FWC CREATES MORE FAMILY HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES

February 1, 2006
Contact: Tony Young (850) 488-7867

Families will have more opportunities to hunt together on public lands under a rule passed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in Gainesville Wednesday.

Four additional wildlife management areas have added “family hunts” to their list of hunting opportunities for next season. Those areas are Andrews and Devil’s Hammock, both in Levy County, in the North Central Region; Dinner Island Ranch, in Hendry County, in the South Region; and Lafayette Creek, a new area in Walton County, in the Northwest Region.

The family hunt format is a weekend hunt, intended to provide mentoring adults and youths with exclusive opportunities to hunt together on public lands. One adult and up to two youths can take part in these opportunities by obtaining a no-cost family quota hunt permit.

To participate, youths must be between the ages of 8 and 15, and adults must be over 18 years old. Youths must hunt under the supervision of the adult, and adults may only hunt in the presence of at least one youth.
There will be a total of five wildlife management areas offering family hunts next season, including Matanzas, in St. Johns County, in the Northeast Region, which ran the successful pilot program last year.

“The Commission recognizes the importance of passing down the hunting tradition,” quota hunt coordinator Eddie White said. “We are making a concerted effort to expand and maximize these opportunities across the state.”

To apply for these family hunts, interested parties must submit applications June 20 – July 7 at any license agent, county tax collector’s office, or online at MyFWC.com/license. Family quota hunt permit worksheets will be available in early June at MyFWC.com/hunting.

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