St. Petes Times misguided editorial

[Milan]

According to the Times, our efforts and claims are "dubious" , but are they?!

Hunting already exists on more than 132,000 acres and in more than a dozen places within Swiftmud's 54 tracts of land in its 16-county district. But the United Waterfowlers of Florida wants more. The group has been pushing hard across the state for more access.

Read full article here:
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article1188667.ece

[Quackers]

Picnicers, hikers, birders and horse back riders don't pay anything.

[lanestephens]

I submitted the following letter to the editor in response to the St Pete Times editorial. That far-left paper has decided not to print, so I thought I'd at least post what I sent them. I also sent an e-mail to the editor of the sports page, asking him to weigh in, and, I sent direct e-mails to 3 of the salt-water fishing captains who regularly report on St Pete Times. I told them they, too, should stick up for hunters on this issue.

Sportsmen and Horseback Riders Can and Do Co-exist

In response to your editorial “Hunters’ claim to new Florida lands is dubious” I respectfully disagree with your position and assertion that hunters and the non-hunting public cannot share publically owned lands. Further, your editorial attempts to minimize the significance of sportsmen in Florida.

Florida is home to 2 million hunters and anglers, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to our state each year to enjoy our woods and waters. Sportsmen spend $4.8 billion each year and support 85,000 jobs. This generates $484 million in state tax revenue. Sportsmen buy gas, food, bait, and gear from your local businesses and they fill hotels in your area.

The biggest complaint by hunters in Florida is the loss of access to lands that have been acquired by public entities, such as Florida’s five water management districts. Hunting has been a part of our culture since before Florida was a state, and it’s safe to say that the lands that hunters are asking to be considered to be “opened back up” were hunted before being purchased by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD).

Sportsmen and non-sportsmen can and do co-exist on many publically owned properties all across Florida, including within the area covered by SWFWMD. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), nearly all of the 163 public hunting areas in Florida are multi-use facilities. This means hunters and non-hunters alike enjoy these same areas of land. In fact, the non-hunter has much more opportunity to use the lands versus hunters who are restricted by hunting season dates. Conversely, hunters are completely closed out of many publically owned lands in Florida. We are only seeking access to those lands were hunting and non-hunting activities can co-exist.

Finally, regarding your comment that lands would no longer be safe if hunting is allowed is a red herring meant to inflame your audience. According to FWCC records on hunting incidents, there is not one record of person who was hiking, birding, horseback riding or picnicking being harmed by any type of hunter on publically owned lands in Florida. Not one single incident.

Respectfully, you should reverse your opinion on this matter.

Lane Stephens
Executive Director
Allied Sportsmen’s Associations of Florida

[danield33]

Thank you Lane.

On our private members only side of this website we have been quite active discussing these issues.

It is good to know we have other allies.

Please keep us informed.

Dan Daniels

[hitch]

Thank you Lane. Hitch

[Milan]

Great letter, Lane! Thanks for posting!