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FWC solicits feedback on new bear management plan

New management plan will include measurable objectives regarding bear populations, habitat, citizen education and outreach, and human-bear conflicts After dwindling to as few as 300 bears in the 1970s, the Florida black bear population has rebounded to an estimated 3,000 bears today. Bears and their cubs roam forests and swamps from Eglin Air Force Base in the Panhandle to Ocala National Forest in the state’s midsection and Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation...

FWC offers hunter safety course in Walton County

Class held in DeFuniak Springs Nov. 5 – 6 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety course in Walton County. The course is at the Shooting Range, 955 Smith Road in DeFuniak Springs. Instruction is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 6. An adult must accompany children under age 16 at all times. Students should bring a pencil and paper with them to...

FWC asks fishermen to report giant tiger prawn

Nonnative species of shrimp found in East Bay The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking fishermen to be on the lookout for nonnative giant tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) after a recent sighting in East Bay near Panama City. The Sept. 19 catch marks the first time a giant tiger prawn was reported to the FWC in Florida’s northern Gulf of Mexico waters. Reports have been common in Atlantic coastal waters, and three were reported off the coast...

Dove season arrives in Northwest Florida

First of three phases runs from Oct. 1 – 24 From the FWC –  By Stan Kirkland, FWC For many Florida hunters the mourning dove season marks the opening of the hunting season. The first phase of the season runs from Oct. 1 – 24, with shooting allowed from noon to legal sunset. Both mourning doves and white-winged doves are legal to take during the three phase season. Eurasian collared doves, an exotic species now found throughout many parts of...

Florida huntin’ season is crankin’ up!

Outta’ the Woods By Tony Young Football season is in full swing, and the 2011-12 hunting season is cranking up. Heck, in Zone A, they’re already into general gun season. But for the rest of us, I’d like to cover the rules and regulations regarding two hunting seasons that are just around the corner: muzzleloading gun and the first phase of dove. Immediately following the close of crossbow season in each zone, the muzzleloading gun season begins. Season dates run...

Free hunter safety Internet-completion course in Holmes County

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety Internet-completion course in Holmes County. The course will be at the First Baptist Church, 211 N. Waukesha St. in Bonifay. Instruction is from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 16 and 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 17, 2011. Students must complete the Internet course before coming to class and bring a copy of the final report from the online portion of the course. The final report form...

Women’s outdoor workshop coming to Panama City Oct. 15, 2011

Sessions in archery, fishing, wilderness survival, kayaking and more Wanted:  Adventurous and outdoorsy women wishing to learn more about Florida’s great outdoors in a comfortable, noncompetitive, hands-on environment. If this could be you, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to participate in the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) mini-workshop in Panama City. The single-day workshop takes place Saturday, Oct. 15 at Gulf Coast State College along the beautiful shores of St. Andrews Bay. The workshop runs 9 a.m....

Gulf fishing for tarpon are worth the effort

Catching silver kings great fun on fly rods From the desk of the FWC, By Stan Kirkland The coastal waters of Florida are home to a wide variety of fish but tarpon have few equals when it comes to strength and jumping ability. Commonly called “silver kings,” tarpon are found all along the Gulf Coast in the summer months and as far north as Virginia on the Atlantic. Tarpon can grow to 8 feet in length and weigh up to...