This 8,000 acre tract of land is intended to be a wildlife preserve, home of the Florida Scrub Oak Blue Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens).

The Audubon Society of Florida has listed the Florida Scrub Oak Blue Jay as a threatened bird with a census on this land of about 140 Florida Scrub Oak Blue Jays and many other bird species.

There has been some controversy over allowing armed hunters in the area, threatening not only Florida Scrub Oak Blue Jays, but nature and other recreational users of the land.

Also, it strikes me as strange that armaments would be allowed so near horseback riders, local livestock farms and the Dunnellon Airport.

On February 23, 2012, I received notice that hunting to injure wildlife on 4,000 acres of this preserve will not be allowed. The remaining 4,000 acres are still open for killing sport. In a nearby area, over 200,000 acres are open to hunters to kill wildlife on that site.