Skunk ape is on the money, there are alot more deer now. When I was a little it was cool to see a couple deer a year. very time i go to the woods now i see anywhere from 5 to ten does and at least one buck if not more. last blackpowder season a buddy and i was hunting a WMA and both had a buck on the ground by 8:30 am the first morning. The second morning we both was done with our blackpowder hunt by 10 am with 2 more bucks. 4pt and 8pt morning one and 5pt and 8pt morning two. and this is just an average WMA.
These are two seperate issues! Access and management.
I agree that access to public land sucks in FL. You are correct, millions of acres in this state, that is state, county, or federally owned and not open to hunting. That is one issue.
Since they regulate access, they feel they can manage the herd via public land access, but when you throw in all the private land and land noone has hunting access too the herd can't possibly be managed properly.
Bottom line, FWC needs help from a state that has been doing this longer than 15 years. FWC has only been up and running since 1999 and prior to that it was a part of FL environmental protection without any real authority or management capablity.
Florida allows taking of 2 bucks a day of any size for 4 months. Does during archery and one week during gun.
Georiga allows 2 bucks with one of any size and one with 4-point on a side or bigger, along with 10 does. These can be taken during any season.
Georiga has tons of deer of large size, both racks and body.
Thousands of Florida hunters, including those born and raised here, pay $800-2000 to join a hunt club and pay another $300 in license to hunt in Georgia.
Florida hunting leases where the deer herd is managed can cost from $1500-10,000 to join.
So many hunters paying that amount of money to hunt where the deer herds are managed better than what the FWC now offers sure seems to make a statement.
Flintlock rifles only in muzzleload season.
Ohhh BOY! Now there's a rule I'd like to see put on the books!!
I'd love to see Florida's Muzzleloader season go like PA's. The early ML season is just that. Inlines are legal along with the rest. Then there's a late season ML hunt for flintlocks only. Hell, I'd be pleased if it just went "Traditional ML" and even let the percussion guys in too. It'll never happen here though because their just isn't enough traditional ML shooters to push for it.
I have hunted with both the inline traditiional. love it either way. you"re right about not enough backing.
