Apalachicola National Forest

The forest was created by Presidential Proclamation 2169 dated May 13, 1936 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Archaeological excavations indicate that Middle Woodland mound-building cultures (approximately 100 BCE–500 CE) occupied the Apalachicola basin, including Bristol Mound and Pierce Mound, that are associated with the Weeden Island cultural tradition. ==Hunting and Fishing==

Hunting and fishing are monitored and governed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The national forest itself is a wildlife management area. The FWC divides the management area into sections that allow dog hunting, still hunting, and private property. Modern gun season for large game starts Thanksgiving weekend and ends in January. The Apalachicola National Forest also manages the Chipola Experimental Forest in Calhoun county in cooperation with the FWC, for youth hunting. == Recreation and Scenic Byways ==

The Apalachee Savannahs Scenic Byway traverses sections of the forest, providing access to longleaf pine savannas and interpretive overlooks aimed at conservation goals. ==Environment==

The Apalachicola National Forest is in the southeastern conifer forests ecoregion. Areas of the national forest with dry, sandy soils support Florida longleaf pine sandhills and east Gulf coastal plain near-coast pine flatwoods. Sandhills are woodlands dominated by longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). Pine flatwoods are forests and woodlands on broad, sandy flatlands. Both of these pine communities are sustained by frequent fires. Near the floodplains of spring-fed rivers grow southern coastal plain hydric hammocks, dense forests of evergreen and deciduous hardwood trees. Blackwater rivers support southern coastal plain blackwater river floodplain forests of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) along their banks. Major rivers support diverse east Gulf coastal plain large river floodplain forests. Recent habitat-modelling research with GIS and vegetation-structure indicators has mapped ecological condition for longleaf pine stands in the forest and determined that structural complexity rises with biodiversity and fire-resilience. It is also home to several wetland plant communities. Southern coastal plain nonriverine basin swamps are large, seasonally flooded depressions of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) and swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora). East Gulf coastal plain savannas and wet prairies are low, flat plains covered in grasses and sedges, which are seasonally flooded and maintained by frequent fires. Southern coastal plain nonriverine cypress domes are small wetlands of pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) notable for their dome-shaped appearance. Within the Munson Sand Hills sub-region of the forest, several temporary rain-filled ponds shelter unique assemblages of aquatic amphibians and insects. Fluctuations of water chemistry were correlated with insect community structure by one investigation. The Forest contains thousands of acres of old growth Pond Cypress swamps (cypress domes). In addition, Bradwell Bay Wilderness contains about of old-growth Slash Pine - Swamp Tupelo swamps. ==Gallery==

Image:Doghunter.JPG|Hunters listening for the direction of dogs following the scent of a white tail deer Image:Apalachicola pond.JPG|An artificial pond off of FH-111 Image:SilverLkRecAreaOct07.JPG|Silver Lake Recreation Area, a part of the Apalachicola National Forest, about from Tallahassee, Florida, in 2007 Image:Trout Pond Recreation Area 2.png|Trout Pond Recreation Area, a part of the Apalachicola National Forest, about south of Tallahassee Image:East Fork Fire Burn Scar.jpg|This image shows a large area burned by a forest fire, which appears as dark pink ring-shaped patch at the left side of the image Image:Woods5.jpg|An unimproved road in the Wildlife Management Area off of Hwy. 67 Image:Apalachicola National Forest Restricted Area sign on FR-313 - 7 April 2020.jpg|Sign warning vehicles to remain on numbered forest roads ==See also==