News Releases

FWC to add youth turkey hunts, modify hog-dog hunts on public lands

News Release

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Media contact: Tony Young, 850-488-7867

The seven-member Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) directed staff Wednesday to advertise a package of new rule proposals to be voted on at the February 2011 meeting. The proposed rules could affect hunting on many of the state's wildlife management areas (WMA).

Most of the rule proposals apply to specific WMAs. A summary of the proposals is available online as part of the Dec. 1-2 meeting agenda at MyFWC.com/Commission. Two of the rules, however, would affect hunting managed areas on a statewide scale.

The first proposed rule would establish youth turkey hunts on 78 FWC-managed areas, all of which support adequate turkey populations, and would create a youth turkey quota permit. Forty-nine of the 78 areas will require a youth turkey quota permit, and only those youths who will be less than 16 years old on the last day of the youth turkey hunt can apply for this opportunity.

The youth turkey hunts would be two-day, Saturday-Sunday hunts, which would occur the weekend prior to the opening of spring turkey season on each particular WMA.  If approved in February, these new hunts would take effect beginning with the 2012 season.

These hunts will be available for youths younger than 16 years old who are supervised by and in the presence of an adult, 18 years of age or older, but only the youth will be allowed to harvest a turkey.

Adult supervisors won't be required to have licenses or permits, but they won't be allowed to participate in the hunt. They will be allowed to supervise only.  However, any adult supervisor who has all of the required license and permits would be allowed to do the "calling" and otherwise participate in the hunt; but only the youths are allowed to harvest a turkey.

The second rule proposal would remove the one-gun restriction on all hog quota hunts using dogs.  Currently, these "hog-dog" quota hunts allow only one hunter (permit-holder), one gun, one assistant and up to three dogs.  An additional person also can join the hunting party, if a guest permit is obtained in that person's name.

If the Commission approves the proposed rule at the February meeting, each participant will be allowed to hunt with a gun, beginning with the 2011-12 hunting season.

Details about all these rule proposals can be viewed at MyFWC.com/Commission by clicking on the agenda for the Dec. 1-2 meeting.