Hunting

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FWC offering hunter safety course in Bay County

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety course in Bay County. The course will be conducted at Gulf Coast Community College in the second floor lecture hall of the Student Union East building, 5230 West U.S. Hwy. 98 in Panama City.  Instruction will be from 6-9 p.m. Aug. 17, 19, 24 and 26.  The range portion of the class will be Aug. 28 from 7-11 a.m. People who have taken the Internet course...

Register for hunter safety, and get ready for opening day

Now is the time to start preparing for hunting season Outta The Woods With the dog days of summer upon us, it’s hard to think about hunting.  But if you’re between the ages of 16 and 35, and haven’t yet taken the state’s hunter safety class – now’s just the time to be thinking about it.  Many of these classes, offered statewide, fill up fast during hunting season while people scramble to get certified.  Summer months offer smaller class sizes...

FWC hunting quota permits no longer being mailed

Hunters without Internet access can pick up permits at county tax collectors’ office The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to make hunters aware that beginning this year, quota permits for general gun, archery, muzzleloading gun, family, youth, airboat and track will not be mailed out to successful applicants as they have been in the past. Instead, the FWC is allowing hunters, who are awarded permits in the random drawings, to print the quota permits by going to...

Deer hunters will need new permit this season

The new permit costs $5 and is available now for purchase Beginning with the upcoming 2010-2011 hunting season, anyone hunting deer in Florida will need a deer permit. Those with a Sportsman’s License, Gold Sportsman’s License, 64 or Older Sportsman’s License, Military Gold Sportsman’s License, Lifetime Hunting License or Lifetime Sportsman’s License will not need to purchase the new deer permit, because it already is included in each of these licenses, even if they were purchased before July 1. However,...

Apply for Wildlife Management Area quota permits now

Outta The Woods by Tony Young Every hunter knows you have the best chance of catching a monster buck off-guard during the first part of hunting season.  That’s why many of us enjoy hunting the archery and muzzleloading gun seasons – and why we can’t miss opening weekend of the general gun season. If you hunt public land, you should know many of Florida’s wildlife management areas (WMAs) require a quota permit to hunt during archery, muzzleloading gun and all...

Save money and buy hunting and fishing licenses before July 1

Buy now and beat price increase There will be an increase in the cost of some of Florida’s hunting and saltwater fishing permits, beginning July 1.  If sportsmen act now, however, they can beat the price increase. On July 1, 2010, the cost of a turkey permit will go up from $5 to $10 for Florida residents and from $100 to $125 for nonresidents.  In addition, Florida waterfowl permits will increase as well, from $3 to $5. The cost of...

FWC considers restricting methods of take during public-land spring turkey hunts

Proposal would restrict firearms to shotguns and muzzle-loading shotguns only The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is considering a rule proposal that would limit the methods of take allowed during spring turkey hunts on wildlife management areas (WMAs). The proposal would restrict firearms to shotguns and muzzleloading shotguns only, using shot no larger than number 2.  If FWC Commissioners approve the rule, all rifles, pistols, buckshot and slugs will be prohibited during spring turkey hunts on WMAs, beginning...

Time to apply for wild hog quota hunt permits

Phase I applications accepted until April 12 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is accepting applications through April 12 during its Phase I random drawing for quota permits to hunt wild hogs on selected wildlife management areas. These quota permits are for hog-only hunts (both still and dog), where hunters can use modern firearms.  Many of the new summer hunts are night-only hunts.  In addition, permits for the dog hunts allow hunting with up to three dogs at...