FWC Seeks Comment On Proposed Hunting Rule Changes

September 24, 2017

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is seeking public input on drafted rule changes regarding hunting and FWD-managed lands that would begin with the 2018 hunting seasons.

Proposed Northwest Region changes include:

Blackwater WMA, Carr Unit – discontinue the special-opportunity released quail season and permit requirements; and allow northern bobwhite to be released and taken by shotgun during the small game season. A daily no-cost permit and proof that northern bobwhite were purchased within the past 90 days from a game farm licensed by the Commission or another state would be required for each individual or group participating.

Blackwater WMA, Hutton Unit – shift the 4 existing November quail hunts to February; and expand dove hunting from 4 to 8 days by adding 4 additional days of dove hunts during the second phase of the statewide dove season.

Escambia River WMA – allow raccoon hunting year-round in the still and dog hunt areas, except during the youth turkey hunt and spring turkey season; and limit camping to 14 days within any consecutive 30-day period.

Perdido River WMA – expand small game season from 30 to 68 days; and limit camping to 14 days within any consecutive 30-day period.

To submit comments to FWC on these and other proposed rule changes, click here.

Comments

7 Responses to “FWC Seeks Comment On Proposed Hunting Rule Changes”

  1. Chris in Molino on September 25th, 2017 4:53 am

    @Billy Wayne Avery—–I had no problem with anyone to use my camp. Even to just get out of a storm. Only once had a problem with thievery and I suspect the rare time a Chumuckla boy come over as their known for that kind of behavior on Escambia. However, many of us have cleaned these campsites out long ago. It is a lot of hard work to clear out a spot and I keep mine up with a weed trimmer in summer. I even leave firewood for the one time camper. My thing is the rule. You’d never camp in the spot I made had I not cleared it. That is my point. If I were single, I’d stay weeks out there and go to work from there. Don’t see why a person couldn’t live there if so desired. I suppose they could as living and camping are two definitions. If I seem abrasive I apologize. FWC are not about preserving or protecting anything. Its all about control and revenue.

  2. Chris in Molino on September 25th, 2017 4:42 am

    @just plain country— well, I would never go to Quintette or south of there. Too many people, idiots, and ticket crazy game wardens. I must say buddy, any time I’m on the river, sometimes I don’t see or hear another person. Sometimes I only hear a boat. So where have you seen this happen ? Where I was setup was year round camping. I actually wouldn’t go there during hunting season for fear of seeing another person. I’d be going where nobody else wants to or isn’t willing to go. I know where the deer are, where the hogs are, where the people aren’t.

  3. Billy Wayne Avery on September 24th, 2017 9:23 pm

    Its public hunting, some of us work very hard to prepare for our hunting trips and take our vacation to get back to nature and enjoy our family time in the woods. I don’t have a problem with someone having a campsite, but they should also expect to share the area and if you left it you should expect to benefit others who happen to camp there to. It is public land. It needs to stay public.

  4. T on September 24th, 2017 5:41 pm

    Add up all the money you spend on going to the river hunting / fishing and compare it to what they let you kill or catch!!!

  5. just plain country on September 24th, 2017 11:57 am

    @ Chris, the WMA is for all to enjoy not just for a few that decide to homestead the whole hunting season. There are getting to be more hunters each year on the WMA and there is NOT any room for a few hunter to have their own Private hunting club on a public WMA! Yes, I do hunt the WMA and have I have seen this happen.

  6. Chris in Molino on September 24th, 2017 7:32 am

    Wow, I get the rule change now. So even people with houseboats are screwed. So after 14 days you just can’t move 20 feet and tie off somewhere else, you literally have to leave for two weeks. I wonder who the local FWC official brought that up. They sure do start reminding me of female dogs quite often lately.

  7. Chris in Molino on September 24th, 2017 7:27 am

    The camping thing is stupid. I have a couple thousand dollars worth of camping items. If I go clear out a spot on the river where its boat access only (not like Mystic Springs Camp Area), why should I not be able to leave a tarp up to come on the weekends to camp with my kids ? So someone else may use the spot that they never would be in had I not cleared it ? Or is that just the rule so nobody can live out there without moving ?