Badluck/Squares update...not good

[GreggT]

Went out to the squares today with naples raptor. We went to the ranger station as advised. The forestry guy was as nice as could be...but said the Federal Govt (Wildlife Management) called them and overruled the state. Said they cannot issue permits because it simply was not legal to ride there because it is a designated wildlife mgmt area.  The Forestry guy was mad at the way they were treated by the Federal side...but said there was nothing he could do. He is giving everyone a list of names to call or write to voice our concern. He did say that he didn't think the Wildlife people were gonna enforce anything until after Thanksgiving. Here we go again...

[bbf]

i was there last weekend the ranger said the permit was good until june 05

[NaplesRaptor]

 according to the Feds the State Forestry division did not have the authority to issue permits or allow riding, so the permits are just scrap paper- hang onto it though as things may change.
See my other post in the general section about this. I have some time this week to invest in to finding out who we need to complain to and I will update that post.

[z400stunter]

I went to the prarie today and stopped at the ranger station. He told me that they were going to enforce after the 4th of the new year.  We need to all get together and petition of something so we have somewhere to ride!

[Toomey]

This is getting crazy!  I guess I will be going to Ocala after all.

[innocent_bystander]

Here is the name of the person that I have contacted. He was a big help before the issueing of the permits. If everybody contacts him maybe we can get answers.


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

[innocent_bystander]

Does anybody have an update on this. Im trying to plan a trip for Dec 10th, 11th, and 12th.

[innocent_bystander]

I got a response from Hank Graham. He has been a big help. Here it is:



Tom, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, who has oversight on this property because Federal funds were used to help acquire the land, instructed us to stop allowing OHV use on Picayune Forest.  They stated that OHV use is incompatible with a restoration project.  We had no choice but to stop issuing special use permits.  Though I don’t have an exact date yet, those permits already issued will expire before the June 05 date listed on the permit.  Letters will be mailed in the near future to all permit holders with the new date.  Until the date is set, the DOF will not prevent anyone from riding responsibly, whether they have a permit or not.  However, Florida FWC wildlife officers may be enforcing their WMA rules that prohibit OHV use.   This would affect those people without a permit. My suggestion is if you already have a permit, you will be alright, but if you don’t FWC wildlife officers may or may not issue you a warning and ask you to leave.  I know that’s not necessarily the answer you wanted to hear.  Please be assured that DOF did everything we could to protect your ability to use the Forest, but the federal government took that flexibility away from us.  If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.



Thanks, Hank Graham  

Well it looks like if you have a permit you can still ride.