Quota hunt permit ?

[darkwing duck]

How do you feel about buying or selling quota permit's? If you know of some illegal activity what would you do?

[jtlillia]

Trading Is Ok. Selling And Buying Is Asking For Trouble. It Also Does Nothing Good For The Honest Guy Or Gal Trying To Get A Chance To Hunt A Nice Public Tract Of Land. These Are The Types Of Actions That Cost Us All In The End.

[N. Cook]

Oh....I'm absolutely positively sure it never happens! MONEY CHANGING HANDS FOR A PRIVILEDGED HUNTING OPPORTUNITY.....NEVER!!!

The Quota system insures "quality" hunts to all those who are so lucky to be drawn......

and everyone else just rushes right out to buy FL hunting licenses just for the fun of it!

[D Duck]

Then entire quota system is screwed up IMO. Permits should require the recipient to be at the hunt, no substitutes. This would allow the honest guy to get a fair shake against the one who puts is 10 family members, 2 dogs and his goat for permits and trades them like baseball cards to get what he/she wants.

I'm sure I'll take a little heat for this reply, but the system is set up in such a way that it condones "cheating".

[Keith Yates]

D Duck is absolutely right. The systen is set up to encourage all to buy as many WMA permits in anybodies name who is willing to help you out. Which of course makes it greedy hunter vs ethical hunter. I called Susan Weaver with the licensing divison of FWC and they could not provide me any data on how many WMA permits were purchased within the last year that the customer did not also purchase a hunting license. This needs to be brought to light during the Summit this week.

Dennis if you here of someone selling permits call the FWC and you may be eligible for a reward if prosecuted and remain anonymous.

[duckmanJR]

I'm 100% with D duck.....and if I had knowledge of someone "gaming"
I WOULD PERSONNALY BURN THEIR BUTT TO THE GROUND...I would also press the FFWC to prosecute to the fullest!
That said, it is a "small potatoes" thing with regard to being a crime.

The FFWC should take the lead here and make ipermits NON TRANSFERABLE... This way the honest hunter has as fair a shot at a premium permit as the cheater. Any "no show" could be filled with a walk-on.

[DUCKWHACKER]

My huntin' buddies and I have discussed this for years. I know of a handfull of guys who buy 6-10 WMA stamps a year. The non-transferable idea seems like a simple solution but I'm not sure FWC wants to kill the cash cow. Same thing applies to special oppertunity hunts. I know folks who drop up to $300 in $5 application fees to all but gaurantee getting the one permit they covet. This is a major sticking point with the low budget hunter who can't compete with the high rollers. I agree this should be addressed at the summit.

[Steve]

You're dead-on about the WMA stamps being a cash cow. I know a guy who buys a license and stamp for himself and 7 stamps for his wife, kids, mother, father-in-law, et al. He usually gets 4-6 special hunt permits and the same number of regular permits, then uses the rejections to get the tough hunts like Dinner Island the following season. This past spring he went 8-for-8 on turkey permits. All the FWC knows is it's making $200 off this guy as opposed to $25 for just his stamp. It's be great if you all can work out a solution at the summit, other than jacking up the price of a stamp.

[Steve]

Almost forgot, the FWC got this guy who really abused the permit system ...

Investigators from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) charged, arrested and jailed a Polk County man July 18 on four counts of felony identity theft, four counts of falsifying information on state hunting applications and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
FWC investigators believe Alfred Joseph Tatro, 62, of 539 Ranger Park Court, Davenport, falsified information on dozens of applications for free permits to hunt on public lands. Investigators said Tatro schemed to use the names of people, without their permission, on applications to increase his odds of being picked for the special permits – decreasing other hunters’ chances of getting drawn. Tatro would then use the permits himself, give the permits away to friends or trade the permits. Some of those listed on the applications had never heard of Tatro, investigators said.
All permit drawings for special hunting opportunities are accomplished through a random computer selection. Tatro was caught when information on hunt applications was checked and cross-referenced in the agency’s computer database for discrepancies. FWC investigators set up surveillance at Hilochee Wildlife Management Area near Clermont on April 8, where Tatro was photographed showing his shotgun to FWC undercover officers and using the illegally obtained permits.
Falsifying information on state applications is a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum $500 fine and 60 days in jail. Identity theft is a third-degree felony, punishable by a maximum $5,000 fine and five years in prison. Possession of a firearm by a felon is a second-degree felony punishable, by a maximum $10,000 fine and 15 years in prison.

[ironeyes]

Non-transferable permits seems like a plausible idea. But I agree in that I dont believe ANY gov't agency will kill the cash cow.

[RutnNStrutn]

You're dead-on about the WMA stamps being a cash cow.
That is exactly why things aren't likely to change. The state is taking this mess to the bank. I too know several people that buy 6-10 WMA stamps a piece, and every season score on multiple good hunts. Is it any wonder the average Joe can't even get a hunt on public land?
The bigger problems are these.
1) Florida is being developed so fast that the available hunting land is dwindling.
2) Due to that fact, the value of the land is going through the roof.
3) The state won't pay as much as private groups will to lease the land.
4) The state's population continues to grow, as does the demand for recreational opportunities.
5) The state is not keeping pace with growth when it comes to providing those opportunities. In fact, the last few years they have been losing some historically popular good hunting areas.
All these add up to one big mess that is getting worse every year.

[Randy Clark]

but also to have them non transferable limits the chance of my buddy who had to work and gave my son his first youth hunt at andrews that would have been a wasted permit if it was non transferable

[DUCKWHACKER]

For every situation as above, there are probably 10 cases of abuse. I too have received permits when some one could not use it, but wonder how many good draws I lost out on to the guys submitting multiple applications?

[Converted]

I like the idea of non-transferable permits good for you and one guest. Similar to the waterfowl permits. That takes care of the buddy/kid situation

[duckmanJR]

David

Again, a good Idea...but one that the state might not embrace. The root of all evil is $$$$ and like Rut said..The state is banking the $$ of the cheaters and turning a blind eye..If license # are falling..It is from honest sportsmen WHO REFUSE TO CHEAT THE SYSTEM AND OTHER ETHICAL SPORTSMEN!!!
I can spend my money out of state just as easily....