Newnans Lake Conservation Area North Tract closed Nov. 5–7 for Operation Outdoor Freedom Wounded Warrior hunt
PALATKA, Fla., Nov. 3, 2017 — The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Newnans Lake Conservation Area will host a guided deer hunt for disabled veterans Nov. 5–7. The north tract of the conservation area will be closed throughout the special Operation Outdoor Freedom hunt.
The veterans’ outing includes guided deer hunts and camping as part of Operation Outdoor Freedom, a program of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The event is led by the Florida Forest Service, which works with the Wounded Warrior Project and The Military Order of the Purple Heart to identify veterans interested in participating in these unique opportunities.
Additionally, a large portion of the Hatchet Creek Tract will be closed Nov. 4–5 for a family hunt led by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Public access to the Hatchet Creek Wildlife Management Area is limited to individuals with a hunt quota permit.
The south tract of the conservation area will be open to public recreation. Access to the south tract is at Owens-Illinois Park, about three miles north of State Road 20 on Southeast 16th Avenue, Gainesville.