Apply now for youth quail, turkey hunts at Babcock Ranch Preserve

News Release

February 2, 2011
Contact: Gary Morse, 863-648-3203

Ten lucky youngsters will be chosen for each of the two quail hunts and each of the two spring turkey hunts on the 16,612-acre Babcock Ranch Preserve in Charlotte County.  All hunters will be chosen by random drawing.  All hunts are Saturday-Sunday and will be guided.

To be eligible for these hunts, applicants must be at least 12 years old by the first day of the hunt and under 16 years of age on the last day of the hunt for which they apply. Also, all youths must have passed a state-certified hunter safety course.

Each permit allows only one youth to hunt. An adult supervisor who is 18 or older must accompany the youth. The accompanying adult cannot hunt. No license or permit is required of the youth or supervising adult, unless the adult plans to help “call-in” a turkey during either of the youth spring turkey hunts.

Both the youth and the supervising adult must attend an orientation the Friday evening before the scheduled hunt, and they must primitive-camp on the property from Friday evening through noon Sunday.

Youth quail hunt dates are Feb. 19-20 and Feb. 26-27, and applications may be submitted for either of these two hunts through Feb. 11.

Youth spring turkey hunts are April 2-3 and April 9-10; those applications may be submitted from 10 a.m. on Feb. 7 through Feb. 25.

Applications for both the youth quail and youth spring turkey hunts are available at MyFWC.com/YHPF. However, hunters may apply for only one of the two quail hunts, and only one of the two spring turkey hunts.

Completed applications and a copy of the youth’s hunter safety card may be faxed to 850-413-7989 or mailed to:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
ATTN: Hunter Safety/Babcock
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

The youth quail hunt drawing will be on Feb. 14, and the youth spring turkey drawing will be on March 1.