This message is to let you know that over the next 10 months, FWC will be considering possible changes to white-tailed deer hunting zones and seasons (see news release below). The purpose is to better align season dates with the times of peak deer activity associated with the breeding season (the “rut”) and to thereby increase hunter satisfaction. We will be holding public meetings during May and June to let people know about these possible changes and gather input. More information, including the most recent draft proposals and a public comment form, will be available soon at: MyFWC.com/deer.
Thanks,
CRM
*******************************************
Cory R. Morea
Deer Management Program Coordinator
Division of Hunting and Game Management
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Public meetings scheduled on possible changes to hunting zones and deer season dates
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has scheduled six public meetings throughout the state to receive input from Florida hunters on possible changes to the state’s hunting zones and corresponding deer hunting season dates.
The FWC wants to solicit as much public comment as possible, and everyone is invited. If changes are approved by the Commission, they could take effect as early as the 2010–2011 hunting season.
Meetings will be at the following locations:
Tuesday, May 5
6-8 p.m.
Fort Myers
Edison State College
8099 College Parkway
Walker Hall, Building A, Room 105
239-489-9270
Thursday, May 7
6-8 p.m.
West Palm Beach
Crowne Plaza
1601 Belvedere Rd.
561-688-8611
Wednesday, May 20
6-8 p.m. (CDT)
Crestview
Crestview Community Center
1446 Commerce Drive
850-682-0647
Wednesday, May 27
6-8 p.m.
Lakeland
Magnolia Building
702 East Orange St.
863-602-6280
Wednesday, June 3
6-8 p.m.
Lake City
Columbia County School Board Auditorium
372 West Duval St.
386-755-8000
Wednesday, June 10
6-8 p.m.
Tallahassee
Antique Car Museum
6800 Mahan Drive
850-942-0137
Meetings will be open-house type format with FWC staff making a presentation, followed by question-and-answer sessions with FWC staff, giving hunters more one-on-one time.
Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate in the workshops should advise the FWC at least five calendar days before the workshop by calling 850-488-6411. If you are hearing- or speech-impaired, contact the FWC using the Florida Relay Service at 800-955-8771 (TTY) or 800-955-8770 (voice).
The FWC has our deer seaso more f----ed up that a midget basketball game. Counting on these idiots to fix anything is hopeless. If you dont think I'm right look at our fishing regs. You cant go fishing without a lawyer present to tell you the new rule. I think they should have meetings to acess their incompitance.
I went to the one in lakeland tonight...being this my 2nd yr hunting I may not have understood as much as the veteran hunters but I felt that as a younger hunter it was good I went. And there was much heated debate on many things, the main topic was the hunting zones and rut, they want to add more making 5 instead of 3 possibly allowing a better oppurtunity for the ruts. They also debated on how public and private dates differ sometimes and how they want to get both on a set schedule within a yr or so. Alot of people felt that the fwc was maybe rushing this and that they should take more time. But since I went I never realized how messed up they got things...another big issue was about not enought data being collected about deer herds on public lands. The fwc said they dont have the budget to pay biologists and are limited to collect data. Well I say as most did that we are the ones in the woods, we see the deer, we see habitat destroyed [another issue], so why cant we the hunters be the ones to collect data. Alot of people were fired up b.c we feel like nothings being done and the fwc people never seemed to have good straightforward solutions to any of the problems. As a young hunter I hate to see or think how things might be in the next 10 to 20 yrs. But hey, maybe theyll get things straight, lol.
Damn I forgot about it. I was planning on going to this meeting
Do you have deer check stations here in indiana there are we have to check in all deer taken.This is a way for indiana to be able to do a decent job at following the herds.
