Badluck/Squares Update: The Fat Lady has Sung

[familyatvers]

Coming from Tampa take I-75 to exit106 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples.   Left off the ramp on Pine Ridge Rd. approx. 4 miles where it intersects CR 951(Collier Blvd).   Left on 951(North)
1 mile then right on Golden Gate Blvd.  10 miles on Golden Gate Blvd. to Everglades Blvd. (at 5 mi there is a convienence
store/ gas station/Subway on the left, where all the locals stop on their way to the Prairie ). Right on Everglades Blvd.
go South approx 10 miles.  You will cross I-75 at about 5 miles
which is where you enter the Picayune State Park, (The South Blocks/ Squares) then continue until the road ends at a T stop (Lynch Blvd) , right on Lynch ,you will pass a sand (when its not under water) parking lot just before a canal bridge.  Just past the bridge the tram road entrance on left

[Gamer]

Have you gotten any Emails back yet Bystander?  I sent one to FWC's website and have not heard back from them.  I also complained about the fact that they have a bunch of WMA's in South Floruda but don't really allow any ATV's/ORV's on them.  Technically if they wanted to give us the boot at Holeylands they could because it says only during hunting season in the rules.  They also own that entire area by the FPL substation by Holiday Park where everyone used to ride in the 80's.  That area will never be used for anything so I don't see the harm in letting us ride there.  That area is in the Everglades/Franics S Taylor WMA and has the same rules as Holeyland.  So since we can ride at Holeylands why not there?
If they don't respond in a week I'm going to call there West Palm Office which manages the South Florida WMA's.

[seaviper]

Go for it Gamer.  I'm going to the squares this week. If I get run off, then I'm starting a letter writing / phone /email campaign.  

Why did they close down the Holiday Park area?

[zilla954]

They closed the MUDHOLE, which was east of US27 because somebody wiped out pretty bad and sued FPL and Florida Water Management.

[300exstangboy]

Him and his retard brother.

I am assuming you are either a young person with little political knowledge or just ignorant.

The truth is that George Bush is friend to outdoorsmen and offroaders. He has repealed many of the laws that outlawed ATVS in parks put in place by the Enviro former president Clinton. Read on:


http://4wheeldrive.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=4wheeldrive&zu=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/102348_roads01.shtml

http://www.cal4wheel.com/alerts/campaign.htm

[bumblemoose]

300exstangboy, look boy, I'm 36 years old and far more educated than you will ever be.

[innocent_bystander]

Have you gotten any Emails back yet Bystander? ...
If they don't respond in a week I'm going to call there West Palm Office which manages the South Florida WMA's.

No, I havent. I sent another with the same heading and I added '2nd Attempt'. If I don't get a response I will be writing my Congressmen and the Gov asking why we can't get any response from our State Officials, I suggest you do the same if you get no response. I'm giving them till Wednesday.

I emailed the FWC before with no reply. I don't know if they use their email service. Or if they just trash the emails from the public.

[DAVEVOO]

 I'AM NOT GONNA GIVE UP ON THE BLOCKS YET, WE WERE TOLD TO LEAVE LAST WEEKEND ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WE POLITELY SAID WE STILL HAD RIDERS OUT AND COULDN'T LEAVE THEM.ONE OF OUR GUYS WAS TOLD AGAIN ON SATERDAY NIGHT AROUND 8:30 AT THE T BLOCK CAMPSITES,ONCE AGAIN WE HAD RIDERS OUT AND WE COULDN'T LEAVE, AND WE COULDN'T PACK OUR QUADS BECAUSE WE SLEEP IN OUR TRAILERS. WE DIDN'T SEE THEM AGAIN. WE DID LEAVE ON SUNDAY ,BUT THERE WERE 15-20 NEW RIDERS COMMING IN.IA'M NOT GIVING UP YET. I'LL BE THERE ON THE WEEKENDS, PARKED AT THE TURIST PRAIRE OR AT THE T BLOCK. RED DODGE RAM 1500. X-CALIBER RIDING TEAM..HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE..

[500runner]

fwc could care less about ATVs, once the state took away the $10.00 yr sticker fee to ride on MGT AREAS. FWC lost a $$$.  STOP THE TITLE SCAM!!!!!   if you buy used ATVS dont spend your  $$$$ on this scam....

[louie]

We camped twice this month at the Squares with no problems all weekend.  The squares(Picayune) is considered a State Forest and you are allowed to ride atvs in it.  The only area and unfortunately the funnest that may be closed is the prairie due to being a wetland.  I'm going to start contacting people in the different agences to try and get our facts straight before we start fighting it.  Keep posting info if you get replies from the agencies.  

Not to make this site about politics.  You guys bashing Bush need to do some homework.  The Bush brothers are way more friendly to outdoorsman like us, just check their records.  If you read the papers, it is something they are constantly criticized for by environmentalists.  If you think we have it bad, head out west, where Clinton closed millions of acres to anything with wheels on it, even mountain bikes.  

I'm new to the site but whoever put this together thanks, It's great!!!

[Gamer]

I finally got a reply back from FWC's website.  It doesnt sound like this person knows much about Picayune and whats going on there.  I should have sent it to the South Region FWC site in charge of Picayune but atleast I got a reply.  I'd also like to know exactly where you can ride in all the WMA's he has mentioned there.  The Everglades and Fracis S Taylor is huge and I have no clue where your allowed to ride.  I'll have to take a look at that handbook that hes talking about.
Here's the reply.


Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns with us regarding the use of ATV's on public lands. The Division of Forestry has been the lead agency in the effort to find public ATV riding areas.  The Forest Service has identified several sites around the state and they are still working on the project.  They expect to have something like the motorcycle area in Croom WMA on several areas around the state. The FWC is lead agency on only a few of our WMA's. We do allow ATV use on some areas under our control like Bull Creek and Three Lakes. ATV's are allowed in the south region during hunting season on Big Cypress, Holey Land, Rotenberger, Everglades, Dinner Island Ranch and Sprit of the Wild.

Regulations adopted for Picayune Strand prohibit ATV's or any unlicensed vehicle. Why DOF is not enforcing existing regulations is a question for them.  Area regulations specifically prohibit ATV's. Which wma's allow ATV's is in the hunting handbook and in the online version of the hunting handbook.  The handbook has a section about wildlife management areas and there is a list of each area and types of recreational activities allowed.  The last column is for ATV use. Most of our wildlife management areas were purchased as environmentally sensitive lands, opening them to unrestricted use by atv's is not an option, but we are looking at finding  ways to accommodate atv use on public lands.



Eddie White
Quota Hunt
(850) 488-8573

[innocent_bystander]

Well right after I sent my 2nd notice, i recieved a reply. She said she was out of the Office the last couple of days, and Ill give her the benfit of the doubt. Although I do believe that you will not recieve an answer unless you stay on top of it. She said that she is researching my questions and will get back to me. So, again, Im waiting...

[meathead1]

we road at badluck/squares last sat. and sunday had no problems at all their was about 20 in our group 11 4x4s also road the state park and saw panther tracks (still wet)

[louie]

Just spoke with Lisa Douglas at the Division of Forestry.  She was a super nice lady.  They are not certain what is going on with the Squares and said there is 3 agencies claiming authority of the area but that they have not been restricting ATVS.  She promised to try and get back to us today with some better answers.  

I also just realized that the times I stopped to speak with a FWC officer I was in a truck or jeep with a license plate. Everytime I've been on my 4wheeler they just wave, so I may stand corrected on the State Forest laws and OHVs.  In the past we used to get a OHV permit for State Forests but I believe that with the exception of Croom that has been removed.

[450R_Matt]

we road at badluck/squares last sat. and sunday had no problems at all their was about 20 in our group 11 4x4s also road the state park and saw panther tracks (still wet)

where you the group with a lot of hondas and loud pipes? (no offense)I was out there on sat. night till about 2:30am.

[seaviper]

rode the squares today with no problems. met some forestry dudes, they just waved.

saw a bunch of buggies but no atvs.

going back thursday if anyone wants to meet up.

[450R_Matt]

Headed out sat. late afternoon again. Ride till the sun comes up maybe. Ill be singing till the fat lady starts 2tone Chevy x cab 4x4. Honda Rancher w/ red cooler full of BL.

[innocent_bystander]

Just spoke with Lisa Douglas at the Division of Forestry.  She was a super nice lady.  They are not certain what is going on with the Squares and said there is 3 agencies claiming authority of the area but that they have not been restricting ATVS.  She promised to try and get back to us today with some better answers.  

Lisa Douglas emailed me today. This is what she said:

You will need to contact the Division of Foresty
Contact us at:
Florida Division of Forestry
Picayune Strand State Forest
2121 52nd Avenue S
Naples, FL 34117
(239) 348-7557, Fax: (239) 348-7559 or Email Us

Here is some information from their website that
http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/Forest_Fees.html

You may also contact their district office at
Caloosahatchee District:
Lee, Collier, and Hendry Counties
Caloosahatchee District Office
Florida Division of Forestry
10941 Palm Beach Blvd.
Ft. Myers, FL 33905
Telephone: 239/690-3500 Suncom: 715-3500 Fax: 239/690-3504

District Manager: Hank Graham, email: grahamh@doacs.state.fl.us

Administrative Assistant: Bertie Berczik, email: berczib@doacs.state.fl.us



Looks like its back to the emails...

[500runner]

from  the DOF link, posted above looks like a FEE menu . the DOF charges    soon they charge a FEE for restroom T.P fee .    what next

[Warrior]

Lisa Douglas emailed me today. This is what she said:

You will need to contact the Division of Foresty
Contact us at:
Florida Division of Forestry
Picayune Strand State Forest
2121 52nd Avenue S
Naples, FL 34117
(239) 348-7557, Fax: (239) 348-7559 or Email Us

Here is some information from their website that
http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/Forest_Fees.html

You may also contact their district office at
Caloosahatchee District:
Lee, Collier, and Hendry Counties
Caloosahatchee District Office
Florida Division of Forestry
10941 Palm Beach Blvd.
Ft. Myers, FL 33905
Telephone: 239/690-3500 Suncom: 715-3500 Fax: 239/690-3504

District Manager: Hank Graham, email: grahamh@doacs.state.fl.us

Administrative Assistant: Bertie Berczik, email: berczib@doacs.state.fl.us



Looks like its back to the emails...

I was just looking at that site before I saw this message, it is a fee list, correct, but there is a section that says:

"Off Highway Vehicle Fees:
Motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) are prohibited except at the Croom Motorcycle Area at Withlacoochee State Forest. "

Also on that page, under "Other Information", "In Keeping":

"Motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are prohibited, except as noted under 'Off Highway Vehicle Fees'."

I agree with everyone that this is really confusing, some say one thing, others say something else. I hate to make a trip there and not be able to ride... But then again a lot of you have gone and done the "wave" thing, hehe...

[ONEslowEXer]

Hey 1fast250r  are you that guy I heard bout flipping his Red rancher over in the hole in the wall mud hole lol  aka  "gator hole"!!!!!  Maybe that cooler should be full of pepsi insteed of BL  lol   j/k [smiley=Dead.gif]

[450R_Matt]

That was a test. well 2 tests. 1. to see if the Rancher runs upside down. ..  2.  see if the cooler can hold 2 bags of ice,  3 full B/L's and 9 empty's. hehe and it past both tests.

[NaplesRaptor]

This is kinda old but stil interesting: http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/articles2/commissioners_could_move_to_give.htm

I thought I read somewhere on this website that some property rights group was organizing a protest ralley and they were coming from all over the country to meet here in naples. I failry sure it was supposed to happen in October or November....  

[Gamer]

Lets not forget about this article either.  We need to remind FWC and DOF.

http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/news/article/0,2071,NPDN_14940_2672018,00.html

[450R_Matt]

Herd this morning from the inside that FWC will be inforcing no ORV starting today....    I live 10min from here. I will let everyone know....