FWC APPROVES CHANGES TO BLACKWATER WMA DEER DOG SEASON

February 10, 2005
CONTACT: Cory Morea (850) 627-9674

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) took action at its Panama City Beach meeting last week changing the deer dog hunting season on Blackwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and expanding other hunting opportunities on the area.

Beginning with the 2005-06 season, Blackwater’s deer dog season will be 44 days. That will include a 20-day first phase (November 24 – 27 and December 10 -25) and 24-day second phase (January 9 – February 1). The hunter quota will be 400 for each of the two phases, with exempt hunters allowed. The size of the deer dog area was reduced from about 68,000 acres to about 46,000 acres. The size of the fox hunt area was reduced from about 68,000 to about 26,000 acres, but the fox hunting season remains the same.

“The area that was removed from the deer dog hunt area had a large number of private in-holdings, and the change to still hunting should reduce conflicts associated with dogs crossing those private lands,” said Cory Morea, the FWC’s northwest regional public hunting areas’ coordinator. “In addition, the FWC expanded hunting opportunities for Blackwater WMA including more hunting days for primitive weapon hunters and two new 4-day quota quail hunts on the field trial area.”

Among other actions, Commissioners approved a three-day spring turkey season in Holmes County beginning in 2006. Holmes County has been closed to turkey hunting since 1998.

While there was debate about ending deer dog hunting on the Escambia River WMA, the Commission opted to continue allowing deer dog hunting on that area.

SK: HGM

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