CHANGES PROPOSED FOR LOWER ECONFINA RIVER SMALL GAME HUNTING AREA; PUBLIC COMMENT WANTED
CONTACT: Karen Parker, (386) 758-0525

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is requesting public comments concerning proposed regulation changes for the Lower Econfina River Public Small Game Hunting Area in Taylor County.

According to John Ault, FWC’s regional public hunting areas biologist, “The Suwannee River Water Management District has requested the FWC consider opening the Lower Econfina River Public Small Game Hunting Area to deer hunting with primitive weapons. We are proceeding with this request and want public comments on the proposed changes.”

The changes would allow deer and all other legal game hunting during the archery and muzzleloading gun seasons and turkey hunting during the spring turkey season. The small game season would continue as it has since the area was established in September 2003.

The changes, if approved by FWC Commissioners, would take effect July 1, 2007. The seasons on Lower Econfina River would be:

It would be legal to take all legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers during the appropriate seasons. The possession or use of dogs, other than bird dogs or dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less, would be prohibited. Hunting hogs with dogs would be prohibited. The public would have access to the area from 1½ hours before sunrise to 1½ hours after sunset. Motorized vehicles could only be operated on named or numbered roads, and ATVs and motorcycles would be prohibited. The area east of the Lower Econfina River would be open to motorized vehicles only during open hunting seasons.

The Suwannee River Water Management District is holding its monthly governing board meeting in Mayo Nov. 16, and this item is on the agenda. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments at that time.The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Lafayette County Commission Room.
People can also send their comments to John Ault via e-mail at john.ault@MyFWC.com or by mail to 3377 E. Highway 90, Lake City, FL 32055.

More information on the Lower Econfina area can be found at: MyFWC.com/hunting/wma/2006-07/NorthCentral/LowerEconbrochure.pdf.