Sierr@ Club causing issues in Florida ?

[joey46]

I'm sure you've noticed how few WMAs have actual manned check stations now.  That exacerbates these concerns.  As one who witnessed first hand the total joke the old transferable permits were I was ready for just about anything else.  Lots of holes in the current system but much better than the old one.  Being able to simply apply for a preference point is much needed.  My hunting buddy and I have applied for permits we knew we would probably return for no reason other than to build the points.  Playing the hands we're dealt.  I really have little problem with the Guest Permits under their current restrictions.  My friend, with 7 points, drew a WMA that is almost out my backdoor.  I have the guest permit.  He didn't return it.  We will hunt it. His points will then be Zero.I've been actively scouting it since December. It is a one bird per permit area not one of the 2/1 areas (2 per permit but only one per person).  We rarely apply for these areas since we normally don't want to both exhaust our coveted preference points in any given year.  I guess we are the new "gamers" but again it is the hand we are dealt.  My avatar is from our last WMA quota hunt in 2017.  I used my points for this one.  My friend was the guest.  His accumulation of points got us this season's draw.  Tough game.  One easy change would be to add some accountability in  the redraws.  With no points being used there is no preference point penalty for a redraw winner if they don't show up.  A hunter that draws a regular permit, doesn't show, doesn't return it in time to be reissued will lose all preference points.

[Hobbes]

"Do away with limited entry permits.". I'm going to assume that you just don't have experience with the reason behind these permits in any state.  With a very limited resource, sheep, goat, moose, cats,etc., there has to be limited hunting opportunities.  Lining them up at the gate isn't going to work.  It also serves to give opportunity for a better hunt, Osceolas on a WMA, trophy elk or mule deer in a well managed unit, etc.

Unless you are a MT game commissioner, then all reason and science should be tossed out the window, and the wealthy should have special accomodations.   

[Ross R]

Don't you have to have a management area stamp/ hunting license to apply for our permits? If so that would mean they are also taking  the hunters safety course to purchase the license/management area stamp....unless they are all born prior to '75

all they need is a management area stamp to apply.  They are even doing it for the reissues. 

[btodd00]

Don't you have to have a management area stamp/ hunting license to apply for our permits? If so that would mean they are also taking  the hunters safety course to purchase the license/management area stamp....unless they are all born prior to '75

all they need is a management area stamp to apply.  They are even doing it for the reissues.

Can you buy a management area stamp without the hunters safety credentials? I have always just bought the gold sportsman license and its been years since I have had to input my hunters safety info. I am curious now if you can buy the stamp without having the hunters safety certification 

Sucks on the reissues, they are already a shot in the dark hoping to get one

[FLGobstopper]

A few recommendations I think are NOT that hard and could help possibly solve some of these issues at the lowest level, not just in FL but other states as well.

1. KEEP current requirement to have a valid wildlife management area permit to apply (if gaming is going on then at least money is going back into
    the system; where and what that money is used for is topic another discussion) 

2. ADD to apply for quota permit must have completed valid Hunter Ed requirements (great opportunity for organizations like NWTF, BHA, TTT, etc
    to partner and help with R3 initiatives and if anti's do it at least they're getting an earful from hunter conservationists)

3. ADD If a hunt IS AWARDED must purchase valid resident or non-resident FL hunting license at least 30 days prior to hunt start date . IF NO
    LICENSE IS PURCHASED AWARDED PERMIT voided and then reissued under redraw system with NO preference point restored. (this excludes
    exempt hunters under age 16 & over 65) **** this could still allow some gaming however it would make it more money and harder to continue to game
    system and a loss of points would start them back at 0

4. REMOVE the GUEST hunter option (that's going to piss some people off!!!)

5. ADD EXEMPTIONS (under 16 & over 65) for ALL WMA's and hunts under quota (encourages hunter recruitment and R3 initiatives and awards
    lifelong outdoorsman

6. REDUCE the number of hunt choices for regular permit draws to 3 (helps to ensure people are actually using the awarded permits and cuts down
    on number of

7. REDUCE the number of reissued permit choices to 2 (again I suspect people get them then do not use them because it's a nothing wagered,
    nothing lost scenario

8. ADD must have already purchases a valid resident or non-resident FL hunting license to apply for reissue permits that start within 10-30 days
    from the draw (this correlates with No. 3 above)

9. ADD option to purchase only a preference point (requirements No. 1 & 3 apply)

10. REQUIRE WMA check in and out each day hunted (this can be done virtually from your phone at kiosk at multiple areas throughout a WMA, all
     one would have to do is scan QR code on their phone from the location and they're done) Use technology to at least keep track of who's in the woods
     and monitor what's going on. This could even POSSIBLY be used for reissue of permits on a daily basis where WMA's do not have check stations. Lots of 
     kinks with that, but I think it could be done)

FL is at least finally getting with the times and has now initiated a Game tele-check system which is LONG overdue. At the way this state and some others are growing and developong, if we cannot monitor input and output it won't be too long before we're having much, much bigger problems than just people gaming systems and stealing hunts from hunters.

[joey46]

 ADD EXEMPTIONS TO ALL HUNTS - you've got to be shi### me.  Exemptions are the number one Florida problem.  Florida has no idea how many actually hunt and fish and get minimal matching funds because of that.  A few on some Florida forums are sure that since they're 65ers these darn quota rules don't apply to them.  I doubt if there are 3 quota hunts that do allow "exempts" and they are crap hunts that already allow large amounts of legitimately drawn hunters.  Still see no problem with the GUEST.  Do away with the 2/1 hunts if that keeps you happy.  We'll be doing a hard draw quota hunt Friday.  It is one bird.  One of us will call.  One will shoot.  We'll both be tickled.  Re-draws the number one glitch and that could be easily fixed.  Few believe that a resident gets no benefit in the regular draws but it is true.  That's an easy fix also.  It seems all those coming down and running around the romp and stomps while the wife and kids are visiting Disney's money talks. 
BTW - you're Number 10 is pure fantasy.  I'm 75 and know several who don't like computers or cell phones and would be completely shut out by this.  Just won't happen.  Dream on.

[FL-Boss]

I just can't help reading through all this BS and wondering how Florida public land hunts look 20 years from now...

[FLGobstopper]

ADD EXEMPTIONS TO ALL HUNTS - you've got to be shi### me.  Exemptions are the number one Florida problem.  Florida has no idea how many actually hunt and fish and get minimal matching funds because of that.  A few on some Florida forums are sure that since they're 65ers these darn quota rules don't apply to them.  I doubt if there are 3 quota hunts that do allow "exempts" and they are crap hunts that already allow large amounts of legitimately drawn hunters.  Still see no problem with the GUEST.  Do away with the 2/1 hunts if that keeps you happy.  We'll be doing a hard draw quota hunt Friday.  It is one bird.  One of us will call.  One will shoot.  We'll both be tickled.  Re-draws the number one glitch and that could be easily fixed.  Few believe that a resident gets no benefit in the regular draws but it is true.  That's an easy fix also.  It seems all those coming down and running around the romp and stomps while the wife and kids are visiting Disney's money talks. 
BTW - you're Number 10 is pure fantasy.  I'm 75 and know several who don't like computers or cell phones and would be completely shut out by this.  Just won't happen.  Dream on.

The several you know shouldn't have a problem then because they probably can't apply for quota permits in the first place and this exempts them from such a thing. I'm sure we could add a paper drop box option for those who have issues with technology.

Can you please explain how exemptions are such a big problem with actual facts and data? I know of 1 area that allows it and it's one of the best areas in the state according to actual hunter numbers and harvest rates.

[joey46]

I have helped many with their quota applications.  I doubt if I'll often run over to a WMA and help with a cell phone scan or drop box.  Ask some 17 to 64 year olds how thrilled they would be to spend time and preference points working on obtaining a very limited hunter number quota only to find several old geezers wandering around that didn't pay a dime in license fees or spend any effort to qualify for the hunt.  They just showed up.  Entitlements will doom a system.

[WV Flopper]

https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/15/conservationists-buy-fishing-licence-to-create-tasmania-sized-net-free-zone?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIKAGwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16473016483175&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2022%2Fmar%2F15%2Fconservationists-buy-fishing-licence-to-create-tasmania-sized-net-free-zone

[WV Flopper]

 Take three minutes to read the above article.

Non Sportsman do it everywhere, doesn't matter the critter, they just want to keep it from you and me at all cost.