Well said Mr L.
There is not, and will never be, a perfect system for hunting/camping public land. We need to make the best lemonade out of the lemons we get.
Probably the best, well versed, right on the money quote I have heard in 5 years on 5 sites I read. :rock_on :rock_on :rock_on
Several good points made since my last post. With the old system guys could take a camp site for 6 months if they were there or not. Now it is a much more fair system. The old system was so bad when I hunted there I would stay in Ridge Manor at my grandparents property, and make the 35 min. drive each way. I rarely hunt there any more, but always try to hunt the last 4 or 5 days of GG. You always have a chance at a dandy in GS. I think if guys like us keep talking about the camping situation, and sharing the ideas with the FWC a good solution will come of it.
For an option there are camping areas all through Richloam right next door. So you fellas that did not get a permit might consider looking into that. I would not waste any time because the dog hunters take them up quick. There is 1 camping area in there that is a daily use only site. Meaning you can camp for a few days, but can not set up for the whole season. I believe that site is off of North Carter pond right off of 471.
I understand why they are trying new things with the camping at Greenswamp. Guys, and there group of drunken buddies will set up on all the best spots right before archery. Then the camps would stay there for the entire season. We are talking many months. It screwed the guys who can only do a few select hunts every year, and wanted to camp also. Lets face it this is a public piece of property not a private lease, but many of the guys set there camps up year in, and year out like it was there personal private leased camping area. Then the drunkeness, argueing, and fighting was just to much to take. Shoot many guys set camps out there for the entire season, and rarely even went to the woods. It was just a means of being able to set a camp up for free, and live for months with no fees. Some thing really needed to be done., and I am glad they are working on a new system. I see no reason that some one should be able to leave a camp set up on public land if you are not there on the property participating in a hunt. If you are done hunting, and heading back to town for the work week. Your camp should go with you so others who are there to hunt have a camping space available to them.
I am one of those that sets up my camper at the beginning of gen gun season and go there each thursday and hunt till sunday, the reason i leave my camper there is because i live in largo , and gas the cost that it is will not allow me to tow the camper and take 2 hours to set it up each time,,,I see no problem with me doing that I pay my WMA permit ...I don't leave it up there and not show up for any long period of time...
Sorry, but a WMA stamp has nothing to do with being allowed to camp. everybody wants stuff for free. It is about sharing a camping area to accomadate every one including people with tents. Just because you decided to buy a big camper that takes 2 hours to set up, and costs you more money to haul than the next guy. Doesn't give you more rights to utilize a camping area, and leave it behind screwing others out of a camping spot. By the way I live in Seminole so you are not driving any farther than I am.
I am just telling you why they changed the camping process in GS. It was because of guys that would pull big campers up there, and leave them when they were not hunting. Keep in mind GS is not just for hunters. We need to share the woods with others who do not hunt if we want access to more lands. I can tell you these people had a say in the changes also. Some times things have to change if you like it or not.
