Published: September 05, 2006 03:41 pm      

Florida hunters set full court press

Florida hunters are actively working to preserve their hunting heritage, and thanks to their efforts, results favoring this group are showing up in recent state legislation and on the ground.

Since last fall’s 2005 Summit on the Future of Hunting in Florida-a meeting involving the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), representatives from the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and many others from the state’s hunting community-four hunter-friendly bills were passed and signed into law this summer by the state’s governor.

House Bill 125 makes it easier for hunters to have a voice in state politics by making voter registration applications readily available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold. No net loss of Florida’s public hunting land is ensured through HB 265. A third bill, HB 471, approved the purchase of Florida’s Babcock Ranch to be managed by the State as Babcock Ranch Preserve, while HB 1347 requires the modification of Florida’s fish and wildlife laws to make them more consistent and easier for outdoorsmen to understand and follow.

For more information on recently passed bills-House Bill 125, 265, 471 and 1347-go to www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/bills.aspx

“The summit brought hunters together to plan a course of action for ensuring a brighter future for Florida hunting,” said Bill Marvin, the summit steering committee chairman and NWTF national board member. “Florida’s hunters are extremely passionate about their hunting traditions and the summit helped focus this passion to secure a future for hunting and a continued commitment to conserving our state’s natural resources.”

An existing habitat program, a cooperative cost-sharing agreement between the NWTF’s Florida state chapter and the FWC, is evidence of hunters’ longstanding commitment to conservation in the Sunshine State. This program funds habitat enhancement projects in Florida’s Wildlife Management Areas and has grown dramatically in recent years-providing nearly 25 times more funding today than it did 12 years ago during its inaugural year.

Mowing, prescribed burning and improving wildlife openings are examples of the habitat work funded by the program. And, though the project was designed with wild turkeys in mind, it’s actually benefiting many wildlife species.

Since 1994, the NWTF/FWC cost-share program has generated nearly $1 million to fund 275 Florida habitat projects.

“For every successful project, there is immeasurable value in the countless hours of time and energy donated by FWC personnel, NWTF volunteers and the general public,” said Brian Zelinski, NWTF Florida regional wildlife biologist. “The volunteers and their efforts will continue to be the driving force behind the phenomenal growth of this program.”

For more information about Florida, state hunters and their impact on the state’s hunting heritage and conservation, contact Brian Zelinski, NWTF regional biologist at 386-740-7107.