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Big Bend WMA

History

Humans have taken advantage of the natural resources found on Big Bend for thousands of years. Throughout the Big Bend is abundant evidence of Native American life-remains of stone quarries, hunting and fishing camps, villages, mounds, and burials. Historic sites-hunting, turpentining, and logging camps-are also common.

Early in the 20^th century cypress was removed from swamps along trams constructed for railroads. Today some of these trams provide raised roadways for vehicles, hikers, and bikers.

After the original timber was removed, all the uplands and some of the hardwood areas were converted to pine plantations for pulpwood production. Prior to the state’s purchase, much of the area was also used as rangeland for hogs and cattle.

The Nature Conservancy purchased the land from Buckeye Cellulose in 1986 as part of a larger land acquisition. In 1987, the then Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission purchased the land from The Nature Conservancy through the Conservation and Recreation Lands Program.

In the 1960s, Buckeye in cooperation with the Commission constructed a dike which impounded approximately 1800 acres of open marsh and timber land in the Hickory Mound Unit to be managed primarily for waterfowl. The impoundment remains popular with duck hunters, crabbers, and anglers. Buckeye also constructed the recreation facilities at Hagen’s Cove.