“ KEEP FLORIDA ALIVE , SIGN ALL FIVE ”
The slogan for a slew of ballot initiatives in the Sunshine State , “ Keep Florida Alive , Sign All Five ” weirdly lumps disparate topics together under a catchy , emotional mantra that ’ s sure to play well in the media . Two of the initiatives are squarely aimed at hunting .
The Florida Iconic Species Protection initiative protects several endangered species , most of which are already protected , including the manatee , bald eagle and bottlenose dolphin . Included on the list , however , are the black bear and mountain lion . In Florida , black bear numbers are burgeoning in many areas , and a hunting season is badly needed .
The Captive Wildlife Hunting Ban seeks to end all hunting of released animals , including exotic species or those native to the state . It removes the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ’ s authority to license game farms and makes any offense of the initiative a third-degree felony . While giraffes , oryx and other African species come to mind when thinking of released animals , this bill would decimate quail hunting preserves that enhance native populations with released birds . The impact could extend to field trials and hunt tests .