FY08 Eglin outdoor recreation permits available Wednesday

  • Published
  • By Jerron Barnett
  • Eglin Environmental Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Attention all Eglin outdoor recreation enthusiasts, the Fiscal Year 2008 hunting, fishing and recreation permits will go on sale at Jackson Guard Wednesday, beginning at 7 a.m.

Several of the permit's prices have slightly increased this year, due to increased costs to keep the program running, Justin Johnson, Jackson Guard outdoor recreation program manager, said.

"The prices of the permits have held steady for nearly 15 years, and we want to continue to be a self sufficient outdoor recreation program here," Mr. Johnson said.

Under the hunter permit type, the Sportsman ($55), General Hunting ($45), Hunting (10-day trip) ($25) and Management Unit 6 ($50) permit prices were increased by $5 respectively. The General Fishing permit price was increased by three dollars to $15. The General Recreation permit price was increased by three dollars to $10 and the Camping permit price was increased by five dollars to $10. All other permit prices remained the same as last year.

Permits for the popular Management Unit 6 will be sold on a first-come, first served basis, Mr. Johnson said. This unit is a preferred area for many Eglin hunters that choose to hunt deer with the aid of dogs. Only 375 permits will be made available in order to regulate hunting pressure.

Mr. Johnson estimates that Jackson Guard will sell more than 15,000 permits in FY08, which should yield approximately $284,590 in revenue. This revenue pays for habitat management efforts, timber stand improvement projects and other operation costs. This revenue also allows Jackson Guard to sponsor public events like the Eglin Youth Fishing Rodeo that was held earlier this year and the annual Youth and Mobility-Impaired hunts.

For more information on Eglin's outdoor recreation, camping, hunting and fishing permits, please call the Jackson Guard permit sales lobby at 850-882-4165 or 850-882-4166. Jackson Guard is located in Niceville along Highway 85 North.