N. Cook
07-30-2004, 08:18 AM
The meeting was held at the offices of the ST. JOE CO. Bill Marvin was the chair. Bill is a lobbyist and the president of the Florida chapter of the NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION. The Florida chapters of the major hunting and conservation groups were on hand. Those we work with here in S. FL included Rob Barton, SFWMD WRAC and Safari Club International, Barbara Jean Powell, Everglades Coor. Council, and Jeff Allen, DELTA. Vic Heller and Nick Wiley represented the FWC. Vic was an instigator of the meeting.
Vic pointed out that hunting license sales in FL. had dropped from 250,000 to 150,000 despite the doubling of the state's population in the last 20 years. Hunting as a sport is in danger. Especially with the new population dynamics.
This meeting was to formulate plans for a Conference next year of 200 or so invited players in the hunting and shooting sports and the politicians and agencies involved to study and work on the problem. A large convention is planned with major national speakers.
Although this was a formulative meeting UW-F was able to place the positions on record that were discussed on the YAHOO site. The problems of ACCESS and RED TAPE were agreed to be key to the reduction of hunting opportunities.
The next meeting will be by teleconference from the various FWC facilities across the state in SEpt.
I will be glad to answer questions on more detailed subject matter as this is a complicated subject. Newton
Vic pointed out that hunting license sales in FL. had dropped from 250,000 to 150,000 despite the doubling of the state's population in the last 20 years. Hunting as a sport is in danger. Especially with the new population dynamics.
This meeting was to formulate plans for a Conference next year of 200 or so invited players in the hunting and shooting sports and the politicians and agencies involved to study and work on the problem. A large convention is planned with major national speakers.
Although this was a formulative meeting UW-F was able to place the positions on record that were discussed on the YAHOO site. The problems of ACCESS and RED TAPE were agreed to be key to the reduction of hunting opportunities.
The next meeting will be by teleconference from the various FWC facilities across the state in SEpt.
I will be glad to answer questions on more detailed subject matter as this is a complicated subject. Newton