FWC closes Babcock Ranch hunt check station until March 16 | The Locally Times

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission closed the Babcock Ranch Preserve Tier 1 Hunt Area check station for over three months, with no public explanation for the extended closure.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced the closure of the Babcock Ranch Preserve Tier 1 Hunt Area check station, effective from December 5, 2025, through March 16, 2026. The FWC's notice, dated March 16, 2026, confirmed this three-month closure period for the facility. The public records from the FWC do not specify the reasons or conditions that prompted the extended closure of the check station. The notice also does not detail the process by which this decision was made, nor does it indicate whether public input or consultation with local hunting communities occurred prior to the closure. The absence of a stated rationale for the closure raises questions regarding the FWC's decision-making transparency. Residents and hunters may seek clarification on the specific conditions that led to the check station's inaccessibility and its potential impact on future access to the preserve. The FWC's records do not indicate if this closure represents a routine measure or an isolated event.