Deer Season: What You Need To Know
November 28, 2009
We are in the four-day Thanksgiving weekend deer season, and here are some tips and reminders from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers the following tips and reminders.
After two tree stand hunting deaths in the area, the FWC is urging hunters using a tree stand to wear a safety harness. Read that story here.
The general gun season comes in Thanksgiving Day and lasts four days through November 29. Two weeks later, the season reopens December 12 and runs through February 17.
The highly anticipated antlerless deer season, often called “doe week,” is December 19-25.
During doe week, the daily bag limit’s one buck and one doe, or two bucks. You may not take two does in one day like you may during archery season, and spotted fawns are never legal game. And by the way, WMAs do not have an antlerless deer season.
Hunters can take bucks having at least one antler 5 inches or longer. On private lands, the daily bag limit for deer is two.
Fall turkey season in Northwest Florida is November 26-29 and December 12 – January 17. Only bearded turkeys and gobblers are legal game, and you must have a $5 turkey permit to hunt them. The bag limit’s one bird per day, and a total of two during the archery, crossbow, muzzleloading gun and fall turkey seasons combined.
Shooting hours for deer, turkeys, quail and gray squirrels is a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. All legal firearms, muzzleloaders, bows, crossbows and handguns are legal for taking these resident game animals during the general gun, antlerless deer, fall turkey, and quail and gray squirrel seasons.
The first thing you need to do is pick up a $17 Florida resident hunting license. Nonresidents pay $46.50 for a 10-day license or $151.50 for 12 months.
If you plan to hunt one of Florida’s many wildlife management areas (WMAs), you’ll also need a $26.50 management area permit, but don’t forget to study the brochure for the specific area you plan to hunt, because dates, bag limits and rules differ greatly from area to area.
You can buy your license and permits over the telephone by calling toll-free 888-HUNT-FLORIDA or online at www.wildlifelicense.com/fl. Just have your credit card ready. You also can purchase them from tax collectors’ offices and most retail outlets that sell hunting and fishing supplies.
Northwest Florida Hunting Season Dates
(not applicable on wildlife management areas)
Archery Oct. 17 – Nov. 15
Deer-dog training Oct. 31 – Nov. 19
Crossbow Nov. 30 – Dec. 6
Muzzleloading gun Nov. 20-22 & Feb. 18-28
General gun Nov. 26-29 & Dec. 12 – Feb. 17
Antlerless deer Dec. 19-25
Fall turkey Nov. 26-29 & Dec. 12 – Jan. 17
Quail and gray squirrel Nov. 14 – March 7
Bobcat and otter Dec. 1 – March 1
Spring turkey March 20 – April 25
Wild hogs, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, skunks, nutrias, beavers and coyotes may be taken year-round.
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, except during spring turkey season when shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset on private lands.
For hunting regulations and dates on wildlife management areas, click the following links:
For other wildlife management area regulations, click here.
For complete Florida hunting information, click here.
Information courtesy Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Experts Urge Safety Harness Use After Two Area Tree Stand Deaths
November 26, 2009
Fatal tree stand accidents have experts, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, urging hunters to wear a safety harness when using a tree stand.
In October, Todd Burgess, 39, of Brewton, died after falling about 15 feet from a tree stand in the Damascus community of Escambia County, Alabama. Burgess, a native of Jay, had killed a deer with a bow and arrow from the stand. He called his wife, who was hunting on a nearby food plot, to let her know that he was headed down to retrieve the deer, according to Mike Lambert, Escambia County (Ala.) chief deputy. When he did not arrive at the wife’s location, his brothers began to look for him and found him dead, Lambert said.
Last Saturday, Pace resident Anthony Eddie Vanna, 33, died after falling from his tree stand in the Blackwater River State Forest near Munson. Vanna was muzzleloader hunting for deer when he fell 23.5 feet. He apparently was attempting to come down the tree at sundown.
Lambert said that hunters should use a safety harness when using a tree stand for added safety. The harnesses, he said, sell for as little as about $80.
“That $80 is a cheap insurance policy,” he said.
Bill Cline, the Florida Fish and Wildlife’s section leader for hunter safety and public shooting ranges, said anyone who hunts from a tree stand should wear a safety harness.
“If you’re going to leave the ground, you need to wear a full body harness. If a hunter isn’t willing to do that, they need to stay on the ground. It’s that simple,” Cline said.
Hunters who use older tree stand belts or upper-chest straps should discard them, Cline said. He encourages hunters to visit MyFWC.com/HunterSafety and take the free online tree stand safety course.
Tate Aggies Claim First Miracle Bowl From Northview Chiefs
November 22, 2009
The Tate Aggies claimed the first ever Miracle Bowl Saturday afternoon with a 41-27 victory over the Northview Chiefs to end Tate’s best season in 13 years.
Proceeds from the game will benefited the Miracle League of Northwest Florida, a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons that plays spring and fall at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
The Class 1A Northview Chiefs, under first year Coach Sid Wheatley, finished the regular season a 7-3 record, a huge improvement over last year’s 2-8 season. The Tate Aggies were 7-3 this season in Class 4A. Both teams finished third in their respective districts; one loss away from a trip to the state playoff series.
The Aggies were first on the board at Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment following a Northview turnover. That gave the Aggies a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
With 8:44 to go in the second quarter, Tate added seven more with 50-yard touchdown from senior Qudarius Ford. Then to round out the half, the Aggies struck again, with a four yard pass to Abe Hutcheon to make it 21-0 heading into the lockers.
In the third, the Aggies scored again with 5:34 in the quarter to expand their lead to 28-0.
But the 1A Chiefs were not going to be shut out by the 4A Aggies. Late in the third, La’Mikal Kyles had a 34-yard touchdown run for Northview. After a good kick from Brad Lowery, the Chiefs were on the board, trailing Tate 27-7 with 2:59 in the third quarter.
Tate scored again in the third after Josh Dees broke free from a host of Chiefs for a 35-yard touchdown run. A kick through the uprights, and Tate held a 34-7 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Darius Michael, a junior, started the fourth quarter with a 60-yard touchdown for Tate; the Aggies were up 41-7. Then Jeremy Jackson added a touchdown for the Chiefs. A missed point after, the Aggies were on top 41-13.
(story continues below photo)
Northview continued their fourth quarter scoring run with a Roderick Woods (pictured above) touchdown with 2:19 to go in the game. Then, with just 40 seconds on the clock, the Chiefs were in the end zone again freshman Roderick Woods hustling for another six.
In the end, the 4A Tate Aggies claimed the Miracle Bowl with a 41-27 win over the 1A Northview Chiefs.
Pictured above: Action from the Miracle Bowl Saturday between Tate and Northview high schools Pictured below: Tate Head Coach Ed Rigby presents a Miracle Bowl Trophy to Miracle League founders Larry and Donna Thompson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Everyone Wins: Welcome To The Miracle League
November 19, 2009
The 1A Northview Chiefs will take on the 4A Tate Aggies at noon Saturday at Tate with proceeds benefiting the Miracle League.
The Miracle League of Northwest Florida, a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons that plays spring and fall at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
The following is a NorthEscambia.com feature about the Miracle League from earlier this year.
Every game ends in a tie. Every player hits; every player scores. There are no strikeouts, no errors. Everybody wins.
Welcome to the Miracle League.
It’s a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons. With players from ages 3 to 63, there are 14 teams that play on the two fields at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
“Abigail rounds second! She looks good this year, all decked out and playing some ball,” announcer Crystal Martinez says during an afternoon game at the Miracle League. “Loooook at her go! She’s headed home! She scores! Yeah Abi!”
That’s just the way a Miracle League game goes — always.
The players are in wheelchairs and walkers. Some handicaps are mental, some are physical.
Joshua heads toward the batter’s box in his walker to take a swing at the ball with his “buddy”. Each player has a “buddy” assigned to them to help them hitch, catch, throw or run the field.
“Go Joshua!” Martinez announces. “Good job!”
In the end, the game between the Orioles and the Twins was tied, just as every game has ended in a tie for the past nine seasons. The stats for each of the 150 players will be the same at the end of the season — perfect.
“It’s a wonderful thing for these kids,” Martinez told NorthEscambia.com after the game. “It’s about them getting to play a sport that otherwise they could not play…it’s about the smiles. I love to say that they are all stars when I am announcing.”
“I think it is a great thing,” said Stephen Gruenwald of Pensacola. His son James, 5, plays Miracle League ball from his wheelchair. “He enjoys it very, very much. And he loves the people; the volunteers are one of the best things.”
Players and volunteers come from not just Pensacola, but Mobile, Crestview, Brewton and points in between. Everybody is a volunteer that participates with the Miracle League. The are paid only in smiles.
“It’s a beautiful thing. Everybody here does it for one reason” volunteer Larry Powell said, placing his hand over his heart. “It’s here, in your heart, for these kids.”
“We have a guy that was a Marine for 32 years,” Powell said. “He will sit on that field with the smallest child and help them. It really gets to you.”
Each of the two Pensacola Miracle League fields is made up of 180,000 pounds of rec ycled tires formed into tiles painted to match a regular field. It provides a softer landing spot for a hard fall, while still providing a good bounce for the hollow core ball that is also designed to lesson injury potential. There are two seasons at the park, spring and fall. The rubber surface gets too hot to play in the summer.
The Miracle League needs more volunteers to serve as buddies, work the concession booth, pickup trash and many more tasks around their area of the Nine Mile Road ballpark.
The public is always welcome and encouraged to cheer on the players.
“It’s a special place here,” Powell said. “Everyone should watch one of these games. It will touch you.”
For more information on Miracle League, or to volunteer, visit www.miracleleaguepensacola.org.
Pictured top: Abigail gets a high five after a base hit during a Miracle League game in Pensacola. Pictured top inset: James takes a swing: Pictured bottom inset: Headed for home. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
No Playoffs: Northview, Tate Both Finish Third In District Football
November 17, 2009
Northview and Tate high schools both finished third in their districts for the 2009 football season. Only the top two teams in each district make the state playoffs.
District 1-1A
Northview (7-3, 6-2) finished behind Freeport (9-1, 8-0) and South Walton (7-1, 8-2). Northview’s only district losses this year were 14-6 to South Walton and 42-12 to Freeport.
Jay (2-6, 3-6) finished seventh in the district.
(team, district record, overall)
- Freeport 8-0, 9-1
- South Walton 7-1, 8-2
- Northview 6-2, 7-3
- Sneads 5-3, 5-5
- Vernon 3-5, 4-6
- Bozeman 3-5, 4-6
- Jay 2-6, 3-6
- Holmes County 2-6, 3-7
- Baker 0-8, 0-10
District 1-1A Playoffs:Blountstown (2-1A Runner-up) at Freeport (1-1A Champion)
Last meeting: 2004 regular season Blountstown 27, Freeport 14
South Walton (1-1A Runner-up) at Liberty County (2-1A Champion)
This will be first time Liberty County and South Walton have played.
District 1-4A
Tate (7-3, 3-2) finished third in the district for the 2009 season behind Pine Forest (8-2, 5-0) and Pace (6-4, 4-1). Tate’s district losses were 28-14 to Pace and 49-21 to Pine Forest.
(team, district record, overall)
- Pine Forest 5-0, 8-2
- Pace 4-1, 6-4
- Tate 3-2 , 7-3
- Milton 2-3, 5-5
- Navarre 1-4, 3-7
- Escambia 0-5, 3-7
District 1-4A Playoffs:
Fort Walton Beach (2-4A Runner-up) at Pine Forest (1-4A Champion)
Last meeting: 2004 regular season Pine Forest 35, Fort Walton Beach 0
Pace (1-4A Runner-up) at Niceville (2-4A Champion)
Last meeting: 2009 regular season -Niceville 42, Pace 28
Tate’s Zach McCulley Signs With William And Mary
November 16, 2009
Tate High School senior Zach McCulley has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
McCulley gained national exposure this summer at the National Academic Perfect Game Showcase in New Hampshire. He was selected to the Top Prospect List after pitching three shutout innings, giving up just one hit while striking out six and featuring a fast ball clocked in the upper 80’s. Each player who attends this showcase must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
With a six-foot-five, 200 pound frame, this left handed pitcher and first baseman posted a 2-0 record last year for the Aggies including a win over rival Pace. He had a 7-0 record this summer for the Florida Longhorns, including a 2-0 record at the 18U World Wood Bat Championship Tournament in Marrietta, Georgia.
He maintains a 4.5 GPA and entertained offers from Brown, Davidson, Georgetown, Columbia, and all three service academies before settling on William and Mary. McCulley visited the campus earlier this year.
“The offer was the right place and the right time and I am relieved to have made my decision,” McCulley said.
William and Mary will play their most difficult schedule ever in 2010 with nine games against four teams that made the NCAA tournament, including defending national champion LSU.
Pictured top: Tate High senior Zach McCulley signs a National Letter of Intent with William & Mary. At Friday’s signing at Tate, McCulley was surrounded by his mother Susan (left), sister Kaitlin and father Kit. Submitted photo by Deeann Lee for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Online Audio: Listen To Northview Vs. West Florida
November 16, 2009
Northview Chiefs fans can listen to Northview football games here on NorthEscambia.com — the official voice of the Northview High School Chiefs.
You can listen to each game online or even download the game to your MP3 player and take it with you.
The audio from Friday night’s game against West Florida should play automatically on this page. If it does not, click the play icon below.
To download the entire game (MP3 format) for your iPod or other MP3 player, click here..
In order to listen online, do not close this page or window. You can continue surfing the net while you listen by opening a new browser window. You can pause the audio or change the volume using the controls below the photo.
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© 2009 NorthEscambia.com
Northwest Escambia Midgets Fall To A&G In Playoff Game
November 15, 2009
The Northwest Escambia Midgets are lost to the Albritton & Gant (A&G) Rattlers 25-14 in Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance playoff action Saturday afternoon in Cantonment.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
The Rattlers took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
NWE’s Dalton Daniels put the Eagles on the board with 25 yard touchdown run with just under four minutes in the half. A missed extra point and the Eagles narrowed the Rattlers’ lead to 7-6.
The Rattlers were in for another touchdown at the buzzer. The point after was no good, and A&G held a 13-6 lead at the half.
With less than 30 seconds to go in the third, A&G expanded their lead to 19-6.
A&G struck again with 2:32 in the game.
NWE answered with 2:02 to go with a Daulton Tullis TD. A good point after, and it was 25-14.
A&G gets a spot in the championship game next Saturday against Brent Blue.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
A total of 7,000 children ages 5 to 14 in 16 cities take part in youth tackle football and cheerleading in the Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance.
Picture above and below: Action from Northwest Escambia versus A&G Saturday in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, Ernest Ward Cheerleaders Headed To National Championships
November 15, 2009
Both the Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders will have the chance to compete for a national title early next year in Orlando.
Both teams received national championship invitations following the Universal Cheerleaders Association West Florida Regional Saturday at Tate High School.
Last year, the Ernest Ward Middle cheerleaders took second best in the nation. The Northview cheerleaders did not take part in last year’s competition.
Pictured above: The Northview High School cheerleaders Friday night in Pensacola. Pictured below: The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders perform at an EWMS football game earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Skaggs Named To Navy-Marine Corp All-Time Football Team
November 15, 2009
A former North Escambia resident has been named to the All-Stadium Team to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium.
John Skaggs, a 2000 graduate of Tate High School, was named to the specials teams of the All-Time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Team Saturday in Annapolis, Maryland.
The Naval Academy is holding a season-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, including honoring the 1959 Navy team that defeated William & Mary in the first game played at the stadium. Additionally, an all-time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium team is being selected with fans having an opportunity to nominate and vote for their favorite Navy players who have played at the stadium.
The all-time team will be revealed at halftime throughout the 2009 season.
Skaggs earned three varsity letters (2001, ‘02, ‘03) and was the punter on the 2003 Navy team that won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy and played in the Houston Bowl. Skaggs is the school record holder for single-season and career punting average. He averaged a school-record 44.8 yards per punt as a sophomore and his 41.4 average as a senior, ranking him fifth in school history. Skaggs’ career average of 42.5 yards per punt is almost two yards better than any other punter in school history. As a senior, Skaggs was selected to pay in the East-West Shrine Game and the Gridiron Classic All-Star Game. In 2001, Skaggs had 48 punts for 2,151 yards.
“It was an honor to just be considered for the stadium team,” Skaggs told NorthEscambia.com, “and it was definitely an honor to be chosen out of out of the people nominated.”
Skaggs was selected by fan balloting that was conducted on navysports.com (50 percent of the vote) and by a committee (50 percent of the vote) made up of Navy Sports Information Director Scott Strasemeier, Navy football historian Jack Clary, former Annapolis Capital Sports Editor and Navy beat writer Joe Gross, current Navy beat writer for the Annapolis Capital Bill Wagner, Navy broadcasters Bob Socci and Pete Medhurst and Navy football historian and former beat writer for the Washington Post Christian Swezey.
Skaggs and his wife Emily (Fillingim) Skaggs now reside in Panama City. They both have numerous relatives in the North Escambia area. Skaggs was honored during halftime of Saturday’s Navy win over Delaware.