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Deer hunting still going strong in Zone D

Outta’ the Woods by Tony Young Hunting season has been pretty good so far. I shot a 170-pound 7 point and a doe during Zone C’s doe week. Then, I shot another doe on the first day of Zone D’s antlerless deer season. What made that hunt special was that I took it off some property I have on the Sopchoppy River that’s less than an acre in size!  And, it was the very first time I ever even hunted...

Youth waterfowl hunting days are Feb. 5-6, 2011

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established Feb. 5-6 as Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. These select days are a great opportunity to get young people outdoors and to introduce them to the excitement of waterfowl hunting. The statewide, two-day season allows children younger than 16 years old – with adult supervision – to hunt waterfowl, coots and common moorhens.  Supervisors (18 years or older) must be present and may assist young...

Gulf grouper sport season closes Feb. 1

Closure through March 31 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises anglers that the recreational harvest of all shallow-water groupers (gag, black, red, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, rock hind and red hind) is prohibited from Feb. 1 through March 31 in all Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters off Florida, except in all waters of Monroe County. Closing the recreational harvest of all Gulf shallow-water grouper species for two months during the spawning season is designed to reduce overfishing...

FWC announces blue crab trap area closure Jan. 5 – 14

Closure will give authorized groups the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps The harvest of blue crabs from traps will not be allowed from Jan. 5 through Jan. 14 in all waters of Franklin County west to the Florida-Alabama border, except all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Ochlockonee Bay.  This closure will give authorized groups the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the coastal and inland waters in...

December’s traditions include holiday hunting

Outta The Woods by Tony Young There’s finally a chill and a certain festiveness in the air as most of us try to take time off from work to enjoy spending quality time with family and friends and reflect on the passing year.  Children will be out of school on winter break soon, and while the holiday season is upon us, so are several traditional hunting opportunities. The second phase of waterfowl and coot season comes in statewide Dec. 11...

Northwest Florida hunting season dates for 2010-2011

FWC general hunting dates (Seasons and dates are not applicable to wildlife management areas) Season for Northwest Zone Hunting: General gun season reopens Dec.11 – 25. Don’t forget you need a $5 deer license! Zone D – Northwest Florida – Public lands Deer: Crossbow Season: Nov. 29 – Dec. 3 Antlered deer only by crossbow or bow Muzzleloading Gun Season: Dec. 4–10 and Feb. 21–27 – Antlered deer only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow General Gun Season: Dec. 11 –...

Walton County fishing and hunting report for Nov. 17

Good abundance of speckled trout along with scattered sheepshead and drum Bay: Lot of fish being caught in the bay. Abundance of speckled trout and scattered drum and sheepshead being caught. Fresh:  Hopefully the rain has helped the river levels a bit as folks were getting grounded with the water levels so low. Crappie and some catfish being caught. Danny Copeland wants to remind folks that the resident shoreline license is free. Come on by! Click here for best times...

Bald eagle shot in Fort Walton Beach, agencies seeking information

Sizeable reward offered for information leading to arrest Two agencies are offering rewards for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever shot a bald eagle Oct. 15 in Fort Walton Beach. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a reward of up to $1,000 through its Wildlife Alert Reward Program for information leading to the arrest of the person who shot the eagle.  The Wildlife Alert number is 888-404-FWCC (3922). Separately, the U.S. Fish...