SWFWMD Hunting Evaluation Meeting€¦ · 11/11/2011 · 7:00 p.m. We will have updates regarding...

Florida Forever Back Country Horsemen, Inc.Preserving our equine cultural heritage on public lands for today and tomorrow

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FFBCH NEWS November2011

FFBCH Website: www.ffbch.org

November/December MeetingOur next meeting will be held at the Country Kitchen restaurant in Brooksville on Thursday,December 1, 2011. Dinner and social hour begins at 5:30 with the business meeting starting at7:00 p.m. We will have updates regarding SWFWMD Hunting and the Citrus Tract Trailsand Frank van Evers will be our speaker discussing “Leave No Trace”.

Country Kitchen20133 Cortez BoulevardBrooksville, FL 34601-3848(352) 799-5251Directions: Restaurant is just northeast of intersection of SR 50 and Rte 41, directly acrossfrom Applebees and Big Lots.

Please note that due to the holidays, there will be no meeting at the end of December. Happyholidays to all!

SWFWMD Hunting Evaluation MeetingPlease view the SWFWMD Hunting Evaluation web site to review SWFWMD staffrecommendations for hunting expansion.

http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/hunt_evaluation.php

Be sure to mark your calendar to attend the public meeting on December 5 in Plant City tocomment on these proposals. All passive recreation groups MUST stand united to defeat theproposed hunting expansion on ALL tracts under consideration.

Hunt Evaluation Public MeetingDecember 5, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.John R. Trinkle Center1206 North Park Road, Plant City, FL 33563 (Google map)For additional info, contact Will Miller, ext. 4472This meeting is to present the proposed hunting proposals for the Cypress Creek Preserve, GreenSwamp East (Non-Wildlife Management Area and Hampton Tract), Green Swamp West (Non-Wildlife Management Area) and Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve properties. The publicwill be able to review proposals and comment. Governing Board and Advisory Committeemembers may attend.

See you at the meeting.Gary MacFlorida Forever Back Country Horseman.


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From the President’s Saddle

The season is upon us. The weather has turned cool and it’s time to get out into the woodsand ride. This is the time of the year to take stock of where we are and where we are going.This year we have much to be thankful for.

The SWFWMD hunting expansion evaluation is coming to an end it and it looks as if all thehard work of Gary Macintosh and others has paid off. However, we must still get out to thepublic meetings and express our concern for loss of riding days and safety issues associatedwith any expansion of hunting.

The proposal for road closure and new equestrian trails for Citrus is in Tallahassee for finalapproval. The proposal includes an expansion of the equestrian trails in Citrus along withlegal access from the neighborhoods around the Citrus tract. FFBCH has received a grantof $4000.00 from the AQHA funded by Tractor Supply to help with these trailimprovements. Please support our sponsor by shopping at Tractor Supply. When you arethere please thank them for awarding us the grant money.

I just returned from the Florida Outdoor Recreation Collation summit. It was quiteinteresting and quite productive. FLORC is a non-profit organization established topromote the cause of outdoor recreation of all types in Florida. It was established topromote outdoor recreation across the board in Florida and to educate our policy makers tothe benefits and value to both our economy and our citizens of outdoor recreation. Thehope is that more pro outdoor recreational policies will be promoted.

With the weather turning cooler it is not only time to ride, it is time to think about gettingout and working on trails. We have a major project underway in Citrus as noted above.The equestrian trail along the Rails to Trails needs some work, mostly trimming overhead.There are some areas in Croom that need some attention. Stay tuned for announcements ofworkdays.

I want to wish everyone a happy holiday season.

Truman Prevatt, FFBCH President


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Recap of FFBCH’s October MeetingMeeting of: Date: Time: Place:Florida Forever Back Country Horsemen October 27, 2011, 7:00 p.m.Old World, Floral CityThe meeting was called to order by Vice-President Sally McDavid. Angie Johnson was ourevening speaker with an informative presentation on the dangers of high blood pressure. Anumber of members took the opportunity to have their pressure checked. Unfortunately, wehad an update on the SWFWMD hunting issue before the blood pressures were taken andsome may have been more elevated than normal! As usual, Angie provided us withinvaluable information to help us keep in good health.Previous Action Items:SWFWMD HuntingDirector Gary Macintosh reported that the battle with SWFWMD over hunting rights is notover. It is important for all of us to stay involved as individuals and as a group. Go to thewebsite http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/hunt_evaluation.php and let your voice beheard!Citrus Tract TrailsSally McDavid reported that three of the five concerns regarding neighborhood access wereresolved after a site visit by Mike Penn. Mike Penn, Sally and Truman drove the subjectareas and discussed the concerns in detail. The results are that FR8 between FR9A and FR9in the NE corner, FR 19 west of Trash Trail near Perryman’s and FR 22 between FR9 andFR13 will all be open (tertiary) roads. We are waiting on final approval.A small group has been working diligently to clear the existing horse trail of overhead, sideencroachment and dead fall. With the exception of about six miles, they have almostcompleted the existing horse trail. Transportation in to the horse trail has been an issue withonly three vehicles to transport people and equipment. A larger group work day is plannedin the immediate future which will focus on the field trial trails as they would be more easilyaccessible.New Action ItemsThere was some discussion about equestrians paying an annual fee to FWC and/or FFS as anenticement as there is a train of thought that FWC is hoping to gain more dollars throughhunting license and management stamp sales. Sally suggested that Becky discuss andinvestigate the feasibility with Gary.In addition to the SWFWMD hunting issue, Sally McDavid also reported that the watermanagement districts have been given a directive to review all their properties anddetermine what tracts have land that could be sold to reduce maintenance costs and otherexpenses. More information will follow.Next MeetingThe next meeting will be held at the Country Kitchen on December 1 at 5:30-7:00 for dinnerand the business meeting will start at 7:00 p.m.Meeting adjourned.


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Shindig & CampingThe Shindig has been scheduled for Saturday, March 24, 2012. Please mark your calendars! SidTaylor will be our guest speaker for the evening and will give her presentation “Devastation toReforestation”. If you love our forest and were not able to see it back in June you will enjoy thehistory and the pictures.

Some of us will be camping at Tills. While there is no “sponsored” ride, it is a great time to gettogether, ride at your leisure and sit around the campfire. Despite the “tornadoes” last year we allhad a great time! Call now for reservations as they go quick. Call Tillis Hill at 352-344-4238

Citrus Tract Update from Sally McDavid

As most of you know, we are waiting on final approval for the new trails. Once final approval isreceived we will begin work on them.

A small group has been working diligently to clear the existing horse trail of overhead, sideencroachment and dead fall. With the exception of about six miles, they have almost completed theexisting horse trail. Transportation is an issue and has limited the size of this group. The biggestneed we have is transportation for the workers.

On November 17, we had a large group work day with seventeen people from Citrus and Hernandocounties. We had five hard working crews each with a powered pole saw to trim overhead. The focuswas on the field trial trails as they were more readily accessible for the large group. The pink, gray,orange and red trails are done completely. The purple trail is complete from FR13 (south end) toFR15. The section of the green trail north of FR22 is also complete.

It appears that we will be able to make approximately eight loops in the new trail system. We plan toset the system up identical to the one in Croom and will give names to each loop. There are a fewlinear trails which will need to be named also. Some of the names we have so far are: Eagle Ridge,Dixie Land, Deer Haven, Middle Earth, Misty Hollow, Thunder Road and Easy Street. Your inputand suggestions are welcome.


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Croom Tract Update from Mary Lou Patton

The last day of deer hunting season is November 27th. Riders, please hit those trails and let me knowwhat needs fixed, washouts-trees down-signs gone. I have recons to do this, but since hot summer dayshave passed and deer hunting will be over, I need all eyes on those trails, so we can get them back in tiptop shape. Call me at 352-799-9272 or [email protected]

WANTED: A recon for the Rails to Trails trail in Croom forest, which when added to the Florida StateTrail makes a beautiful loop to ride. This person if they so choose to step up to take the job, would be notonly doing the recon for the Croom Tract, but would also be doing the recon for the State Trail in thesection that is involved in the loop.

RTTs Update (Florida State Trail) from Mary Lou Patton

Carlene Monsalve has been appointed by FFBCH to be the Reconnaissance Chair of the equestrian trailon the Florida State Trail. She will be in charge of the section from Trilby to Istachatta. If you ridethat beautiful trail and find anything that needs attention, contact her at 1-813-601-0204 [email protected]

Roger Williams has mowed from Istachatta to Croom Rd and removed all trees blocking that section.

Carlene Monsalve will be calling a work day sometime after Thanksgiving.

Townsen Park Update from Kathy Thompson

I have not been there personally, but I have been told that the trails in Townsen have been cleared andthat they have also installed a box near the water trough to collect $3 per trailer for parking.

WANTED: Someone who rides at Townsen regularly to provide me a with a status report about thetrails in Townsen Park. [email protected]


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SWFWMD Hunting Evaluation Meeting€¦ · 11/11/2011 · 7:00 p.m. We will have updates regarding...

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