January 31, 2011

Archive

Youth waterfowl hunting days are Feb. 5-6, 2011

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established Feb. 5-6 as Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. These select days are a great opportunity to get young people outdoors and to introduce them to the excitement of waterfowl hunting. The statewide, two-day season allows children younger than 16 years old – with adult supervision – to hunt waterfowl, coots and common moorhens.  Supervisors (18 years or older) must be present and may assist young...

Alaqua Animal Refuge furever friend of the week

“V” is for vim, vigor and …Victor! Besides brimming over with vitality, this Labrador/Hound mix is one of the friendliest dogs the staff and volunteers at Alaqua Animal Refuge have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  He loves people, other animals and life in general.  While he’s very fond of all his friends at the sanctuary, Victor’s greatest hope is to find a loving forever home with a nice fenced in yard.  Another canine companion who also enjoys romping and...

Cottonmouth Myths I: Snakes dropping into boats

Living alongside wildlife By David Steen Editors note: David Steen is an Auburn University Ph.D. candidate working in the longleaf pine forests of northwestern Florida. He conducts research primarily pertaining to the ecology and conservation biology of reptiles. Most of the time, you can find him checking his snake traps in the piney woods but once the sun sets he is often wading through wetlands spotlighting water snakes. Some animals just can’t get a break.  Cottonmouths, (Agkistrodon piscivorus), aka water...

Enjoy a Mardi Gras celebration along 30A in Seaside Feb. 26

Festivities include a parade, children’s activities and live music It’s carnival time along the Beaches of South Walton and Seaside is the destination for all of the fun and excitement for the entire family. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler as The Merchants of Seaside host a fun-filled day of Mardi Gras revelry with activities for everyone on Sat., Feb. 26. The festivities begin at 12:00 p.m., as Abrakadoodle offers children the opportunity to make Mardi Gras-themed projects. Children will be...

A hidden coastal beauty awaits – Deer Lake State Park

A beautiful walk awaits you in South Walton at Deer Lake State Park Tucked away along Scenic Highway 30A, just west of WaterSound, this spectacular gem of a State Park offers park goers a look at intact ancient sand dune ecosystems. An elevated walkway guides you through a small wooded area, to the rolling dunes, then down to the Gulf of Mexico. Once on the beach, you can take a walk to the west, and discover the park’s namesake, a...

Walton County fishing and hunting report for Jan. 26

Some speckled trout and sheepshead being caught, lots of crappie being caught on the river Bay: Hit and miss on catching trout. Some sheepshead being caught. Fresh: Lots of crappie on the Choctawhatchee River. Danny Copeland wants to remind folks that the resident shoreline license is free. Come on by! Click here for best times Hunting: Signs of deer rut, it’s about to get good. Folks are coming in and buying estrous scent. General gun season open through Feb. 20....

Gulf grouper sport season closes Feb. 1

Closure through March 31 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises anglers that the recreational harvest of all shallow-water groupers (gag, black, red, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, rock hind and red hind) is prohibited from Feb. 1 through March 31 in all Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters off Florida, except in all waters of Monroe County. Closing the recreational harvest of all Gulf shallow-water grouper species for two months during the spawning season is designed to reduce overfishing...

A Scenic 30A view to live for

Most Walton County residents and visitors appreciate the natural beauty of our area’s coastal dune lakes. The one quintessential view which reminds us we are home is the view of the tall pines and sand dunes along Western Lake. One never tires of the panoramic scene while driving along Scenic Highway 30A. Local photographer Brandan Babineaux took this panoramic photo Jan. 24 with his iPhone. “The water was dead calm and reflected a broken sky in the water and the...