ORANGE COUNTY SPORTSMEN'S ASSOCIATION

BRIEF HISTORY JUNE 02, 2001

Compiled by: Les Crowley

 

Our Association was established by a group of Orange County residents in 1931 for the good of all concerned. It's first designation was The Panther Club, which was a very successful institution created to relieve tired minds and bodies during the deep days of the Depression.

During the year, 1933, The Association's name was changed from The Panther Club to The Florida Sportsman's Association to give it dignity and prestige.

Game was everywhere, it was nothing uncommon for a pair of Quail hunters to bring in a hundred birds in a one day hunt. There was an abundance of wild turkey, deer and ducks.

Fishing was wide open, no limits or size considered. Black Bass, the greatest fresh water game fish known, was being netted by Commercial Fishermen by the millions of pounds yearly from Florida's 30,000 fresh water lakes and 4,000 miles of fresh water rivers and sold for four cents a pound.

Our first conservation movement was the "BLACK BASS BILL". It was a tough uphill battle we fought and the State Legislature finally passed the Bill. It is against the law to sell or buy Black Bass in the state of Florida.

Other legislation to protect and promote Florida's native wildlife was either written, passed or backed by The Orange County Sportsmen's Association, our Name change in 1941.

One of our Founders, Merlin Mitchell, who serverd as President for seven years, helped organize The Florida Wildlife Federation in 1937, (your Association has supported this organization from it's concept) and wrote and assisted in the passing of the Constitutional Amendment creating our present Game and Fresh Water Commission.

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