Florida FWC Proposes Step to Curtail/Capitalize on Non-Resident WMA Hunters

[Spurs Up]

I don't see this as a problem to curtail Nonresidents since many states are already doing this.  My question is to the residents of Florida is, what are these fees going to be used for???  It's all well and good to raise and collect these fees but DNR needs to be accountable to the people of Florida and ONLY use these fees to keep and restore the Osceola Turkey population.  Has DNR given an answer to this question or have the Resident Hunters ask for specifics???

Hopefully more of the same type of habitat work... This is good use of permit money, in my opinion.

https://myfwc.com/media/30017/2021-22wildturkeypermitreport.pdf

[btodd00]

alot of good info in that report

"FLNWTF contributed $65,500"

That was something that stuck out to me, that number is alot lower than I expected it to be

[squidd]

Nice report!

NWTF used to support a few southern WMAs so I supported; not so much now.

[squidd]

Swing and a miss with 0 points

[btodd00]

Swing and a miss with 0 points

Good luck in the future.  Between myself and my buddy (when drawn we go as each other's guest and the other banks his points) we figure one good draw every four years minimum.  I drew in 2017, he drew in 2022, I drew for 2024 with the 6 points built from 2017.  Hope everyone is noticing the results of Grand Slam Fever.  It is a very frustrating game at times especially for the residents who get no edge in these type drawings.
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When the subject came up earlier this year on how to do a records request, I requested the applicants for the special opportunity hunts. I was blown away by the amount of out of state people pouring money into that system for only 10% of the permits. I was even more blown away by seeing the same names (locals) putting up piles of money on every single wma, especially knowing one of them sells Osceola hunts. Makes we wonder how long it will be before more of our WMA's are in the special opportunity system

[deerhunt1988]

  Hope everyone is noticing the results of Grand Slam Fever.  It is a very frustrating game at times especially for the residents who get no edge in these type drawings.
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Not just grand slam fever. I've been tracking draw data for a long time. Just so happens non-resident applications to south zone WMAs started to sky rocket when those WMAs started being pimped out on YouTube. Drastic difference in NR applicants once we entered the YouTube/social media era. One particular south zone WMA saw non-resident apps increase 8x from 2018 to 2021. The increase was 230% for all south zone WMAs combined.

At this point it is like modern day market hunting. Pimping out public lands and killing wildlife for profit.

[Spurs Up]

  Hope everyone is noticing the results of Grand Slam Fever.  It is a very frustrating game at times especially for the residents who get no edge in these type drawings.
.

Not just grand slam fever. I've been tracking draw data for a long time. Just so happens non-resident applications to south zone WMAs started to sky rocket when those WMAs started being pimped out on YouTube. Drastic difference in NR applicants once we entered the YouTube/social media era. One particular south zone WMA saw non-resident apps increase 8x from 2018 to 2021. The increase was 230% for all south zone WMAs combined.

At this point it is like modern day market hunting. Pimping out public lands and killing wildlife for profit.

Dwindling supply in a what's basically free market economy has a way of doing that. There might be a few things to slow it down but it's foolish to expect the trend will reverse.