FAQs
Changes to Quota Hunt Program
Updated: 02/04/09
Experts: Don Coyner, 352-732-1225; Susan Weaver, 850-488-3641
Background: The following major changes to the quota program were approved by the Commission on Feb. 4 and will be effective June 1, 2009, for the 2009-2010 hunting season.
Has there been an increase in the number of quota hunt types?
Yes. It changes from three types (Archery/muzzleloading Gun, General Gun and Spring Turkey) to five types (Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, General Gun, Wild Hog and Spring Turkey)
Does this increase the number of quota hunt permits available?
Yes. It increases the number of permits available to each customer in Phase I and Phase II from three permits to five permits as follows:
* Under old system ‑Under Phase I, you could apply for one Archery/muzzleloading Gun Permit, one General Gun Permit and one Spring Turkey Permit for a total of three quota permits.
* Under new system – During Phase I, you can now apply for one Archery Permit, one Muzzleloading Gun Permit, one General Gun Permit, one Wild Hog Permit and one Spring Turkey Permit for a total of five quota permits.
How many choices does the new system allow?
The new system still allows you to make up to five choices per hunt type. You may still only submit one application per hunt type, and only one quota permit may be issued during the Phase I or Phase II drawings for each hunt type. The exception is that on mobility-impaired hunts, hunters may submit one application in Phase II, even if they received a permit in Phase I.
Are quota permits transferable under the changes?
No. The new rule changes all quota hunt permits from transferable to nontransferable. That means that only the person’s name that appears on the permit can use it. These changes do not apply to Blackwater WMA Dog Hunts and mobility-impaired permits for Holton Creek WMA.
How does the guest permit work?
n For each nontransferable quota permit, a guest permit may be obtained by using permit holder’s customer ID number and hunt number.
n Excludes Blackwater WMA Dog Hunt permits and Holton Creek WMA Mobility Impaired permits.
n Only one guest permit may be issued per quota permit.
n Guest permits are not available for exempt hunters (under 16, over 65, disability license holders) who are allowed to hunt on the area without a quota permit.
n An individual may be the guest of only one quota permit holder per hunt.
n The guest and the quota permit holder must enter and exit the area together, share the same vehicle and share the bag limit.
n Quota permit holder is responsible for the shared bag limit.
n The guest may hunt only when the quota permit holder is present on the area.
n On areas that have zone tags, permit holder and guest must hunt in same zone.
n The guest may bring no additional hunters.
n The quota permit holder may bring only one additional hunter (one guest, one youth, one mentor supervisor or one mentor license holder), except mobility impaired may bring an additional non-hunting assistant.
n Guest permits will be issued up until the last day of the hunt and may be obtained from tax collectors and license agents only.
n Guest permits are not available for daily permits issued at the check stations.
How will preference points change under the new system?
For each year an applicant applies but does not receive a quota permit for a given hunt type during Phase I, a preference point will be given. These points accumulate each year the applicant is unsuccessful. Existing preference points will be applied to the new system.
What happens to unused quota permits?
Unused quota permits may be returned, but must be postmarked prior to hunt start date. Hunters who do this will have their preference points restored, and an additional point will be awarded if they are returned postmarked prior to the beginning of the hunt.Returned quota permits may be re-issued.
What are the changes to the application process?
* Phase I is changed from a 10-day application period to a 30-day application period.
* Phase II is changed from first-come, first-served to a random drawing and is changed from a 45 day application period to a 15 day application period.
What are the changes to quotas and bag limits?
The changes to quotas and bag limits only affect nine wildlife management areas and represent a 1.4 percent reduction in the total number of quota permits available statewide.
Southwest Region
Croom WMA - muzzleloading gun and general gun from 400 to 300
Hickory Hammock WMA - general gun hog from 10 to 5
KICCO WMA - spring turkey from 15 to 10
Upper Hillsborough River WMA - archery and muzzleloading gun from 150 to 75
North Central Region
Andrews WMA - archery from 60 to 45, muzzleloading gun and general gun from 40 to 30 and spring turkey from 30 to 25
Twin Rivers WMA - archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons from 30 to 45 per hunt and eliminate the 30 first-come first-served permits issued at the check station, spring turkey from 12 to 20 and eliminate the 12 first-come, first-serve permits issued at the check station
Northwest Region
Joe Budd WMA - archery and archery/muzzleloading gun from 50 to 35
Northeast Region
Dexter/Mary Farms WMA - archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun from 40 to 30
Guana River WMA - spring turkey bag limit from one per person per day to one per quota permit.
Why were these changes proposed?
The Quota Hunt Program is one method that the FWC uses to regulate hunting opportunities on Florida’s public hunting areas. The program has been in existence since 1975.
Over the years, FWC has received numerous complaints about the fairness of distribution of quota permits. The public and staff report that some individuals are able to use the system to obtain multiple permits for popular hunts year after year, while other hunters receive none. This occurred because quota permits were transferable. Some individuals were able to apply for quota permits in the names of friends and relatives (with their permission) and transfer the permits to themselves. This practice results in what is viewed as an unfair distribution of opportunities.
A stakeholder working group was formed in 2007 to examine the program and recommend changes for improvement. The group examined data on how permits are currently distributed and used and concluded that a substantial amount of abuse was occurring, resulting in an inequitable situation. The FWC is committed to improving the system and has done extensive outreach with hunting stakeholders. These changes will improve the fairness of the program while retaining flexibility to hunt with family and friends.
TY/HGM
PCB