New hunting season dates approved

Remember that these changes are only in effect for PRIVATE LAND 2010-2011. Public land will be brought up to speed for 2011-2012.

The reason for this is that each WMA has to be adjusted with various property managers. FWC does not control it all on their own. There are other agencies which are lead on many of the WMA lands. Each agency must be given season dates and time lines and then hunt dates will fall within those sideboards. It's a massive undertaking.

As for the fella who is unhappy about the changes, were you vocal during the public input portion fo the process? Not trying to be a jerk about it, but we did spend the better part of a year holding public meetings and taking input on the issue in all regions of Florida. And overwhelmingly, we had very good approval from most hunters. Even in the south zone, now Zone A, where our lowest approval numbers came back, we were at 76% in favor of the chages made. All the other zones were well into the high 80's and even low 90's in approval percentage on the changes.

Actually, ther was a great deal of input from private land holders and managers. The DMTAG group is represntative of all user groups, including large land holders like Desseret Ranch, Lykes, Lightsey, Mormon Ranch and many others. We also have representatives of large hunt clubs and sportsman clubs on the committee and each of us went to our respective constituency base for input during the entirety of the process.

Further, FWC conducted doe harvests in each of the areas where data was lacking, specifically Green Swamp basin, Everglades, Lykes Bros. Properties, and other undocumented areas of the panhandle, Central Florida and South Florida to verify mean conception dates and pinp point the rut times. They also took annecdotal information from hunters all over the state and plotted that information to gain a clear picture of rut times. It was a thorough process and one which we worked very hard and long on. It's the most comprehensive look at Florida's deer herd and mating habits to date. Once we implement a harvest report system, we'll gain an even clearer picture of what the deer are like across Florida.

I realize water management districts can messup a one car funeral. But they have little to do with FWC and are their own worst enemy when they act in an isolationist manner. They control the lands and the game in their holdings and little can be done about their policies unless those areas are opened to hunting. That's my next project; getting more WMD lands open to hunting.

I'm sorry you are dissatisfied with the results, but everyone had 3 years to raise their concerns. It never ceases to amaze me how a very public process can go on for such a long time and still people are taken by surprise. Did you not know about all of this as it was happening? It was on every forum and in every major news publication and outdoor magazine in FL. At this point, it's a little too late to revert back. We knew going in some would be dissatisfied. That's just the nature of life. You can't please everyone, so you please the most you can. We've done that. Sorry you're in the minority on this one.

For the life of me I will never understand why somebody would want to hunt in July and Aug. I don't care when they rut,it's to freakin' hot and wet.Something about fall and hunting just sounds good to me.I do appreciate the rest of the new dates,now if FWC would start opening up some WMA's for bow hunting and a longer BP season for areas like Croom.How about gateing and locking some areas up to cut down on poaching? I remember awhile back my friends use to dig trees in Pasco on SWFMD land. They said there was biologist out there getting paid unheard of money,driving brand new off road trucks and 4-wheelers studying scrub jays. Then deciding to cut down tons of ancient oak trees so that owls couldn't nest in them. Owls eat scrub jays. Can you say PORK and WASTE?

I hope all the northerners that are moving down here and taking over are happy. They are making florida just like up north. If people want to harvest animals in florida they need to get out and scout. There was not anything wrong with they way things was.

I hope all the northerners that are moving down here and taking over are happy. They are making florida just like up north. If people want to harvest animals in florida they need to get out and scout. There was not anything wrong with they way things was.

Really?