Larry S. Perrin

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission initiated “Special-opportunity Turkey Hunts” (SOTHs) on select wildlife management areas with the 1997 spring season. Participants of these fee-based, public Florida wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo osceola) hunts completed satisfaction surveys each year from 1998-2006. We analyzed survey responses to identify factors that influenced satisfaction with the SOTH program and to determine how harvest indices related to satisfaction. Factors related to perceptions of hunter crowding, encounters with other hunters, and opinions on the...

Seed collections were initiated to assess wildlife food availability and production by dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) on a south central Florida marsh. The highest production consistently occurred in October despite wide fluctuation in total annual production. Seed remained available for use by wildlife in the soil throughout much of the year.