Summary
The area covers 18,971 acres and features a variety of habitats, including cypress swamps, freshwater marshes, and pine forests.
There are many good reasons to visit Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area. It is a popular destination for hunting and fishing, with a wide variety of game species, including deer, turkey, hog, and alligator. Visitors can also enjoy birdwatching, hiking, camping, and canoeing or kayaking along the scenic Fisheating Creek.
One of the most interesting points of interest in the area is the Fisheating Creek Outpost, which offers rentals for camping, kayaking, and fishing equipment. Visitors can also explore the historic Cow Camp, a restored 1930s-era cowboy camp that provides a glimpse into Florida's ranching history.
Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area is home to a variety of rare and endangered species, including the Florida panther, the wood stork, and the limpkin. The area also contains one of the largest cypress swamps in the world, with trees that are over 600 years old.
The best time of year to visit Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area depends on the desired activity. Hunting and fishing seasons vary throughout the year, while the winter months are considered the best time for birdwatching and hiking due to cooler temperatures and fewer bugs. However, the area is open year-round for camping and other recreational activities.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References