Responding in part to objections filed by Audubon Florida Director of Advocacy Charles Lee, the Suwannee River Water Management District took action on June 12 to defer consideration of a proposed private hunting lease on 837 acres of conservation land on the Santa Fe River.

Audubon objected because the proposed lease would close the tract to the public  year round and would only net a small amount of revenue for the district’s land management programs.

In contrast, Audubon pointed out that the leaseholder could then re-sell daily hunting privileges for a substantial profit – possibly $175,000 or more, while the district would collect only $16,929.

“This proposal does not make sense either from the standpoint of public access to conservation land, or from the standpoint of sound fiscal management,” stated Charles Lee after the board’s vote.

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