Great radio from the Apalachicola Bay in North Florida
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Your Guide to Florida Hunting
October
FWC’s Hunting Hot Sheet
The latest hunting and conservation news and events from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Top 5 reasons to make time this month for Florida hunting seasons
Hunting seasons are ramping up in Florida this month. Zone C muzzleloading season opens Saturday, Oct. 22, and archery and crossbow seasons open in Zone D. Zone B archery and crossbow seasons opened Oct. 15 and gray squirrel season has been underway since Oct. 8. However, life is so fast paced these days that it’s easy to let these great opportunities slip through your fingers. So here are 5 important reasons why you should set aside time to go hunting this autumn.
Hunting is a great way to set aside your worries and stress for a while. Seeing a beautiful sunrise, hearing a chorus of bird music and feeling the breeze on your face are guaranteed ways to focus your mind in a positive direction.
It provides a special way to connect with those you care about. A few precious hours spent in a deer stand with your spouse, son, daughter, or grandchildren is the ultimate way to experience the beauty of the outdoors.
When the trip afield is successful, it means you can prolong the treasured memories by preparing a healthy, locally sourced meal. Wild game meat is often more lean and lower in calories compared to other choices as well as being delicious.
Every trip to the woods or fields is a learning experience, whether you’re a new hunter or have many seasons under your belt. And when your knowledge of the quarry and their habitat and your woodsmanship skills come together for a successful hunt, it’s an achievement to be proud and grateful for.
Your purchase of a hunting license directly supports conservation, and also contributes in a less obvious way. Every hunting license that’s bought is factored into a formula that determines the amount of Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration dollars a state receives. The more Florida licenses purchased, the more money from shooting sports industries and participants that comes directly back to Florida.
A diversity of migratory and resident species and an abundance of wetland habitat makes Florida a great place to hunt ducks. At this free workshop, you’ll learn about where to hunt, waterfowl identification, what gear is needed and hunting strategies so you can enjoy safe, responsible waterfowling.
Workshop date and time:Saturday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Workshop location: Palm Bay Police Department Firearms Training Center 620 Hurley Rd SW Palm Bay, Florida 32908
The FWC is monitoring for chronic wasting disease (CWD) again this year, and we need your help.
CWD is a fatal disease of all members of the deer family, similar to mad cow disease. CWD was originally discovered in Colorado in 1980 and now occurs in 24 other states. Early detection is crucial because once the disease is established, it is extremely difficult to wipe out. FWC has been conducting CWD surveillance since 2002 and to date, CWD has not been found in Florida.
FWC wants to ensure its sampling is as comprehensive as possible and has identified the following 22 counties where surveillance will be focused. Hunters in these counties are asked to consider having their deer sampled. To participate, please contact the CWD hotline at 866-293-9282immediately after harvesting a deer.
Anyone throughout Florida who sees a sick, injured or dead (including road-killed) deer should immediately contact the CWD hotline at 866-293-9282.
There is currently no evidence that CWD is transmissible to humans. Learn more aboutCWD.
Additional samples are needed from the following counties: Baker, Bradford, Broward, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Pinellas, Sarasota, St. Lucie, and Union.
Proposed hunting rule changes: Have you provided your input yet?
FWC staff have drafted about 115 proposed rule changes for hunting and wildlife management areas that would impact 2017 hunting seasons. At the November Commission meeting, FWC Commissioners will review these rule change proposals and provide guidance to staff on how to proceed. Commissioners will consider the proposed rule changes for final adoption at their February 8-9, 2017, meeting.
If you haven’t provided your input on these proposed changes yet, please take this poll now so your feedback is available for the upcoming Commission meeting. Please click the link below to get started:
USDA confirms New World Screwworm cases in Florida Keys
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the presence of New World Screwworm in Key deer from Big Pine Key and No Name Key, Florida. It is the first infestation in the United States in more than 30 years.
An agricultural state of emergency has been declared in Monroe County. Animal health and wildlife officials at the state and federal levels are working jointly to keep the infestation from spreading to new areas while eradicating the New World Screwworm flies from the affected Keys.
The infestation appears to be confined to the Florida Keys; however, hunters can play an important role in screwworm surveillance and preventing its spread by examining deer and feral hogs they harvest for signs of screwworm infestation. Any open wounds with maggots should be immediately reported to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) by calling: 1-800-HELP-FLA (800-435-7352). The harvested animal or affected area should be double-bagged and placed on ice or frozen. The carcass should not be transported, and FWC recommends not eating deer or other game with a screwworm infestation.
Also, if your pet or other animal is exhibiting signs of screwworms you can submit a photo and FDACS veterinarians will review it and respond to you. For more information, visit http://www.FreshFromFlorida.com/Screwworm
Short Cuts
Youth Hunting Program of Florida
This program provides opportunities for youth between 12 and 17 years of age to experience safe, educational, mentored youth hunts. New hunts are being added all the time so check out the hunt calendar.
Registration is open for the Feb. 17-19, 2017, Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop, which is held at the Everglades Youth Conservation Camp in the JW Corbett management area near West Palm Beach. This workshop is a wonderful opportunity for those 18 years old and up to learn hunting, fishing and other outdoor skills. It's also a great way to meet others who also enjoy the outdoors. Learn more about Becoming an Outdoors-Woman!
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