Neighbors concerned over hunting in residential woods

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Neighbors in the Fort Caroline area are concerned after regularly hearing gunshots in recent weeks coming from a wooded area nearby. The area is near the intersection of Monument Road and McCormick Road.

Neighbors say that living near such a heavily wooded area, they have a lot of wildlife around that hunters would want to go after. They are just worried because it is happening so close to homes.

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"It's just not safe," said Rick Urtel.

According to the Jacksonville property appraiser's website, the area is owned by the St. Johns Water Management District. A representative for the Water Management District confirms the agency owns the property but said that no hunting is allowed on it.

"We don't know what to do," Urtel said. "We don't own the property. We want to do the right things for the right reasons. But we don't want to step on people's toes, but something has to be done."

He said that he doesn't have any young children, although other people in the area do. He said if he did, he would be extremely careful about where he'd let them play.

"We wouldn't be in the backyard," he said. "And I might seriously consider putting something on the windows."

Urtel said he understands that hunting may continue to happen. His hope is that caution is used given the area. Although he hopes that people would do their hunting in an area a little further away from homes.

"We've got so many places to hunt," he said. "There's so many opportunities that you have both free and paid. Don't do it in a residential neighborhood."

A representative for the St Johns Water Management District said that because hunting on their property is illegal, they ask anyone hearing gunshots coming from the property to call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.