FWC unveils interactive Wildlife Management Area Recreation Finder

Goal is to help state residents and visitors ‘find their perfect outdoor experience on public lands’

Image courtesy FWC

“With more than 6 million acres of state-managed conservation lands, options for experiencing wild Florida can be difficult to narrow down,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) points out.

In light of that fact, the organization announced this week that it has launched “the WMA Recreation Finder, an interactive virtual map for Florida residents and visitors looking to find their perfect outdoor experience on public lands.”

The WMA Recreation Finder is available at MyFWC.com/RecreationMap. Interested persons may watch a video tutorial at youtu.be/ORZ9NgRZf-c, a news release notes.

“Bookmark the WMA Recreation Finder and use it to find local areas to enjoy wildlife and the outdoors by entering your ZIP code,” FWC invites the public in the release. “Each user can create their ideal adventure by choosing from a variety of recreation experiences, trail types, amenities and accessible facilities,” the release adds.

Key features of the WMA Recreation Finder follow:

  • Recreational Experiences “Filter by activities,” such as boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing.
  • Trail Types “Explore different types of trails, including nature trails, paddling trails and scenic boardwalks.”
  • Amenities Find WMAs equipped with amenities such as picnic areas, viewing structures, campsites, fishing piers and boat launches.
  • Accessible Facilities “Identify WMAs with accessible trails, boat ramps, paddle launches, viewing structures, picnic areas and hunting blinds.”

The map also includes detailed information to help individuals plan their visits, including hours of operation, entrance fees, directions, links to the WMA website and regulations, the release points out.

“Florida has one of the nation’s largest systems of state-managed wildlife lands, which are managed primarily for wildlife conservation and nature-based public use,” the release says. “The FWC maintains, enhances and restores native natural habitats for the benefit of plant and animal populations as well as for the people of Florida.”