Florida Public Land Hunting Changes:
New WMA dates, deer harvest reporting coming!
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) scheduled 14 public meetings throughout the state to receive input from Florida hunters on proposals affecting deer hunting.
Nine of the meetings will be about potential changes to hunting season dates on wildlife management areas (WMAs) to align them with recent changes to the state’s hunting zones.
The remaining five public hearings will cover the possible implementation of a deer-harvest reporting system as a tool to further develop future harvest management goals.
The FWC wants to collect as much public input as possible to see if changes are needed before formally presenting the rule proposals to the Commission. If approved by the Commission, the changes could take effect as early as the 2011-12 hunting season.
Several of the meetings to discuss possible changes to WMA hunting season dates have already been held at the following locations: April 21 in Panama City, April 27 in Dania Beach and April 28 in Plant City.
Remaining meetings scheduled for May include:
Tuesday, May 4 - Ocala
Marion Co. Extension Auditorium
2232 N.E. Jacksonville Road
Wednesday, May 5 – Naples
Edison State College Conf. Center,
Building J, Rooms 103 and 104
7007 Lely Cultural Parkway
Thursday, May 13 – Tallahassee
Tallahassee Automobile Museum
6800 Mahan Dr.
Wednesday, May 19 – Orlando
Bass Pro Shops
Outdoor World Orlando
5156 International Dr.
Tuesday, May 25 – Milton
Santa Rosa Co. Admin. Center
Commissioner’s Board Room
6495 Caroline St.
Thursday, May 27 – Jacksonville
University of North Florida
Board of Trustees Room 1058
12000 Alumni Dr.
DEER HARVEST REPORTING
Meetings regarding the proposed deer harvest reporting system will be at the following locations:
Thursday, May 6 - Dania Beach
International Game Fish Assoc.
Headquarters
300 Gulf Stream Way
Thursday, May 20 - Ocala
Marion County Extension
Auditorium
2232 N.E. Jacksonville Road
Tuesday, June 1 - Lake City
Columbia County School Board
Auditorium
372 West Duval St.
Wednesday, June 2 - Plant City
Plant City High School
Auditorium
One Raider Place
Tuesday, June 8 - Tallahassee
Tallahassee Automobile Museum
6800 Mahan Dr.
All meetings will be from 6-8 p.m. (local time) and will follow a “town hall”-style format, with FWC staff making a presentation, followed by a public question-and-answer session with FWC staff. After the group discussion, the public will be able to address individual FWC staff members one-on-one.
For more information, contact the FWC’s state deer coordinator, Cory Morea, at 850-410-0656, ext. 17256 or by e-mail: Cory.Morea@MyFWC.com.