12494878, 68A-17.005 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 12494878

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-17.005

Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) and conform to calendar year date changes.  The effect of the proposed rule amendment will be to enable the agency to better manage fish and wildlife resources and public use on WEAs.

SUMMARY:

The proposed rule amendment would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) as follows:

Southwest Region.

	Lake Wales Ridge WEA, Royce Unit – allow persons to enter and exit the area at designated entrances only; allow public access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset only; change the bag limit for deer from one antlered deer per quota permit to one antlered deer per person, but no more than two per quota permit during archery and general gun hunts; and change the bag limit for turkey from one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota permit to one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per person, but no more than two per quota permit during spring turkey hunts.

North Central Region

	Fort White WEA – change the bag limit for deer from one deer per quota permit to one deer per person, but no more than two deer per quota permit during archery season; change the bag limit for turkey from one gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit to one per person, but no more than two per quota permit during spring turkey season.
	Lafayette Forest WEA – change the bag limit for deer from one deer per quota permit to one deer per person, but no more than two deer per quota permit during archery season; change the bag limit for deer from one antlered deer per quota permit to one antlered deer per person, but no more than two per quota permit during muzzleloading gun season; change bag limit for turkey from one gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit to one per person, but no more than two per quota permit during the spring turkey season.
	Suwannee Ridge WEA - allow the harvest of furbearers.

Northwest Region

	Apalachicola River WEA - allow camping in designated campgrounds by permit only; and limit camping to 14 consecutive days in the remainder of the area.

L. Kirk Edwards WEA – limit access to the WMA in the area east of Chaires Cross Road to only those authorized to participate in the hunt from ½ hour before sunrise to 1:00pm during spring turkey and youth turkey seasons; change the bag limit for deer from one antlered or one antlerless deer per quota permit to one antlered or one antlerless deer per person, but no more than two per quota permit during archery hunts; and change the bag limit for deer from one antlered deer per quota permit to one antlered deer per person, but no more than two per quota permit during archery/muzzleloading gun hunts.
  
South Region

	John G. and Susan H. Dupuis WEA – move the four 3-day wild hog-still weekend hunts (Friday-Sunday) back to weekdays (Tuesdays-Thursdays); add wild hog as legal to harvest during small game season; and allow small game and wild hog-still hunters to camp at Gate 3.

	John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland WEA – change the bag limit for deer from one antlered deer per quota permit to one antlered deer per person, two per quota permit.

Additionally, the proposed rule amendment would provide non-substantive technical changes, such as grammatical corrections, language standardization, or clarification of an existing rule.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution.

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution n; Sections 379.2223, 375.313, Florida Statutes.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

1/11/2013 Vol. 39/08

COMMENTS:

From 1/11/2013 To 2/1/2013 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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