Florida WMA Non-Resident Restriction - UPDATE

[arkrem870]

Just remember how we got to this point.  You can't adapt to a closed season. Unless you poach it

llss

[Ridge]

Cove, where you at?

[kytrkyhntr]

can a florida resident on here give me an honest thumb up or thumb down on these changes?

do you approve of these changes?

[Jbird22]

It won't be reciprocity but just a general non-resident attack throughout the country.  Any state that balks will be overrun.  Be an interesting next few years for those able to travel.  Makes a joke out of the word "National" when the National Forest and National Recreation Areas are involved.

Make no mistake, it WILL indeed be reciprocity! FL just set the precedent. They could've opted for a non-res draw like MS but they decided to up the stakes instead. It's imminent that other states will soon call their raise.

[Ranger]

I bet it would be interesting to sit at one of these State Gub'ment tables and listen to the conversation.

In Georgia they lowered the limit because of lowering turkey numbers, at the same time paying THP to hunt GA WMAs and pimp the resource with advertising. On purpose. Paid to do it. Almost like they want more licenses to sell and more of the resource to do it with. Hats off to FL for at least doing something to do the opposite.

[Ridge]

can a florida resident on here give me an honest thumb up or thumb down on these changes?

do you approve of these changes?

Why would residents be anything but elated? If I were a resident, I'd be doing cartwheels down Alligator Alley.

[cracker4112]

I'm a Florida native and resident.  I have mixed feelings about this. I have no problem with the 10% quotas for non-residents, we should have first dibs and the majority of permits.

Even though I rarely hunt public land, I do like to travel and hunt some seasons, and this will eventually impact when I am able to travel as I'm sure other states will follow.

I'd also like to point out that the WMAs that were restricted are NOT all in the South zone.  3 of the 5 are above SR 70.

[Jbird22]

It won't be reciprocity but just a general non-resident attack throughout the country.  Any state that balks will be overrun.  Be an interesting next few years for those able to travel.  Makes a joke out of the word "National" when the National Forest and National Recreation Areas are involved.

Make no mistake, it WILL indeed be reciprocity! FL just set the precedent. They could've opted for a non-res draw like MS but they decided to up the stakes instead. It's imminent that other states will soon call their raise.

Wanna bet?  No individual state will single out Florida residents specifically.  They will start targeting all the non-residents from any state with shorter seasons and exorbitant fees.  Even the magnanimous MS residents will suffer.

MS didn't single out non-residents from FL with their decision just as FL didn't single out non-residents from MS with their decision. Other states will reciprocate your state's decision (including ALL non residents) is what I was implying, not that it would just affect non-residents from a particular state. You knew this already though.

[arkrem870]

What
Florida/mississippi/Kansas etc residents need to understand is this will negatively impact all turkey hunters that travel. It's setting a precedent for other states to follow.

[kytrkyhntr]

can a florida resident on here give me an honest thumb up or thumb down on these changes?

do you approve of these changes?

Why would residents be anything but elated? If I were a resident, I'd be doing cartwheels down Alligator Alley.

MY THOGUHTS EXACTLY... but i just was curious

[zelmo1]

Joey is spot on. Better get your Osceola now before its out of reach.I am doing one more try this year. If I don't connect then its probably the last chance I will get. He is also right that there ae turkeys in other states. Rumors are flying around about the state reciprocity regulations here too. The "49ers" will be the casualties here. Good luck to all and God Bless. Z

[squidd]

We all know that most public birds are taken in the first week or two of season. 9-days would keep me from going to another state, especially if it were FL.

I did not vote for the changes, as in life, you can work around anything if it is that important to you!

I do plan on hunting other states and it would have been hypocritical to vote for changes I would not like being made towards me as a NR.

[deathfoot]

In my opinion, I don't see the nine days as being an issue. I hunted a WMA in California back in 2005 and they had a first 9 day hunt by permit only regulation back then (before youtube). Although, I can't recall if the special permit was for residents only. However...It didn't bother me in the least and there were still a ton of birds to be found. But that's me, I tend to steer clear of open weekends/week when I travel if I'm hunting public, if at all possible. Again, that's just me.

[Ridge]

In my opinion, I don't see the nine days as being an issue. I hunted a WMA in California back in 2005 and they had a first 9 day hunt by permit only regulation back then (before youtube). Although, I can't recall if the special permit was for residents only. However...It didn't bother me in the least and there were still a ton of birds to be found. But that's me, I tend to steer clear of open weekends/week when I travel if I'm hunting public, if at all possible. Again, that's just me.

You can't compare California in 2005 to Florida in 2025. In no way are they even remotely similar, for a multitude of reasons. 2005 was THE time to be a turkey hunter. While the math says 20 years, the difference in the two are much greater. I would wager to bet your experience after the first nine days of season would be vastly different today. 

[deathfoot]

In my opinion, I don't see the nine days as being an issue. I hunted a WMA in California back in 2005 and they had a first 9 day hunt by permit only regulation back then (before youtube). Although, I can't recall if the special permit was for residents only. However...It didn't bother me in the least and there were still a ton of birds to be found. But that's me, I tend to steer clear of open weekends/week when I travel if I'm hunting public, if at all possible. Again, that's just me.

You can't compare California in 2005 to Florida in 2025. In no way are they even remotely similar, for a multitude of reasons. 2005 was THE time to be a turkey hunter. While the math says 20 years, the difference in the two are much greater. I would wager to bet your experience after the first nine days of season would be vastly different today. 

No doubt. My point was. 9 days or 29 days. If I wanted to hunt that area I would. Like when I travel in late May to public. It's been hit hard. But guess what, I'm successful. So I'm not sure why 9'days is a big deal. At least from my seat. It's actually ideal. Let them have at it. I'll clean up after them