Many wildlife management areas do not require quota permit

If you weren’t lucky enough to get drawn for a spring turkey quota permit, or if you are looking for even more spring turkey hunting opportunity, don’t fret; there are numerous wildlife management areas (WMAs) that don’t require them.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers 42 public hunting areas statewide where hunters need only to “walk on” to hunt spring turkeys.

These hunts are made possible through the FWC’s partnerships with the state’s Division of Forestry, Florida’s water management districts, the U.S. Forest Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the National Park Service, Department of Defense and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, who contribute their lands to the state’s public-hunting system.

Hunters need only a hunting license ($17 for residents, $46.50 for nonresident 10-day license), management area permit ($26.50) and turkey permit ($5 for residents, $100 for nonresidents) to spring turkey hunt on the following areas.  These licenses and permits can be purchased in Florida at county tax collectors’ offices and at most retail outlets that sell hunting and fishing supplies.  They also can be bought with a credit card by calling 888-486-8356 or going online at www.wildlifelicense.com/fl.

Spring turkey season runs March 20 – April 25 in the following areas, unless otherwise noted below. Shooting hours during spring turkey season on WMAs are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.
Click on an area’s name to download its rules and regulations, including a map. Click here for map

Posted under Hunting

Children engage in animal encounters, science experiments during week long camp

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge is hosting SpringWild Spring Break Camp for grades 1-5 to be held the weeks of March 29 – April 2 and April 5 – April 9 from 9 a.m. -3 p.m.   The camp will be held at The Boardwalk, Okaloosa Island.  Participants will learn about native wildlife through lectures, games and hands-on experiences, conduct science experiments and crafts, enjoy live animal encounters and more.
• Includes snacks, lunch, craft materials, camp t-shirt (or similar item)
• Explore the biology and natural history of terrestrial and aquatic native wildlife
• Science experiments- test local water, make recycled paper
• Animal encounters- meet the refuge’s animal ambassadors, learn to hold a flying squirrel and other animal ambassadors
• Wildlife detective- “Hide” and Seek (match animal hides with the animals they represent) use dichotomous key to identify species Read More…

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

Mellow fellow looking for love

Marshall is a 3 year and 2 month old neutered short haired domestic orange and white tabby cat. He is looking for his forever home with lots of love.

Alaqua Animal Refuge is a no-kill animal refuge, located on a 10 acre farm housing more than 300 animals daily, ranging from dog, cats, horses, goats and birds. Alaqua Animal Refuge relies on the kindness and generosity of its supporters.

If you would like to adopt Marshall or any of the other available friends, contact Alaqua Animal Refuge at 850-880-6399 or go online at www.aarflorida.com.
914 Whitfield Road
Freeport, Florida 32439
Open Tuesday – Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. Bring the family for a tour of the brand new facility located on 10 acres of farm land.

Posted under Home/Garden

Eric Draper, deputy director of Audubon Florida. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

More than 150 people attended the public forum on proposed legislation to allow drilling off Florida coast Feb. 4 at South Walton High School Feb. 4.

There were three presenters on the panel, Eric Draper, deputy director of Audubon Florida was at the forum speaking against the proposed drilling on behalf of protectfloridasbeaches.org. David McLain, senior policy director for Apalachicola Riverkeeper, also spoke against proposed drilling. As a former oil spill clean up expert, McLain spoke about the impact of an oil spills on Florida’s coastlines and estuaries. Eric Hamilton, Associate Director, Florida Petroleum Council, spoke in support of the proposed drilling.

Hands Across The Sand, a peaceful protest against the proposed drilling legislation is slated for Feb. 13. For more information, click here

presentation was quite weak, as he had no good answers on the risks. Eric Draper was great as he spoke about what Fla. really is and the importance of protecting our beaches. I liked his quote…”Can Floridian’s afford to bet the farm?” David McLain was wonderful as well talking about …The E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center sponsored the event.

Posted under Beaches

Women Build team leaders, Kelly Buzzett, Nellie Debruyn and Leslie Provow.

Enjoy the spirit of giving and volunteer for Habitat For Humanity’s Women Build

In late February, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County volunteers who have been working on House # 19 in Mossy Head, will be passing the hard hat over to a team comprised exclusively of women for the inaugural Women Build project.

The Women Build teams will install trim work, hang cabinets, paint, landscape, and complete the punch list to prepare the home for the new occupant.

Women Build is a Habitat for Humanity International program that encourages women to make a difference by building homes and communities. Women Builds provide an environment in which women can feel comfortable learning construction skills they might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn.
Read More…

Posted under Home/Garden

Tony Young's an avid sportsman and native Floridian. He's the media relations coordinator for the FWC's Division of Hunting and Game Management and lives in Tallahassee with his family.

Outta the woods: Northwest Florida deer in rut

Thus far, this deer season has been pretty good to me as far as quantity goes.  I shot two does during doe week, and I got my season limit on fall gobblers, but I have yet to even see horns, much less harvest a buck.  But I still have plenty of room left in my freezer, and I’m not throwing in the towel just yet.  After all, there are still lots of hunting days left in my neck of the woods, and my game camera’s still taking pictures of some pretty good bucks.
So if you’re like me or if you live in the central or southern part of the state and you don’t mind hunting with a primitive weapon, then point your pickup truck north, because the Northwest Hunting Zone’s deer season is still goin’ strong on private lands and on a lot of the wildlife management areas (WMAs).

The second phase, if you will, of muzzleloading gun season runs Feb. 18-28 in this part of the Panhandle.  This unique late season, which occurs only in the Northwest Zone, was established to allow hunters the chance to hunt the rut that runs from late January through February in this part of the state.

A $5 Muzzleloading Gun Permit is required to hunt during this season, where, on private land, hunters have the choice of using a muzzleloader, bow or crossbow.

On WMAs, this post-season’s referred to as the archery/muzzleloading gun season.  Hunters can use bows or muzzleloaders, but no crossbows – unless they possess a Disabled Crossbow Permit.  Hunters who choose to hunt with a bow must have the $5 Archery Permit, and those using a muzzleloader need the $5 Muzzleloading Gun Permit.
The most common game to hunt during this season are deer and wild hogs.  Only bucks may be taken (even if you use a bow), and one antler must be at least five inches in length.  On private land, the daily bag limit is two.  Bag limits and antler size for deer on WMAs can differ, so please consult the area brochure before you hunt.

Wild hogs aren’t considered game animals on private lands, and because of this, they can be taken year-round by most weapons with no bag or size limits.  On most WMAs, there’s also no bag or size limits, and hogs are legal to take during most hunting seasons except spring turkey.  On selected WMAs, specific bag and size limits do apply, so check the area’s brochure to make sure.
Read More…

Posted under Hunting

Cypress Spring, Washington County, has a glass-clear surface. (Patrick Casey photos)

Spring sampling helps protect resources

Since 2001 the Northwest Florida Water Management District has helped protect the region’s springs by collecting data, conducting spring inventories and monitoring water quality and distribution.  This is part of the statewide Florida Springs Initiative, funded by the Florida Legislature, administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Some of the measurements taken by the District are nitrate concentrations, and they tell an important story.

Morrison Springs. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

“The nitrate load discharged from Jackson Blue Spring represents an economic loss to farmers, growers and homeowners,” said Kris Barrios, Director, Field Services Section.
“Instead of being taken up by plants, these nutrients are carried into the aquifer and eventually discharge to Merritt’s Mill Pond.  We calculate 80 tons of nitrogen lost every year at $200-400 per ton.”

Fertilizer sales in Jackson County dropped to 1000 tons a year from 3000 in the mid-1990s when farmers realized they could save money and the environment by using less fertilizer.  Nitrate concentrations have in- creased from about 0.3 mg/L in 1960 to the current concentration of about 3.5 mg/L.

“The cost is greater than just to the property owner,” Barrios added.  “It lowers the quality of natural habitat and increases the probability of algal blooms.”

Any water that seeps into the ground in the Blue Spring contribution zone — about 177 square miles of agricultural land—is destined for the spring.  “It’s like a free hot dog in
every glass,” said Barrios .  “At 3.5 milligrams of nitrate per liter (mg/L), there’s enough to equal the nitrites in an average hot dog for every 16 oz. glass of spring water.”
Read More…

Posted under Nature

Muscogee Nation of Florida tribal headquarters in Bruce. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Relief project underway to assist at risk children and families in need

In just a few short weeks, Walton County resident Ann Tucker’s path in life has taken a new turn as she embarks on establishing a rural relief project in Walton County’s Bruce community.

Ann, Chairwoman/spokeswoman for the Walton area Muscogee (Creek) Indian nation, was approached in January by Elaine Barrow, the pastor of the Bruce Methodist Church about an ongoing problem that has reached crisis proportions. More than 35 children in the Bruce community are not getting adequate nutrition or health care and the local families are struggling.

Elaine asked Ann what the local Creek Indian Nation could do to help the area’s poverty-stricken community, as the economic downturn has forced many to make difficult decisions such as choosing whether to pay the electric bill or eat.

“Something as simple as a flat tire can push some of the families into a downward spiral even further,” Ann stated. Read More…

Posted under Home/Garden

Red Bay Grocery serves smiles and good eats! Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Down home atmosphere at community grocery and restaurant

There is a special place nestled on along County Road 81 in Walton County built on a tried and true basic principle – small town community atmosphere.

Red Bay Grocery has been in operation since 1936. The store has had 28 different owners over the years, and then closed in 2008, leaving the community without a gathering spot.

In Feb. 2009, Charles Morgan, a seasoned restaurateur and homeowner in Red Bay, rallied 50 local partners, and brought the country store back to life. Charles came up with idea of the community partnership about five years ago, and when the store closed in 2008, he started a plan of action.

“It was selfish reasons that motivated me,” Charles said. It was out of necessity, as there was no place close by to buy a roll of paper towels, a newspaper, or get a cup of coffee,” he continued. Read More…

Posted under Home/Garden

Dunes at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Take a hike and learn about the dune ecosystems

Come and join the park folks for a hike. Visitors will be guided down the paved tram path to get to the beach where they will  learn about the plants and animals that live in a dune ecosystem and then walk back on the tram path.  Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A. $3.00 entry admission into the park.

Call (850) 267-8330 for more details. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 mi. south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A.  ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Trails/Hiking