The first-ever "family hunt" on Blackwater Wildlife Management Area December 6-7 was an unqualified success, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) employees who helped with the hunt.

The two-day hunt, in which each adult accompanies up to two youngsters ages 8-15, was the idea of FWC law enforcement officers Danny Arnette of Crestview and Steve Hoomes of Pace. Arnette understood the need for a quality hunting experience for young people and was convinced a 60,000-acre portion of Blackwater, with its abundance of deer, was the perfect place.

"Everything went so well," Arnette said. "Some of these kids killed their first deer; some of them shot at their first deer but didn't hit anything, but most of the kids and their parents had a great experience and it didn't cost them anything, other than their equipment."

Arnette said Mike Scott of Mike's Gun Shop in Pensacola sponsored a meal for all the participants on Friday evening at a pre-hunt meeting and donated a tree stand that went to one young man.

A total of 50 family-hunt quota permits were issued. Each permit allowed an adult and up to two youth hunters to bag a total of three deer.

Arnette said 38 permit holders and their kids participated in the hunt, killing 24 deer. All of the deer were tagged, since the two-day hunt was held outside the framework of the Northwest Region general gun season.

Media Contact:
FWC Officer Danny Arnette (850) 265-3676