Sta Hunting Status

[N. Cook]

The new SFWMD RAC will be meeting July 12. We are asking for three more days on STA 5 per week and the opening of STA 1W. We are also suggesting a fairer and less onerous system to better distribute the hunting opportunities available.

Our goal is to improve the access over time to the level of the LOXAHATCHEE FEDERAL REFUGE. There is a situation at the STAS that is currently preventing Saturday hunting......AUDUBON is set up on that day for birding. We do not intend to get into a fight with AUDUBON as they are usually a good ally in the meetings to date. However, the current excuse for not adding days is that workers are on the STAs during the week....leaving only Saturday and Sunday for public access....and, although the birders have 12 months a year and hunters only 2.......we give up 50% of the available hunting time. Perhaps we can reach a fairer solution.

It is imperative that hunters be on super best behavior on the STAs. The key for the future is to win the confidence of the STA managers that hunting will not be a problem, even during the week. We are only asking that hunters be present during three half days of the work week........about 15 hours of the staff's time at work....for ten weeks or so a year. These hours could be scheduled on the many parts of the system off limits to hunting.

This post is to give those who plan to attend the July 12 meeting some notice of what we intend to speak on.

[darkwing duck]

Another topic that needs to be addressed is the number of available area to hunt on STA 5. There are 3 other cells in the adjoining land that are very huntable and user friendly. I feel that if they will open up these other areas and allow access within reason by opening up the gates to these areas and roads we can have access to these cells and have more people hunt the area within reason and therefore more enjoyment. I have a proposed parking plan and user plan jotted down on paper that will help to address this issue. I feel that we can get STA 5 & 1 on the same days with at least 75-100 hunters per day that will be a plus for us. Parking will be a concern of FRED DAVIS but I can show him and all concerned that it can be done. F.S.C.A. is ready to get involved as to help with this issue. We as a conservation club will put up parking posts with numbers and such to help with this solution. I am the waterfowl chairman for them and they are 100% behind me on this issue. I feel that SAT5 can support at least 100 humters with FULL access to the land. :D

[CAPT. CHRIS]

Newton, I have to go to the Dr. monday early a.m., but could shoot over the Bee Line 710? . Where do I pick up gun club from there? And let's try to get a few heads together on the GladesCo. Com. Meeting the next day. Our timing is so important to grabing this property with 1 commissioner in jail and elections due, not to mention the fact that The Gov. is going to have to appoint an interum commissioner for the 80 some days remaining. Good stuff with a tax hike unavoidable for property owners and onother land fill to be approved, all the while they have been ignoring my insistance to move on opening up Curry Island to help budget by collecting access fees and getting a few ducks to come back and mill around Okeechobee for 60 days. Let me know, please. Kudos to member Frank Brown for getting me in UW-F.! Be safe this weekend & GOD BLESS cgc.

[N. Cook]

The preliminary word is that the two cells adjacent to the one with the parking at STA 5 are open to hunting....we expect clarification soon.....there will be a visit to STA 1 to review the parking opportunities and number of hunters allowed in the near future. The situation at STA 5 would seem to require some "off site" parking nearby to increase hunter numbers and, although many would be willing to walk a mile to get at the good hunting there, some management plan agreeable to the FWC is needed....perhaps DARKWING's suggestion. We will need this before the meeting on the 12th. There is strong resistance to hunting......the key is convincing the STA managers that hunters can be a positive influence and gaining their approval, thus overcoming the lingering anti access bias remaining with some SFWMD staff. A number of good allies are working hard for the best we can get at this time. It is crutial we be positive in our positions and recognize there are other passionate user groups who we must consider. Newton