JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

Youth and family hunting opportunities
The FWC offers several opportunities for adults to take youths (under age 16) hunting.
Many WMAs allow youths, under adult supervision, to hunt during archery, muzzleloading
gun, general gun, small-game and spring turkey seasons without having quota
permits. Youths also may hunt areas that require a quota permit if accompanied by a
quota permit holder who is 18 or older, provided the quota permit holder and youth
share a single bag limit.
■ The FWC offers two deer hunts at Camp Blanding WMA and two deer hunts at Andrews
WMA. During these hunts, permitted youths and their nonhunting supervisors
are the only persons allowed on the area. About 600 youths apply every year
for 160 deer quota permits. Obtain a Youth Quota Hunt Worksheet (see page 36)
for information relating to when and where to apply for these permits.
■ Two youth waterfowl days are held after the end of the regular waterfowl season.
Specifi c dates are set in late September by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For
more information, obtain the 2008-2009 Migratory Game Bird Regulations for
Waterfowl and Coot Seasons brochure (available in mid-October) or visit MyFWC.
com/duck. Quota Permits are not required for these hunts.
■ Six youth waterfowl hunts are held on the Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) Public
Small-Game Hunting Areas and one hunt on the T.M. Goodwin/Broadmoor Unit.
Obtain worksheets (see page 36) for information relating to when and where to
apply for these permits.
■ Youth small-game hunts are held at Caravelle Ranch, Ross Prairie and Jennings
Forest WMAs. Quota permits are not required for these hunts. Additional information
is provided in the specifi c wildlife management area brochures.
■ Family hunts are offered at Matanzas, Allapattah Flats, Blackwater, Perdido River,
Andrews, Belmore, Cary, Devil’s Hammock, Four Creeks, Hatchet Creek, Thomas
Creek, Okaloacoochee Slough, Hilochee Osprey Unit, Dinner Island Ranch and
Lafayette Creek WMAs. These hunts provide opportunities for permitted supervisors
to hunt with up to two youths. Obtain a Family Hunt Worksheet (see page
36) for information relating to when and where to apply for these permits.
Special-opportunity hunts
The FWC has lined up a number of special-opportunity hunts for sportsmen. These special hunts
offer large areas of land with an abundance of game and low hunter quotas. They provide excellent
chances to bag quality deer, hogs, turkeys, doves or quail. Hunters looking for truly unique
hunts, with high probabilities of seeing and bagging quality game should look no further.
Typically, demand for deer, turkey and hog hunts is greater than the number of available
slots, so a random drawing is conducted to select hunters. Hunters may increase
their chances of being selected by submitting as many applications as they want. A $5 per
person, per hunt nonrefundable application fee must be submitted with each application.
The only exemption to special-opportunity permit fees is for holders of lifetime licenses
issued before July 1, 1998.
Obtain a worksheet (see page 36) for information relating to when and where to apply
for these permits.
Special-opportunity fall hunts
Special-opportunity fall hunt permits enable the holder to hunt deer, hogs or released quail. Permit
fees vary for different hunts. Deer hunts include general gun and archery. Hog hunts include
still hunts and dog hunts.
Deer
■ Fort Drum WMA: One general gun hunt for one antlered deer (one antler must have at least
four points) and hogs, and possibility of one antlerless deer. Seven-day hunt - $50; 20 hunters
on 20,858 acres. Camping permitted.
■ Green Swamp WMA West Unit: Two archery hunts and three general gun hunts for one
antlered deer (one antler must have at least four points) and hogs, and possibility of one antlerless
deer. Each four-day hunt - $100; 54 hunters on 34,335 acres. Camping permitted.
■ Lake Panasoffkee WMA: Eight archery hunts for one antlered deer (one antler must have at
least four points) and hogs, and possibility of one antlerless deer. Each four-day hunt - $100; 20
hunters on 8,676 acres. Camping permitted.
■ Triple N Ranch WMA: Two general gun hunts for one antlered deer (one antler must have at
least four points) and hogs. Each seven-day hunt - $175; 15 hunters on 15,391 acres. Camping
permitted.
YOUTH AND FAMILY HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES
Wild hogs
■ Fort Drum WMA: Three hunts. No size
or bag limits. Each three-day hunt - $50;
20 hunters on 20,858 acres. Camping
permitted.
■ Green Swamp WMA West Unit: Two
archery and three general gun four-day
hunts for hogs and deer (see Deer Hunts
above), and two three-day hunts for hogs
only. No size or bag limits on hogs. Dogs
are allowed on one of two hog-only hunts.
Each three-day hog hunt - $75; 200 hunters
for the still hunt and 100 hunters for
the dog hunt on 34,335 acres. Camping
permitted. One hog-dog permit allows one
hunter, one gun, one assistant and up to
three dogs.
■ Lake Panasoffkee WMA: Eight four-day
archery hunts for hogs and deer (see
Deer Hunts above). No size or bag limits
on hogs. Each four-day hunt - $100;
20 hunters on 8,676 acres. Camping
permitted.
Released Quail
■ Blackwater WMA Carr Unit: Sixteen
seven-day hunts. Each hunt - $100; permit
allows four hunters on 590 acres. Hunters
must provide their own quail for release.
Camping prohibited.
Special-opportunity quail hunts
■ Twin Rivers Blue Springs Unit:
Maximum of fi ve one-day hunts. Each hunt
- $100, permit allows up to two hunters on
1,973 acres. Camping prohibited. Release
of quail prohibited.
Special-opportunity spring
turkey hunts
Special-opportunity spring turkey hunt
permits enable the holder to take one
Osceola turkey per permit on one of the
following wildlife management areas:
■ Fort Drum WMA: Three seven-day hunts.
Each hunt - $50; fi ve hunters on 20,858
acres. Camping permitted.
■ Triple N Ranch WMA: Three seven-day
hunts. Each hunt - $175; 10 hunters on
15,391 acres. Camping permitted.
■ Lake George WMA Dexter/Mary Farm
Unit: 14,377 acres divided into three units
with four hunters per unit. Three hunts per
unit. Each seven-day hunt - $175; Camping
permitted.
■ Green Swamp WMA West Unit: 34,335
acres divided into three units with eight
hunters per unit. Five hunts per unit. Each
four-day hunt - $100; Camping permitted.
■ Homosassa WMA: Two seven-day hunts.
Each hunt - $175; fi ve hunters on 5,675
acres.
■ Lake Panasoffkee WMA: Three four-day
hunts. Each hunt - $100; 10 hunters on
8,676 acres. Camping permitted.
■ Fisheating Creek WMA East: Two sevenday
hunts. Each hunt - $175; 10 hunters on
9,000 acres. Camping permitted.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2008-2009 37