Duette Preserve

Natalia Spinelli

This preserve used to be owned by phosphate mine company - with referendum vote city was able to purchase 24,000 acres - it has never been mined. The area is surrounded by either active or inactive phosphate mines and farms. There is an orange farm near the entrance. They have wagon rides 3 hours! With a naturalist and a park ranger. You can see 100+ pine trees - most of them killed during the large turpentine industry. The area also had free range cattle before ranchers had them enclosed cows would roam free range - no fences. You can see scrub jays here! Only in Florida can you see this bird. Each family claims 5-10 acres they are territorial. Hawks are their main predators. They kinda look like a blue jay but more blue. Maybe you will see Florida panther… there are clean restrooms. Plenty of parking. Manatee county, de Soto, hardee, and part of Polk county is known as “bone valley” phosphate is accumulation of ocean life bones 🦴 in the process of mining phosphate radioactive byproduct that they have no good way of getting rid of it - hence the large gypsum mountains you see. When companies are done mining an area they are required to reclaim it back to natural state but that is impossible and the area ends up overtaken by invasive species like cogon grass. Preserve is open to the public but check for hunting days. They will lease out land to harvest saw palmetto berries for supplement industry (prostate health) - made 80k last year. $3 entrance per person. You can drive the road with designated stops as a self tour.

C W

Beautiful nature. We did a covered wagon lead tour.

Robert Siegel

Had the opportunity to take the covered wagon tour with a guide offered by Manatee County and Manatee County Game and Wildlife . The tour is four hours long and you will get to visit Areas of Oak Hammocks, Prairies and the viewing tower. Maybe you will observe the Local Gopher Tortoise population, Florida Scrub Jays, Hawks, Owls and Deer. Also the local Florida Panther, seldom seen but live in the area. The tour is free but you must make a reservation.

Linn K

What a gem! Didn’t even know the preserve is in the Bradenton area. So glad we visited. We even saw the endemic scrub jays.

Call in Rich

Super nice and clean preserve. Spent the day there and only saw one piece of trash. Beautiful oaks and pines. I saw many Kestrels and hawks, plus loads of song birds. I made sure my trip did not interfere with a scheduled hunt, and that they would be open. 4X4 trails were clearly marked. Mostly just deep sand, one bumpy hill climb which I chose not to try. Not a lot of water features, but a good time for sure.

Mike Elfers

Outstanding preserve. Good hunting camping and hiking.

Richard (Floridastrongman)

Big preserve with multiple vehicle trails some you'll need 4 wheel drive but they are clearly marked. Just drove around didn't get out and walk it which I'll do once it cools down. Did have three doe run across the road. It's well maintained.

DC HUNTER

The two gates i went to were closed, Rawls Rd and Duette Rd. Next time I will try Logue Rd. Or Bear Bay