2006 UW-F Project Proposed List

[N. Cook]

I am putting this on the Public Forum and non members are welcome to comment. This list will be finalized at the UW-F Winter Board Meeting and Hunt in Clewiston Jan. 14/15.

EXPAND STA HUNTING TO INCLUDE STA 2.

ESTABLISH EARLY TEAL SEASON IN LOXAHATCHEE REFUGE.

CONDUCT WATERFOWL SEMINARS AT THE FWC YOUTH CAMPS.

HAVE MINWR NO MOTOR ZONES CONSIDER WATERFOWL ACCESS.

IMPROVE ACCESS TO WATERFOWLING IN TAMPA BAY AREA.

ESTABLISH FULL WATERFOWL SEASONS ON SFWME'S CERP RESERVOIRS.

INPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO MOCCASIN ISLAND AND ADJACENT UPPER ST. JOHNS RIVER MARSHES.

ADJUST WMA REGULATIONS TO ALLOW WATERFOWLING ON ALL DAYS OF THE SEASON WITH THE EXCEPTION OF QUOTA HUNT DAYS.

IMPROVE WATER LEVEL MANAGEMENT AT LAKE OKEECHOBEE (LOWER).

PREVENT BACKFILLING OF L 67 CANAL TO SAVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO GLADES.

SUPPORT BRIDGE SYSTEM FOR TAMIAMI TRAIL THAT ALLOWS PUBLIC ACCESS TO GLADES.

INCREASE HUNTING ACCESS TO ALL STATE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS LANDS NOT IN WMAS.

STANDARDIZE QUOTA AND FEE PROGRAM FOR THE THREE CONTROLLED SJWMD MARSHES: ANNUAL FEE AND PER HUNT FEE.

EXPLORE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN A NORTHERN SECTION OF THE LOXAHATCHEE FEDERAL REFUGE TO PUBLIC USE WITH ACCESS FROM THE NEW BOAT RAMP.

ADVANCE SOVEREIGN LAND ACCESS PROJECT STATEWIDE

Suggestions, comments, ideas....ALL WELCOME

[Converted]

Continue Talks With Dep And Districts Re: Invasive Plant Management

[Randy Clark]

need a sta in central florida or get them to treat emeralda as oneand maybe be more reasonably to our request concerning hydrilla spraying

[DUCKWHACKER]

I second that Randy. An STA in central Florida would be great. SWFMWD sure has enough land available in this area.

[duckmanhar]

Randy,

Emeralda will never be treated like an STA. St. Johns has several options for a quality hunt for which you can purchase at any local sports store.

The issue at hand is we have had several quote" STA's in this region and the areas have not been accepted by the local hunters. IE Ocklawaha, Orange creek and several other areas open for a PAY PER hunt. Not much interest has been shown in any of the above listed areas. If we don't support the areas the property will be lost.

In order for these areas to stay open and be free for a good hunt. WE need to support these areas. Most of Us hunt with a partner and the cost for a good hunt would be about $12 BUCKS .

So far this year not much support has been shown. The above listed properties are just as good as Emeralda.

These areas are a TRUE flowaway zones and are under remediation just as the STA'S in the south.

To stay true to our mission we should pressure the managment to allow a single price permit for all areas. THIS WOULD DISPERSE the crowded conditions at Emeralda.


Just my 2 cents


Phil

[Wilbur]

Well said Phil. These areas are our STA's of the north. $26.50 will get you a permit that is good for the season for either Emerelda or Orange Creek, and Ocklawaha Prairie will cost about $25 for a day hunt, with no hassles of trying to get a permit for the day that you want to hunt. Hunting is only allowed on Sat, Sun, and Wed, so the ducks have a chance to rest unpressured.

[N. Cook]

What I am suggesting...and it really needs the folks who hunt these three properties consensus....is a single season fee to hunt all three and a per diem at the same price for each one for
all three.

I believe that would attract a number of participants because of the flexibility. $26.50 for a season permit on all of them.....$10.00 a day?

First come, first serve system for the daily quota numbers?

[matthersjr]

Just put the 3 areas under the same structure as the STA's down south.

Make improvements to Hickory Mound.

Redo the impoundments out at Chass NWR - and open them to waterfowl only.

Stop spraying hydrilla in Talsa Apopka Chain and in the With River.

Allow waterfowl hunting on all WMAs during all 3 phases of duck hunting (earlyteal, 1st phase and 2nd phase).

[Keith Yates]

Have regs changed to require a WMA permit to hunt the STA/Goodwin type waterfowl areas. Not sure why they are not currently required? This would help FWC funding.

[Randy Clark]

have not hunted the areas you are talking about not so much due to the fee but not enough ducks on emeralda last year so i never ventured north but who knows maybe ill try it out

[D Duck]

The fees that SJRWMD is requiring for Ocklawaha is rediculous.... We need to push for a single permit for all 3 areas and request that each be managed more effectively for waterfowl - it seems to working well down south....

The overcrowding issues we are seeing at EM and MI, are due mainly to the lack of huntable areas in the region. When the water in the SJR is high and the lack of vegetation in the wetlands is at the current state, waterfowl will flock to other areas and so will the hunters....

[Wilbur]

The pay per hunt fee for Ocklawaha Prairie is not a good thing in my opinion. They need to make it like Emerelda or Orange Creek a flat fee for all season. Combining all three would triple the price I'm sure. I would buy a permit for Emerelda and Ocklawaha and possibly Orange Creek if I heard alot of good reports. Combining all three together could lessen the amount of funds coming into SJR and those funds help to keep these areas open. Lets just move towards getting a single permit fee for Ocklawaha and watch some of the pressure drop from Emerelda. As far as management the habitat is good and there is no shortage of duck food. There are plenty of ducks if you are willing to work a little and get where the less ambitious hunters aren't.

[Kevin Hall]

Wilbur,

I'm going to have to disagree with you on the SJR permits ...

ALL areas should be combined into ONE permit that is good for all season. Believe me ... SJRWMD has enough money. Every one of us pays ad valorem taxes to the various WMDs. WHY should hunters be the only one singled out to have to pay TWICE. Fishermen, birdwatchers, hikers, bikers, and equestrians pay absolutely nothing to use WMD properties ... why should we?

[D Duck]

Kevin is right. They do not NEED the money generated from permit sales (they will claim different however) and we are getting nixed twice. I have no problem purchasing a permit for the season, but think 1 permit should cover all 3 properties, similar to the old Upper St. Johns permit several years back. The WMA's are handled the same way.

[FLAWaterfowler]

One fee for all areas...great idea...

A user fee for ALL people that use public property ... better idea that'll probably never fly..gee, they might even be able to pay for some enforcement and improvements then...

How about a resident Canada goose season? Were about overrun by the buggers here in NE Fla

[N. Cook]

I have not seen those canadas!!! If there is a group in your area they will grow in numbers until they are really a nuisance.....states with resident geese causing problems usually have a"nuisance goose" season the first weekend in Sept. or so. I think it would fit with early teal season in FL as there are no migrants even that late.

There is no habitat or other reason geese cannot prosper in FL, and green heads for that matter....there just is no historic migration pattern.

I can tell you over a 20 year period I watched the goose population go from almost nothing to thousands of resident birds in Central Ohio and had a great time hunting them when they opened the season, first with one bird per day then two in a special season, then just regular seasons during duck hunting.

[Keith Yates]

So why can't we shoot canada's state wide? There used to be a group almost every year on the USJ's well before the days of goodwin/broadmoor.

[Kevin Hall]

While we are on the subject of geese ...

I would like to see the season on snow geese (light geese) expanded statewide. The "official" reason for not allowing a statewide season was that FWC was afraid that someone would shoot a whooping crane. :confused:

Anyone that could possibly confuse a snow goose and a whooping crane needs to have their gun taken away from them because they have absolutely no business hunting for anything!! :icon_salu

[swilli1054]

Sneads Smokehouse northern Jefferson county on the Aucilla river needs to have an aggressive aquatic weed control. I would estimate that over the last 20 years 80% of the open water has become weed choked. Sloughs that we used to hunt woodies in now look like a green carpet. This area used to be a gem of north florida hunting. 2 miles from one of Pickney Hill Plantation corn ponds. Was an area that green heads were routinely killed. Agricultural run off from N Florida and S Georgia have resulted in silting and plants growing from fertilizer run off.This is in the Suwannee River WMD area. Have we (UW-FL) had any dealings with SRWMD? do we have a point of contact with them?

[N. Cook]

I do not know of any member activly working that WMD...I have their brouchure and monitor their web site. UW-F depends on local members and Regional Directors to make the contacts and do the meetings etc. needed on any local issue. You are empowered as a member with a statewide group behind you. I suggest you join with other like minded members. Please look at the latest Newsletter and see if the WMD you are speaking of is listed as one we requested a full season on.....and what the reply was. I will be more than glad to write letters and seek FWC in Tall. support as soon as the local members reach a consensus on what they want to accomplish.

[DuckManDan]

I think the openning of STA 2 ( formally Browns Farm ) would be one of the biggest things that should be done for waterfowlers....That place is loaded with ducks....My friend few over it in his copper and said you could not even see open water there was so many ducks in there

[Pirate91]

Who may know when "construction" will be complete at Emeralda? I know it's been in process for the last 3 years with 2 areas completely closed. This dumps everybody into one area and I think we all know which one that is. Borders on unsafe.......

[ShotGunED]

require all users of national wildlife refuges to purchase a duck stamp...not JUST hunters

[N. Cook]

Thanks for the suggestions....we will discuss them at the meeting....I have updated the list with a couple of more.

[DuckManDan]

Here is something I think everyone will enjoy....Changing the number of permits allowed into each STA based on its size

[David B]

Newton, & all

I have read several great suggestions here and one sticks out with me. I am one that wants all recreational users to pay a fair share for their fun times. The state parks work that way and WMA/SGA's should as well. If we pay the most, then we should receive the most. I realize that won't happen, but it irks me that we fund and take what we are given. I would love to see the quota system trashed for the most part.

Regards
David

[Steve]

Hey Newton,
How about getting some regs on parking outside the STAs into the STA regs? Billy was telling me that vehicles were parked along both sides of the road leading into STA 5 yesterday and his truck barely squeezed through and he had to tell guys to move.
Most of the knowledgeable walk-ins park on the right side so the permit holders can drive up to the gate. Yesterday this bozo would-be walk-in shows up just before 5, parks on the left and sits there, blocking like four permit-holder vehicles. Someone finally told the nitwit to get the heck out of the way.
At a recent hunt at 3/4, there were so many walk-in vehicles everywhere that Billy had to let permit holders drive in early just to prevent a huge bottleneck and potential traffic mishaps.
Maybe there could be something about walk-ins parking in line on the right so permit holders can get by? I know the roads leading to the STAs are not water management district or FWC property so it might not be a concern to them, but it sure would make life a little easier. Especially if you have a permit and are running late and have to run to the gate to check in because you can't drive up.

[RutnNStrutn]

We have talked up the everyone pays to play plan before. In my opinion, that should be at the top of the list. Hunters are hit the hardest, and then regulated the hardest as well, while given the least amount of consideration. Fisherman, hikers, bikers, bird watchers, campers, and EQUESTRIANS should all have to pay to play. The amount of extra money generated for the state would be incredible. Then they would have the money to make things happen.
The next thing on UWF's list should be ensuring that ALL state lands and waters are open to hunters, and if not, have a darn good reason why. I'm sick of seeing the Public Land - Conserving Florida's Future signs, and then finding out hunters aren't allowed, while equestrians get their own private riding club. :tard:
Those 2 issues should be right at the top.

[David B]

If we pay, then so should the rest of the field. If you do not have a management area stamp, you do not enter for any recreational reason what so ever!
Yes, I would like to know why each piece of land isn't open to us as well.
The money spent by WMDs for other user groups is astonishing. Yet we contribute funds to agencies, both state and federal with permit fees and stamps. I wnat to play nice and be polite, not wanting to wake the grumpy lion. Yet there needs to be some accountablility from those that regulate and dictate our usages. I have heard that we pay, because we take from the wild argument before. It doesn't fly with me.


(Sidetracking )
Where are these monies being spent? If they are going into a general coffer at the state level, then who is getting them?

Thanks Jim, now I am ****ed off and the rest of my day will be grumbly. Oh well, I needed a wake up call.

[Keith Yates]

Thanks Jim now I'm on a roll. Quota system needs an overhaul. The first phase of the draw should not be transferrable. 2nd and 3rd phase transferrable. This would give everybody at least 1 valid/ethical shot at a regular/special/turkey quota hunt. Just print them differently. The gaming has got to go without FWC losing that revenue.

[Converted]

(Sidetracking )
Where are these monies being spent? If they are going into a general coffer at the state level, then who is getting them?...

The hunting fees go to the FWC budget. It's less money than you might think. Everyone talks about the special opp application fees and quotas and WMA Stamps as a big money maker for the State but ALL of the hunting related fees only add up to 6-7% of the FWC budget.

I'll throw out some food for thought. You actually have to think a bit about this one. The knee-jerk reaction is easy but...

The people that pay for an area naturally have more influence over how an area is managed. Before we go hog wild wanting bird watchers and hikers to pay up, ask yourself if you want them to have more influence over how the area is managed? It's not an easy question. I would certainly like to see all users pay into the system but I want hunters to be the ones that the FWC turns to when deciding how to run a particular piece of property. BTW I think you do have to pay day use fees but I doubt they are enforced to any great degree.

[Keith Yates]

I have been a part of a FWC Conceptual Management Plan team. It has representatives from most user groups. Everyone had the same voting weight. 3/4's of the user man days were by hunters and there was 1 visit by an equestrian within the last year and theie vote carried as much weight as the hunters vote. Of course I shared with the team that the hunters vote should carry more weight but was shut down by the FWC.

[David B]

Somewhere long ago ( which translates to - I am not for certain) I heard that a percentage of our hunting license, permits and stamps fee went into a restoration trust fund. I believe that it was setup for lakes and wildlife areas.
I recall that year when the state budget was ran through in Tally, monies in millions or a million was removed from this trust fund and placed in the general coffer for the state to distribute as needed. Homeland security had put a crunch on the state's budget that year.
I often think about this when money from hunters is brought up. I believe that I have a copy of the budget request and finalization from that year.
Where I am going?
If our (the) money that is generated by sportspeople isn't safe in a trust fund. Then where is it safe that it will get used as it was intended when the system was conceived?
So if we (license holders hunting/fishing ) are the ones generating funds for these purposes and others are enjoying the free ride, why don't we have a stronger voice in our wants.
In this day and age when state agencies are fighting for every dollar and trying to hang to programs with limited funding, it would make sense that they call for an even share of the user fees.

I am going to research several large projects by dollar amounts and try to do a comparison of costs.
I believe that you will see where I am coming from.
Please feel free to correct any and all of this wherever I have faultered. If my understanding is incorrect, please straighten me out. It would be much better to learn , than go on believing incorrectly.

As always
Regards

David B.

[RutnNStrutn]

Thanks Jim, now I am ****ed off and the rest of my day will be grumbly. Oh well, I needed a wake up call.
Thanks Jim now I'm on a roll.
No problem guys, just doing my part!!!! :icon_twis :icon_salu

Well, let's go ahead and add that to the list too. The highest paying users get the most say, that will put us ahead in the game, won't it?

[godvlman]

Newton,

I may be wrong, I am for opening up as many STA's as possible. I have looked at STA 2 now a few times in the last few months and it is more overgrown than the south cell at STA 1. The property that is holding all the waterfowl is private property ( I dont know who owns it) but it is not the old "Browns Farm Area" that was turned into a STA a few years ago.

Like I said I may be wrong but just dont want everyone to get dissappointed in the near future if we do get to hunt it and it looks like it does now!!

Some spraying or removal of some aquatic plants would definetly have to been done before the area is huntable!!

[N. Cook]

We are concerned about the STAs as I have said....the mandate to remove phosporous drives the management and that could mean cattail monocultures or more Holeylands.....We are working as best we can for a "mixed" culture of emergent and submergent plants. Hoping hydrilla will be the latter.

If the STAs do end up no good for ducks, at least they will go back to their traditional haunts in the glades!!!! One of the main reasons for hunting the STAs is to run the ducks off them at least one day a week and hopefully spread them out a bit.

[matthersjr]

open Potts, Half Moon and Flying Eagle WMAs to duck hunting for the entire season not just on days that coincide with the currently established hunting days