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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...

Easter weekend brings free freshwater fishing to Florida

Cast a line into the creeks and rivers Sat. and Sun., it’s free! Both residents and nonresidents in Florida can fish in public fresh waters across the state without a license during the weekend of April 3 and 4. All other fishing rules apply. The Florida Legislature and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) designated the first full weekend in April each year to be Florida’s Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend. This year, that falls on Easter weekend. This is...

FWC monitors Northwest Florida forests for reticulated flatwoods salamanders

Endangered species monitoring an ongoing process As an ongoing study started two years ago, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), has been monitoring for the endangered reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi) in the Point Washington State Forest, Pine Log State Forest, and the Carter Tract in the Econfina Wildlife Management area. The reticulated flatwoods salamander is a split from the frosted flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum), which is found east of the Apalachicola river. Both species can only be found...

Gulf grouper recreational season opens April 1

Recreational and commercial harvest of shallow-water groupers remains closed until May 1 The recreational harvest of grouper in all Gulf of Mexico waters off Florida, except in all waters of Monroe County, reopens on April 1. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) closed the Gulf recreational shallow-water grouper fishery (gag, black, red, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, rock hind and red hind) on Feb. 1 to protect gag grouper, which anglers often find and catch with the other grouper species. ...

Spring means sharing the beach with shorebirds

Watch for nesting shorebirds this spring As Florida’s residents and visitors venture out to the beaches, so do the state’s abundant and unique shorebirds. But there’s a big difference between the two beachcombers in Florida. Shorebirds depend on those narrow stretches of sand to survive, not only in the short term, but to survive as a species. Without the proper nesting sites and feeding habitat, the number of shorebird species may decline. Some species’ numbers are already stressed, so accidentally...

Two Northwest Florida national wildlife refuges offer special hunts

Special deer and wild hog hunt applications begin May 4 This fall, Northwest Florida offers some special deer and wild hog hunts at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and a unique “big-game” hunt on the island of St. Vincent NWR. The application period for these hunts begins at 10 a.m. May 4 and continues through 11:59 p.m. June 10. There are two archery hunts, two general gun hunts and one mobility-impaired gun hunt on St. Marks NWR, which covers...