Managed in cooperation with Florida Division of Forestry U.S. Forest Service

Betsy Purdum Tate’s Hell WMA extends over more than 187,700 acres in Franklin and Liberty counties near Carrabelle. It is bordered by Highway 98 on the south and Apalachicola National Forest to the north and west. The wildlife management area is part of the close to 200,000-acre Tate’s Hell State Forest. In the 1960s and 1970s the previous owners developed this area as a commercial forest, digging drainage ditches and building roads that significantly altered the hydrology of the forest. In the early 1990s the state began purchasing the land to protect Apalachicola Bay. Since then, the Division of Forestry has prescribe burned most of the pinelands, re-established the native longleaf pine over a major portion of the forest, and worked to restore large areas of grassy savannahs. Several stands of the distinctive “dwarf” cypress exist on the forest. Visit the Ralph G. Kendrick viewing tower to observe these unusual trees. To reach the viewing tower, from US Highway 98, go north on US Highway 65 for six miles, turn right onto North Road.  The boardwalk will be on your right, 3.4 miles down North Road. The High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail may be accessed off of US Highway 98, four miles west of Carrabelle. Tate’s Hell is home to many wildlife species including a large population of Florida black bears, bald eagles, and red-cockaded woodpeckers. The terrain is wet and boggy, and many roads require four-wheel-drive vehicles. Biking and horseback riding are allowed on any open road in the forest unless posted otherwise. Camping is permitted only at designated campsites by permit from the Division of Forestry. The New River, Crooked River, and Whiskey George Creek offer boating, fishing and paddling opportunities. This area is a site on the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Visit Florida Division of Forestry's information on Tate's Hell State Forest. View FWC's Regulations Summary for Tate's Hell (pdf file) for an area map, hunting seasons, permits, fees, and area regulations.

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Managed in cooperation with Florida Division of Forestry

Womack Creek Unit consists of nearly 14,000 acres in Franklin and Liberty counties just north of Carrabelle and is bordered by the Ochlockonee River, the Crooked River, and Highway 67. The area is part of the almost 200,000-acre Tate’s Hell State Forest. In the 1960s and 1970s the hydrology of Tate’s Hell was significantly altered for pine plantations. The owners constructed roads and ditches and planted dense stands of pine. Today the Womack Creek Unit is mostly pine plantations with some hardwoods. Deer hunting is popular in the pine areas, and squirrel hunting is good in the forests near both the Ochlockonee and Crooked Rivers. Wildlife viewing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding are permitted on any open road in the forest unless posted otherwise. Wildlife that may be seen on the area include wild turkey, feral hogs, white-tailed deer, wood ducks, Florida black bear, box turtles, swallow-tailed kites, and ground doves. Camping is permitted at designated campsites. The Womack Creek Recreation Area offers a primitive campground with picnic pavilion, bathhouse, and boat ramp with access to Ochlockonee River. Tent camping only is allowed, and a self serve pay station is located at the entrance.

Visit Florida Division of Forestry's information on Tate's Hell State Forest. View FWC's Regulations Summary for Womack Creek Unit (pdf file) for an area map, hunting seasons, permits, fees, and area regulations.

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