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Post by joekat46 on Jun 17, 2023 12:55:26 GMT -5
I live close to this new WMA and access it often when it is cool enough to hike around. I was surprised to see a new gate system being implemented that is not mentioned in the updated 2023 WMA brochure system. I personally have never seen this type of gate access. It may be the wave of the future so I sure hope it works correctly. Anyone drawing this for any of the quota deer hunts may want to get updated access info. As of this morning it was simple to just unlatch the chain, open the gate and drive in the 3.5 mile access road to the WMA. If the pictures post you will see what is in the works. This new solar powered contraption even has a fire department override. Good luck. click the pictures and they will come up correctly. Pictures on any forum are a p i a.   |
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Post by pinman on Jun 17, 2023 17:30:01 GMT -5
The thumbnails on your post are upside down but if you click on the photo you get a full size, right side up photo.
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Post by swampdog on Jun 17, 2023 17:44:06 GMT -5
Interesting access gate. Yep when I touched the pics they opened correctly. Keep us posted. I won’t be hunting that WMA but am always interested in our WMAs.
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 17, 2023 18:53:52 GMT -5
Be interesting who/what trips the gate at 5am.
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Post by pinman on Jun 17, 2023 18:54:05 GMT -5
Interesting access gate. Yep when I touched the pics they opened correctly. Keep us posted. I won’t be hunting that WMA but am always interested in our WMAs. Like joekat said this gate is about 3 miles from the WMA gate and the road goes through several cattle ranches and hunting leases. Maybe its not even FWC that put it up? |
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 17, 2023 18:59:34 GMT -5
It's FWC. The covered sign is obviously so (l peeked). I hope it doesn't just signal someone supposedly manning a 24 hour desk in Tallahassee.
I'm betting on several glitches but the deer quota hunters will bear the brunt of this new system.
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Post by One Man Gang on Jun 18, 2023 6:30:40 GMT -5
May be the wave of the future. It will be interesting to see if it gets protected like the gate to access a levy to launch in area 2B. (Locked closed until someone decides to wake up and let the duck hunters in who refused to PAY for the combination.)
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 18, 2023 11:28:02 GMT -5
We will see. The old gate that most will think is still in existence is gone as is the padlock with the once posted combination (3362). This obviously has been planned for a while so the new June WMA regs could have given a clue. I'll bump this up if I ever see the area biologist and get some legitimate answers. I hope someone on this new forum drew one of the deer hunts. I'll be curious if they are given additional info.
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ap111
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by ap111 on Jun 18, 2023 12:54:44 GMT -5
They will soon be adding a Sunpass toll sensor to it.
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Post by pinman on Jun 18, 2023 19:44:50 GMT -5
They will soon be adding a Sunpass toll sensor to it. LOL! Sad but true...., |
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 19, 2023 5:20:25 GMT -5
I'll probably run over there this morning to look around. I am noticing in the new FWC info posted that the old combination lock info has been removed. No mention is made of the new fancy gate system as of yet. For anyone that has accessed this WMA in the past you will see that the main road that was no more than a rutted track through a field has now been turned into a super highway. Good for me since I don't have 4 wheel drive and things could get pretty dicey during the rainy season. No longer a problem. Hope the picture post correctly (if I can find it) and not upside down. LOL Attachments:
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 19, 2023 5:24:44 GMT -5
Oh well - upside down again. If you are logged in and click it it opens right side up (must be logged in). BTW pinman this is well in from where we bumped into each other back in 2022. You can legally drive in much further now.
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Post by meateater on Jun 19, 2023 9:35:16 GMT -5
maybe having locked gates is a good thing at quota only areas only permit holders get the combination 2 weeks before opening day. on non quota wmas only those who have purchased a management stamp get combination or sign in via a app or check in box plus a daily use fee. dont check in or pay the fee get a ticket no warnings no excuses sick of all the garbage being dumped on our wmas as well as the freeloaders yea im talking to you hikers, bikers,birders,jeep nerds , ar target shooting weirdos,cast netters,poachers,mullet rifle users and general litterbugs time everyone pays something.
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wilbur
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by wilbur on Jun 19, 2023 20:14:54 GMT -5
I don’t know why they bothered with a lock before since the combination was posted on the gate.
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 20, 2023 3:51:44 GMT -5
Good question. Probably to make sure I brought my glasses. I couldn't read the numbers on the old lock without them. I have to think it had to do with the agreement to use the 3.5 mile access road. Before the WMA opened this road was gated, and heavily posted, with several separate locks on it. After it opened I found the WMA lock left open multiple times and is probably the reasoning behind the new system. I guess it was figured if the WMA users weren't smart enough to close the lock someone would do it for them. |
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 27, 2023 9:57:33 GMT -5
The new gate seems to be up and running. I did not try it but will early some morning when it is cool enough to hike for an hour or so. If the picture flips just click it after logging in. Maybe this gate is the wave of the future. I'm certainly having fun with these pictures. I'll stand on my head next time before snapping. LOL.  |
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Post by JS84 on Jun 27, 2023 10:33:24 GMT -5
That is interesting they put a button on it. I expected it to be automated to open and close based on time of day/dates
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 27, 2023 14:11:08 GMT -5
I'm guessing the green button is for the WMA user and the key pad is for the people accessing the properties along the road. They would have 24 hour access without time constraints and be given a secret number. Not sure but it makes sense. Sunrise tomorrow is 0637 so the green button should work at 0507. Maybe some morning I'll give it a test. There is another sign and pad to get out. Haven't checked it out yet. Be as much concerned with getting locked in as locked out. Pretty fancy but I'm expecting maintenance and vandalism problems.
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Post by JS84 on Jun 27, 2023 14:31:52 GMT -5
Keep us posted Joe!
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Post by One Man Gang on Jun 27, 2023 22:46:34 GMT -5
I hope you don't get locked in also,
Joe. Someone should take a Sawzall to that thing.
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 28, 2023 4:27:42 GMT -5
I'm betting it was a real legal pissing contest over that 3.5 mile access road to the WMA. In reality IMO there should be no gate at all at the Toledo Blade Blvd entrance. The private properties along the access road are all heavily posted, most are fenced and gated with cable locks. I noticed many now have brand new gates that mirror the new one at the entrance (no key pads of course). Bet "we" paid for them. This fancy new electronic system would have been better served at the end of the 3.5 mile road at the actual entrance to the WMA. There is a second gate there but it is a simple chain with no additional lock. On my last drive down the access road I noticed a few distant large deer stands and someone has put up an active feeder within sight of the WMA gate. Bet that's a F. U. to the WMA. When we left the area in 2022 after a quota turkey hunt a FWC officer was parked down the road about where this feeder is now located. Going to be some interesting quota deer hunts this fall if that gate malfunctions.
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Post by One Man Gang on Jun 28, 2023 11:16:42 GMT -5
Precursor to the new standards, per my crystal balls.
I remember when a man was afforded a little freedom and could launch a buggy or boat right off alligator alley to hunt, fish, or fuk around... then came the fence. For awhile a few good Americans and the rednecks tore those fences down with trucks, tracks, and buggies but eventually they succumbed to being corralled and locked out. Those old timers are long gone now. So are the good times that most of us over 50 were fortunate enough to enjoy.
Enjoy it while you can. It will only get worse from here.
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 28, 2023 11:24:34 GMT -5
At least this is a established WMA. It's big problem will be it is located in a high poputation area. I thought it would be overrun with horse people. So far not so much. Deer and turkey will always be very limited quota hunts I think.
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Post by One Man Gang on Jun 28, 2023 11:37:07 GMT -5
"Very limited deer and turkey quota hunts" are the future. Increased regulation and decreased availability to access the resource are the mantras of progress in FL.
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Post by joekat46 on Jun 28, 2023 12:05:55 GMT -5
If it was just me I'd move to a western state. The wife won't live anywhere that she sees a highway sign reading ""bridge may ice in cold weather". I'm stuck. Oh well
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Post by One Man Gang on Jun 28, 2023 12:23:02 GMT -5
Same here Joe... if'n it was just me, I'd go back to Alaska or Uruguay.
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Post by meateater on Jun 29, 2023 9:56:41 GMT -5
Same here Joe... if'n it was just me, I'd go back to Alaska or Uruguay. dont wanna let the cat outa the bag but pretty sure no one on here is moving anywhere one of my buddies moved to uruguay about 20 years ago to get away from everything and everyone he had exactly 89000.00 to his name and 1850.00 a month pension no social security yet he aint old enough. anyway he owns over 200 acres now and swears he,s in heaven many times ive told him if not for my wife and kids and grandkids i would join him in a second. |
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Post by One Man Gang on Jun 29, 2023 11:34:08 GMT -5
Dammit meat, you just started a full fledged Google search on the Big U with that glowing report...
I almost bought a ocean front crib down there when I had a little money about 35 years ago. Glad I didn't. My ex wife may have gotten it when she decided to fire my big ass.
Place was awesome... like being thrown back into the 70s.
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Post by johnnybandit on Jun 29, 2023 21:27:27 GMT -5
Dammit meat, you just started a full fledged Google search on the Big U with that glowing report... I almost bought a ocean front crib down there when I had a little money about 35 years ago. Glad I didn't. My ex wife may have gotten it when she decided to fire my big ass. Place was awesome... like being thrown back into the 70s.A guy I worked with for years and years..... About 6 years ago... after his third divorce, cashed out what he had, sold everything and retired early.... Moved to Boco Del Toro? and island off panama and costa rica. I think it is part of panama...I saw him over Christmas... He came up for one of his son's weddings.... He said 1500 a month covers rent on a nice small place, a cook/maid, food etc.... And he said being an American that is fluent and english and spanish, he makes a lot of money from Americans, Canadians and Europeans with homes, cottages down there. He said the real gold mine is with the live aboard sailing crowd.... He has learned out to get parts and supplies shipped in, is a boat needs repair, helps the sailing crowd navigate and do business with the local mechanics, tradesmen etc. |
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Post by meateater on Jun 30, 2023 9:13:15 GMT -5
Dammit meat, you just started a full fledged Google search on the Big U with that glowing report... I almost bought a ocean front crib down there when I had a little money about 35 years ago. Glad I didn't. My ex wife may have gotten it when she decided to fire my big ass. Place was awesome... like being thrown back into the 70s. i am the spot burner my friend has 10 or 12 dove and duck hunts on his property a year thats it and the money he makes from that selling a cow or 2 ,chickens and eggs and his pension he lives like a king. whether to fish or hunt is his biggest problem most days, that and water cause his area going thru a drought right now. just like the good ol usa stay out of the urban areas. |
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