/aboutus/regnoffc.html.

FWC officers will patrol these areas to enforce the traffic rules as needed.  The FWC encourages everyone to enjoy their time on their ATV in a safe a courteous manner, to be able to return to ride another day.

Riding on other public lands:  Riders should contact the managing public entity to find out what regulations apply.

Riding on other unpaved roads, where posted speed limits are less than 35 miles an hour:  During daylight hours, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) may be operated by licensed drivers or by minors under the supervision of licensed drivers; however a county may decide against such ATV use within the county. Any county commission can call for a notice of public hearing and with majority vote, exempt itself from this ATV statute within the county. It is suggested that individuals planning to ride ATVs on unpaved county roads contact the county commission of the affected county to learn if any such rule has been passed prohibiting their use.
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Ok, now I searched and searched, but couldn't find the answer at this link at the above paragraph.

To see which WMAs allow ATVs, go to the Hunting Regulations Handbook at http://myfwc.com/hunting/  and look in the Public Hunting Areas section of the handbook.

Can anybody find it? If not, the answer appears to have no answer at all. But, maybe I'm missing it.

[indianjoe]

You have to pick the WMA area and click on it and then read the brochure to see if travel by ATV is allowed.

This is pretty much the way it is, on existing roads only.

Riding on Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Wildlife Management areas (WMAs):  Some WMAs allow all terrain vehicle (ATV) riding on named roads and levees, others require a certain wheelbase, and others don't allow it at all.  To see which WMAs allow ATVs, go to the Hunting Regulations Handbook at http://myfwc.com/hunting/  and look in the Public Hunting Areas section of the handbook.

[big-daddy]

some areas require you to wear a deer outfit with antlers to ride there.

[mudnuri]

It all looks pretty, but when you really look at it, you can only use an ATV in a couple of different areas around the state and the way the areas are, you can only use them as a game cart basically. And not to the kill spot, but you'd still have to drag it to the area that allows the ATV to be ridden on(by a civilian).
I know one area in particualr (JW CORBITT) that was put to the test by a Bombardier 2 seater. It was over the wheelbase requirement, but was still stopped.
The rule was changed to read - NO ATV'S.
Maybe these things will be changed a little over the next few years, but unfortunately the bad apple ATV'ers ruin it for everyone.

[mrbones]

Ok, I found the Hunting Regulations handbook. Here's a linky:

http://myfwc.com/hunting/pdf/0708FLHunt_web2.pdf

The only reference to ATVs is this:

Motor vehicles: All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) purchased after July 1, 2002 must be titled with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. ATVs and OHMs must be titled when used for recreational purposes on lands within the state that are available for public use and that are owned, operated or managed by federal, state, county or municipal governmental entities. Applications for title may be made at county tax collectors’ offices. In the South Region, taking wildlife from tracked vehicles not in compliance with Florida Administrative Code 68A-11.005 is prohibited. For more information, contact the South Region Office in West Palm Beach at (561) 625-5122. See specific WMA brochures for additional information concerning motor vehicles.

This doesn't tell me where to ride. Now, if you look further in the guide (which is very well done btw, at least for hunters) it will break down every WMA into what is allowed there (hiking, camping, fishing, etc). ATVs aren't in the list or in the legend. So, I can only say this is a poorly answered question by the Ask the FWC site. Or at least, answered in such a way to not help the recreational rider, but the hunter who rides, but then again, not even a hunter could find a place either.

Now, I came across the FDOF (Florida Division of Forestry) site. It has a map of the areas.

Public Lands
http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_recreation/ohv_public.html

Private Lands
http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_recreation/ohv_private.html

The private lands list is short, but I applaud them for posting it.

There's a basic distinction the FWC and FDOF has to make. There are two very different uses for ATVs. One for recreation and one for hunting. Each one of their sites should be referring to the other to help us out.

I'm going to take a look at our Where to Ride page and make sure it is up-to-date.

Attached is a photo taken from the Hunter's Regulations Handbook. Interesting.

[mudnuri]

Looks like helmetless officials patrolling the woods to make sure no one is ATV'ing -LOL!

[Justbilly]

Speaking of FWC.

I thought this was funny.  I was driving south on the Turnpike (South Florida) and saw a new Ford Expedition in all the FWC apparel.  What stood out was in big white letters on the back window was "THIS WAS SEIZED IN HENDRY COUNTY FROM ILLEGAL TURKEY HUNTERS"

I got a good laugh at that..