Florida Deer News
 Red Deer / Elk June 25, 2014 Florida, Dixie Sportsman's Hunting Preserve ... Red deer known as Elk in North America are the second largest deer in the world, second only to moose. ... World's coolest hotel rooms June 25, 2014 Florida, USA Today ... Reachable only by boat or seaplane, Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is located on a private island where wild Key deer roam. A favorite getaway for celebrities ... Wild Florida -- Key Deer June 10, 2014 Florida, Daily Kos ... The Key Deer, Odocoileus virginianus clavium, is a subspecies of the ordinary ubiquitous Virginia Whitetail Deer, but the Key Deer is found only on the islands of the Florida Keys--particularly Big Pine Key. It is an example of a phenomenon known as "island dwarfing", in which a population of large animals that finds itself living isolated on an island, often responds by becoming smaller in size... FWC to meet June 17-19 in Fort Myers June 9, 2014 Florida, FWC News The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will meet June 17-19 at the Crowne Plaza, 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers. The half-day discussion session June 17 starts at 1 p.m., while the full-day business sessions on the 18th and 19th start at 8:30 a.m. The public is invited to all three days and will be provided opportunities to speak. Highlights of the agenda include: Staff-proposed draft rules for the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area to allow hunting on the Big Cypress National Preserve’s Addition Lands. This would include a recommendation for walk-in hunting and quotas to address the 2014-2015 hunting season.... Deputies, trapper rescue deer from Palm Harbor pool spa May 16, 2014 Florida, Bay News 9 ... A trapper then arrived on scene and helped deputies lift the deer out of the spa... "I think she finally figured out that the Sheriff's Office, the two deputies that were here to help her out," ... The Quick & Interesting Details of the Deer Management in North & Central Florida Report May 15, 2014 The Ledger ... Deer harvest peaked during the 2008-09 season, topping out at almost 180,000 dead deer – up 3-fold from 1998-99 of 60,000 animals…but there are ups and down throughout the population/harvest chart, which is pretty normal. Still, the population is on a general upward path... Deer Management in North Central Florida [PDF] April, 2014 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Hunting and Game Management This PDF file is a presentation made by FWC about Deer Management, focusing on new rules in Northern Florida. There's a WHAT wandering around? April 23, 2014 Florida, Sun Sentinel ... the deer was a recently acquired pet that escaped when construction at an adjacent house knocked down a fence... a muntjac deer, a species native to southern Asia. Considered the oldest living deer species ... Deer hunting regulations, Antler Point Restrictions April 22, 2014 Florida, Weather Alert ... The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made big two changes ... north of I-10 buck's must have three-points that are one inch long. They must also have at least one antler that's five inches or longer. The antler could also have a beam of 10-inches or more. To the south of I-10, buck's must have two-points that are one inch long and at least one antler must be 5 inches or more... State officials seek input on deer regulations at DeLand meeting April 23 April 21, 2014 Florida, Daytona Beach News-Journal ... State wildlife officials are changing the way they manage deer populations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will switch to a more regional approach to give locals a greater opportunity to comment... North & Central FL (Zones B & C) Deer Hunters: We Want To Hear From You! April 9, 2014 Florida, Florida Wildlife Commission View an online presentation and then take a quick survey on our website MyFWC.com/Deer/DMU. This will alow you to learn about the new Deer Management Unit (DMU) process and provide input on deer management in the DMU you are interested in. Fake deer helps Sarasota deputies catch illegal hunters in the act April 9, 2014 Florida, NBC News ...Robbie is a robot deer ... "I can have the deer facing away from him, and then when they make a noise, I can have that head turn towards that noise ... Monticello Hosts Deer Management Meeting April 4, 2014 Florida, WCTV ... FWC is asking if residents want more, about the same amount, or less deer. In addition, FWC would also like preferences on antler regulations, antlerless deer, and other important deer-related issues.... Deer Carcasses Found Underneath Abandoned Lynn Haven Business April 3, 2014 Florida, WJHG-TV ... An abandoned Lynn Haven business is under fire for some hazardous animal remains. Clean up crews say they found several deer carcasses, debris, and rats under the former Done-Right Deer Processing facility off Highway 77... Author Hutto to appear in PBS documentary March 31, 2014 Florida, Tallahassee.com ... “Touching the Wild, Living with the Mule Deer of Deadman Gulch. ” ... A documentary film with the same title premieres April 16 on PBS at 8 p.m ... Joe’s last words in the clip, referring to a specific wild mule deer, are “I was not seeing something, I was seeing someone.” ... FWC Seeks Public Input on Deer Management in Central Florida March 21, 2014 Florida, The Ledger ... All participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts and opinions on deer management in Zones B and C of North and Central Florida [see articles for locations and times] ... Not able to attend one of the public meetings? You can still participate via webinar ... dates to be announced soon... Plant in spring to ease stress of late summer March 15, 2014 Florida, Florida Today ... management practices such as prescribed burning and timber thinning will create a habitat with enough resources to carry the herd until hard mast crops begin to fall ... “Cow peas, purple-hull peas, those summer annual legumes do pretty good,” ... Gun Season Over, But Local Deer Hunting Lasts Through March 2 February 24, 2014 Florida, NorthEscambia.com ... Zone D’s late muzzleloading gun season runs a week longer until March 2... No dogs may be used in the pursuit of deer during this season. However, leashed dogs can be used to track a wounded deer if necessary... allowed to take deer and hogs over feeding stations on private land, but it’s illegal to do that on WMAs... Florida Hunter Shoots Nature Walker Twice, Claims He Mistook Him For A Deer February 18, 2014 Opposing Views ... Clint Galentine was on a nature walk in Florida this past Sunday when a hunter allegedly mistook him for a deer and shot him twice ... FWC modifies some hunting zones; adjusts turkey bag limit on private lands February 12, 2014 Florida, FWC News Release ... Hunters had noted, and recent biological surveys have confirmed, that deer living below the zonal line in the counties of Sarasota, St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach have a breeding period that occurs later than that of most of the deer in Hunting Zone A. These deer actually have a breeding period more in line with deer living north of the line in Zone C. The breeding period, also known as “the rut,” is the time of year when bucks actively pursue female deer, which more often leads bucks to venture out during daylight hours, giving hunters a better chance at seeing and harvesting one.... Get out of the rut and into the rut - Deer huntin' lasts through March 2 in Zone D February 7, 2014 Florida, Destin Log ... This unique late season, which occurs only in Zone D, was established to give hunters the chance to hunt the rut, which occurs from mid-January through February in the Panhandle... Deer Farmers Pleased with Farm Bill February 6, 2014 agwired.com ... The 2014 Farm Bill includes several key victories for NADeFA and the national cervid farming industry, such as: • Deer in USDA’s Research Initiatives: The USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiatives (AFRI) program has been amended to include emphasis on disease (EHD, CWD), mapping the genome, pest/parasite, diagnostics and vaccination research for deer, elk and other cervidae. • Venison Added to Country-of-Origin-Labeling: The Country-of-Origin-Labeling (COOL) program requires fresh meat and produce to be clearly labeled in English as to its origin, allowing the U.S. consumer to know if they are buying a foreign or domestic product. ... FWC, Lafayette County sheriff seek information on deer killed in pen January 29, 2014 Florida, Mayo Free Press ... a doe through the high fence of a deer pen off County Road 251 ... call the Wildlife Alert number at 888-404-3922 to report the crime ... | Search for news and information by keyword above or find links to state news stories organized by topic. Florida data: An estimated 700,000 or more white-tailed deer in 2011 through 2014, likely. A small population of Florida Key Deer are protected in the Keys. There were as few as as 250 in the early 1980s, estimated at about 600 in 2011 through 2014 after 30 years of protection. Deer harvest peaked in 2008-09 at almost 180,000 up from about 60,000 in 1998-99. The Florida deer population is growing more slowly than in neighboring states. Approximately 137,000 deer hunters in the state taking about 20 percent of the herd each year. Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) has recently done a particularly thorough job in collecting and documenting recent hunting statistics, annual reports are available on the FWC site. A study of deer populations in 2009 [PDF] including deer from the northwest and southwest regions shows a balanced buck to doe ratio of close to 50:50 with fawning rates of 41% singles, 57% twins, 2% triplets. [Click on harvest data graph to enlarge]  Deer were numerous in the Florida Panhandle based on reports from the late 1600's, but commercial hunting for deer hides resulted in the first hunting regulations, a ban on fire hunting west of the Suwanee River in 1828. Development in Florida opened up much of the state beginning in the late 1800's. Over hunting decimated the population with the historic low population in the 1930's of about 20,000. The legislature authorized participation in the Federal Aid to Wildlife program in 1941, beginning an era of deer conservation. By 1951, the deer herd had grown to around 45,000 to 50,000. By 1985, the annual deer harvest rose to over 100,000 for the first time, marking the beginning of the modern era of deer management. See FWC History of Deer Management. According to a recent survey, 70 to 75 percent of hunters in North Florida support antler restrictions. Report poaching: Wildlife Alert Line at 1-888-404-FWCC Other useful links: - Florida Department of Environmental Protection - Hunt Florida, FWC's Hunting Information FaceBook Page - Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) Goal (mission statement): Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well being and the benefit of the people From Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Long Range Program Plan Tweet on the timeline below using #Florida #Deer Deer Management: (1) ensure the existence of robust deer populations that meet the public's desire for recreational opportunities and protection of private property while ensuring the long-term welfare of the species, (2) ensure a high degree of public satisfaction with deer management in Florida, and (3) manage deer habitats consistent with ecosystems health, deer population goals, and customer satisfaction goals. From: Strategic Plan for Deer Management in Florida 2008-2018. |
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