November Newsletter - The Future of Hunting in Florida

What’ s New in
V O L U M E
I S S U E
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N O V E M B E R ,
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FHF Hunt Club Hosts First-Ever Archery Hunts for
Wounded Warriors and FWC Youth Hunting Program
Board of Directors:
Bill Marvin,
Chairman
Daphne Wood,
Vice-Chairman
The Future of Hunting in Florida hosted the
first-ever Wounded Warrior archery hunt on
the weekend of November 11-13. It also
happened to be Veterans Day and FHF was
honored to spend that day with three great
American heroes! (Left to right) Army Staff
Sergeant Cody Chism from Perry, FL
brought his son, Gavin, Sergeant 1st Class
Eric Davis of Crestview, FL, Marine Staff
Sergeant Damon Ziegler of Melbourne, FL,
volunteer Randall Joiner of Bristol, FL, and
volunteer Larry Perrin of Crawfordville, FL.
While no deer were harvested that weekend,
several saw deer but were either unable to
take the shot or were waiting on a trophy
buck! The weather was cold (28 degrees on
Saturday morning) but the food and company were excellent.
Jeff Allen,
Treasurer
Lane Stephens,
Secretary
Newton Cook
Lane Green
Todd Hallman
Barbara Jean Powell
Preston Robertson
Bill Wilson
John D. Fuller
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
2011-12 Hunt Club
3 ,
2
Sponsors & Contributors
St. Joe Awards 2011 Hunt
2
Club of the Year to FHF
Hunt Club
Proposed Major Rule
Changes for 2012-13
2
Hunting on WMA ’ s
Proposed Major Rule
3
Changes for 2012-13
Hunting on WMA ’ s
( C ont. )
The FHF Hunt Club also hosted the first-ever youth archery hunt under FWC’s Youth Hunting Program the weekend of October 21-23. (Above Left) Volunteer Larry Perrin baits a hook
for Cole Murrow. (Above Right) Pictured left to right, Doug Bowden with son Seth of Perry,
FL, Eric Graves with son Matt of Lehigh Acres, FL, Jamey Murrow with son Cole of San
Mateo, FL, Bill Blount with son Will of Port Charlotte, FL, volunteer Larry Perrin of Crawfordville, FL, and Maria Villa with nephew Joe Vidrine of Lehigh Acres, FL.
PAGE
2011-12 FHF Hunt Club Sponsors & Contributors
2
The Future of Hunting in Florida has once again leased the 2,050 acres near Wewahitchka, FL, from the
St. Joe Company for the exclusive purpose of hosting youth and Wounded Warriors hunts during the
2011-12 hunting season. The FHF Hunt Club received the generous support of the following individuals
and organizations:
•
•
•
•
Marty and Daphne Wood ($10,000)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Use of camper, gas grill, and deer decoy)
Rock Meeks and the North Central Florida Dog Hunters Association ($1.000)
State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) (Use of 10 Ameristep Penthouse
blinds)
• Chain-O-Lakes Chapter of NWTF (Leesburg) ($500)
• Donnie Read and Twin Oaks Juvenile Development, Inc. (Bristol) ($450 stand)
• Raymond Russell and Florida Farm Bureau Insurance (Blountstown) (Two feeders and bear
poles)
• John McCoy (Crawfordville) (On-site tractor)
• C & M Landscaping (Tallahassee) (40 ft. camper)
• St. Joe Timber Company ($1,000 off of lease)
• Mark Demont and Demont Insurance Agency and Financial Services (Tallahassee) ($350 pledge
toward stand)
• John Paul and D & J Pawn Shop (Wewahitchka) (Discount on seed and fertilizer)
• Kim Hunter and H & H Trucking and Tree Service (Wewahitchka) (Free firewood)
• Mark Morgan and Ronald Morgan of J.L. Morgan & Sons (Tallahassee) (Tractor service and
seed for eight food plots)
• David Byler and Body Builders Paint & Body Shop, Inc. (Tallahassee) ($350 stand)
• John Whiddon and Whiddon & Associates (Tallahassee) ($350 pledge toward stand)
• Vision Bank (Wewahitchka) ($350 pledge toward stand)
• White’s Auto Towing (Wewahitchka) (Free towing services on stuck tractor!)
Without the generous support of these sponsors and contributors, the FHF Hunt Club would not have been
able to host the six youth hunts and two Wounded Warrior hunts this year. The Future of Hunting in Florida asks that you thank these individuals for their support and patronize these companies and businesses
where possible.
(Right) A $350 stand donated by David Byler and Body Builders Paint & Body Shop,
Inc. was built by Twin Oaks Juvenile Development, Inc. through a welding program
at the Greenville Hills Academy. The program teaches welding to juveniles in a delinquency residential program.
St. Joe Awards 2011 Hunt Club of the Year to FHF Hunt Club
On October 6, 2011, the St. Joe Company hosted its annual dinner in Blountstown for all of their leases. Over 300 lease representatives attended and FHF made a slide presentation about the FHF Hunt Club
with pictures from last year's hunts. To our surprise, the FHF Hunt Club was awarded the 2011 Hunt
Club of the Year and received a very nice plaque. It is now hanging under the pole barn at the campsite
on the lease. We appreciate the recognition and continued support.
Major Rule Changes Proposed for 2012-13 Hunting on WMA’s
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) met November 16-17, 2011, in Key Largo, Florida,
for the purpose of finalizing proposed rule changes for lands managed by the agency. The proposed rules were tentatively approved for the purpose of being published in the Florida Administrative Weekly, and will now be subject
to public comment for final consideration at the Commission’s meeting in February, 2012. The major rule changes
proposed relating to hunting are as follows:
Statewide
Pen-Raised Quail - The proposed rule change would provide an alternative to the requirement for banding penraised quail that are released on private lands. Provided pen-raised quail are banded or proof of purchase (dated
within the past 90 days) is in the possession of the individual using them, quail may be taken by shotgun for the
WHAT’S
NEW
IN
THE
FUTURE
OF
HUNTING
IN
FLORIDA
VOLUME
3,
ISSUE
5
PAGE
3
Major Rule Changes Proposed for 2012-13 Hunting on WMA’s (cont.)
purpose of dog training. The banding requirement will still apply if the user attempts to recapture quail with a trap.
Hunting Hogs and Coyotes at Night on Private Land - The proposed rule would allow the landowner or designee to take wild hog, coyote and
non-protected mammals with a gun and light on private property.
Southwest Region
Arbuckle WMA - increase quota for spring turkey season for each of two hunts; increase quota for weekday muzzeloading gun season.
Babcock /Webb WMA - extend archery season; adjust timing of archery season; extend archery season; expand wild hog season; reduce quail hunting pressure and adjust hunt days for quail.
Babcock/Webb WMA, Yucca Pens Unit - increase vehicle access.
Green Swamp WMA - increase wild hog-dog hunting opportunities; double the quota for small game hunts.
Hickory Hammock,KICCO, and Lake Marion Creek WMA’s - remove check station requirements.
Hilochee WMA - extend raccoon season.
Walk-in-the-Water WMA - increase muzzeloading hunting opportunity; adjust timing of muzzeloading gun season; add a spring turkey hunt.
North Central Region
Bayard, Hatchet Creek, Goethe, and Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA’s - remove check station requirements.
Belmore WMA - add a family hunt.
Big Bend WMA, Jena Unit - add a 30 day archery season.
Cary WMA - add two hog hunts.
Citrus WMA - extend several hunts; expand quail hunt area.
Four Creeks WMA - add a hog hunt.
Goethe WMA - adjust timing of muzzeloading gun season; add a general gun still hunt; add a general gun dog hunt, and; add a spring turkey hunt.
Gulf Hammock WMA - remove size and bag limit restrictions for wild hogs.
Homosassa WMA - increase archery hunting days; increase small game hunting opportunities.
Jennings Forest WMA - add a bird dog training season; add a family hunt; adjust timing of wild hog hunts.
Little River WMA - allow nighttime raccoon and opossum hunting and expand small game season.
Log Landing WMA - reduce archery season; expand muzzeloading gun, small game and spring turkey seasons.
Lower Econfina River WMA - allow nighttime hunting of raccoons and opossums.
Middle Aucilla WMA - allow nighttime hunting of raccoons and opossums.
Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA - add a family hunt.
Steinhatchee Springs WMA - allow nighttime hunting of raccoons and opossums; increase quotas for muzzeloading gun, general gun, spring turkey, and wild hog-dog seasons.
Santa Fe Swamp WEA - allow the take of game by falconry during statewide established seasons,
Northwest Region
Lake Iamonia and Carr Lake in Leon County - Allow use of 10 horsepower or less during regular waterfowl season.
Apalachicola River WEA - allow wild hog hunting during small game season and allow camping at Butcher Pen Landing at designated sites.
Apalachicola WMA, Bradwell Unit - add three family hunts and adjust timing of small game season.
Econfina Creek WMA - allow nighttime raccoon hunting without a quota permit; clarify vehicle use; prohibit taking of bobcat and otter in Fitzhugh
Carter area.
Joe Budd WMA - reduce take of antlerless deer during archery season.
Pine Log WMA - extend archery and spring turkey seasons.
South Region
Allapattah Flats WMA - remove check station requirements.
J.W. Corbett WMA - revise vehicle access prior to archery season.
Okaloacoochee Slough WMA - extend small game season; add a spring turkey hunt and a muzzleloading gun hunt. r
Picayune Strand WMA - add a general gun hunt and a muzzeloading gun hunt.
Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA - remove dove hunts because of unsuitable field conditions.
Northeast Region
Twelve Mile Swamp WMA - increase cost of Recreational Use Permits from $525 to $625 per permit.
Buck Lake and Dunns Creek WMA’s - remove check station requirement.
Charles H. Bronson WMA - increase the deer bag limit during archery, muzzeloading gun and general gun seasons; add an archery hunt; add a
muzzeloading gun hunt; extend each of the three spring turkey hunts.
Guana River WMA - establish vehicle access hours for all area users during hunting seasons.
Lake George WMA - add a muzzeloading gun hunt; extend each of the three spring turkey hunts.
Lake Panasoffkee WMA - allow camping only on days that vehicle access is allowed.
Lake Tracy Unit WMA - extend several hunts; add a small game season with no quota.
Little Big Econ WMA - add an archery hunt and a muzzeloading gun hunt; extend each of the three spring turkey hunts.
Matanzas WMA - add an archery hunt, a muzzeloading gun hunt, a wild hog still hunt, and a spring turkey hunt.
Richloam WMA - adjust timing of wild hog-dog hunt.
Rock Springs WMA - allow wild hogs to be hunted during small game season.
Ross Prairie WMA - add an archery hunt and a spring turkey hunt.
Salt Lake WMA - allow wild hogs to be hunted during small game season.
Seminole Forest WMA - extend a spring turkey hunt.
Three Lakes WMA - add two nighttime raccoon hunts.
Tiger Bay WMA - extend each of three spring turkey hunts.
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
TALLAHASSEE FL
PERMIT NO. 438
P.O. Box 10949
Tallahassee, FL 32302-2949
PARTNERS
The Everglades Coordinating Council
You can help protect and promote
hunting in the State of Florida by
joining or renewing your membership
in FHF
Membership Levels:
Regular One Year ………………$25
Youth One Year…………………$15
Family One Year…………...……$50
Sponsor One Year...…………...$250
Bronze…………..……………..$1,000
Please make checks payable to The Future of Hunting in Florida, Inc. or FHF, and send to:
The Future of Hunting inn Florida, Inc.
P.O. Box 10949
Tallahassee, FL 32302-2949
Or if you wish to pay by credit card, please visit our website at
www.thefutureofhunting.org
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER
SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THE REGISTRATION NUMBER ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND
CONSUMER SERVICES TO THE FUTURE OF HUNTING IN FLORIDA IS CH2132.