Private land owners in the Blackwater Wildlife Management area in Florida’s Panhandle are tired of deer-dog hunters going on their property. A lawsuit filed by retired U.S. Air Force pilot, William Daws, Jr., and his wife, Ouida Gershon, in November 2014 (which was backed twelve of their neighbors) has been ruled in their favor by a Leon county circuit judge.
FWC will be responsible for putting a stop to any such dog-deer hunting they witness. The type hunting itself won’t be stopped, but state agencies must figure out a way to stop it from creeping onto privately owned land.
“All my folks have wanted for years was just to be able to use their property … without being subject to hunters and deer dogs shooting across their property,” David Theriaque, a lawyer who represents the plaintiffs, said.
This is the first case Theriaque is aware of that the court has ruled agency has to stop deer dog hunters from going on private property.
During the 44 days of the state allowed deer-dog hunting, Daws and Gershon have been threatened by hunters, had their mailbox shot, and had derogatory graffiti drawn in front of their home.
In her court order, Judge Karen Gievers stated that; “for now, it is clear that the trespasses onto the plaintiffs’ property and the interference with the plaintiffs’ property rights is a direct result of the FWC’s continued allowance of deer dog hunting in an area known to contain private property.”
Daws and his wife are seeking at least $15,000 in damages, claiming they have been deprived of their constitutional rights as property owners.
