March 24, 2011

Archive

National wildlife refuges offer special hunts

This fall, Northwest Florida offers some special deer and wild hog hunts at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and a unique “big-game” sambar deer hunt on the island of St. Vincent NWR. The application period for these hunts begins at 10 a.m. May 3 and continues through 11:59 p.m. June 9. There are two archery hunts, two general gun hunts and one mobility-impaired gun hunt on St. Marks NWR, which covers 60,000 acres in Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties. Five-day...

Take a leisurely paddle on Peach Creek in South Walton County

Four-mile paddle offers views of native flora and fauna Located in the historic Point Washington area of Walton County, Peach Creek offers a pleasant paddle exploring nature. The enjoyable, four-mile journey takes you along a wetland forest shoreline of TiTi, red maple, and slash pine trees along with highbush blueberries and saw palmetto. Coastal water birds such as pelicans, gulls, cormorants and seagulls are abundant along with raptors such as osprey and swallow-tailed kites. You might also discover an alligator...

Walton County fishing and hunting report for Mar. 23

Speckled trout in the bay, pompano and a few cobia in the surf Surf: Scattered reports of pompano being caught with shrimp along with a few of cobia starting to showing up. Bay: Quite a few speckled trout with some redfish biting along with still some sheepshead. A few pompano have been spotted, but not for long. River:  Good amount of crappie, catfish and the bass is getting better. Folks are trying for some bream. Danny Copeland wants to remind...

Beach mouse research volunteers needed Mar. 26 and 27

Learn about the beach mouse as you assist in research Margo Stoddard a University of Florida researcher needs lots of volunteers to help out this Mar. 26 and 27 with her beach mouse project.  The project will consist of planting vegetation (broomsedge) in different spatial configurations.  The objective of this study is to examine the influence of vegetation patch size on beach mouse activity (movement and foraging), and/or installing foraging trays in the field; foraging trays for this study are clear plastic...

Volunteers needed for restoration and preservation at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Mar. 24-25

Join National Wildlife Federation and Florida Wildlife Federation at Topsail Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteer with the National Wildlife Federation and the Florida Wildlife Federation for two days of volunteering at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Engage in a number of restoration and preservation activities including exotic invasive plant species removal, trail blazing, wildlife blind construction, and beach restoration. Register at www.nwf.org/oilspillvolunteers Contact: Jenna Peters at (703) 438-6003 or email Petersj@nwf.org...

Nature lovers flock to Northwest Florida Birding and Wildlife Festival

A day of exploring wildlife enjoyed by young and old The St. Joe Company hosted a day of exploring wildlife Mar. 19, 2011 at RiverCamps on Crooked Creek in Panama City Beach. Highlights of the annual Northwest Florida Birding and Wildlife Festival included excursions and wildlife exhibitions. One of the excursions was a journey into the Wetappo Creek Conservation area. This 1,600 acre-area contains the largest stand of old-growth long leaf pine timber in Gulf County. Participants enjoyed viewing endangered...