14041252, 68A-15.061 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 14041252

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

TYPE I WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-15.061

Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Southwest Region

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Southwest Region 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 WMAs.

SUMMARY:

The proposed rule amendment would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Southwest Region as follows:

Avon Park Air Force Range WMA – allow wild hog hunts to be established by the Installation Commander.
Chassahowitzka WMA – prohibit the harvest of antlerless deer during archery season, except by antlerless deer permit.
Green Swamp WMA – open the check station and campground at the Rock Ridge Road entrance during wild hog-dog season (the Highway 471 entrance, check station and campground will remain open).
Green Swamp WMA, West Unit – prohibit the use of generators powered by internal combustion engines in the campground from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.; move wild hog-still season from December to October and wild hog-dog season from January to October; move special-opportunity archery hunts from November to December to better coincide with the rut; and allow the harvest of bobcat and otter during special-opportunity archery, special-opportunity general gun and small game seasons.
Hickory Hammock – allow persons with authorization from the South Florida Water Management District vehicle access; and limit vehicle use to named roads and parking areas.
Upper Hillsborough WMA – allow the use of air guns for hunting gray squirrel and rabbit during small game season; allow the use of crossbows for hunting turkey during spring turkey season; and allow vehicle access for scouting from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. one day prior to each archery, muzzleloading gun and spring turkey hunt.
Walk-in-the-Water WMA – remove the quota permit requirement for wild hog-still season.
Weekiwachee WMA – prohibit the harvest of any wildlife with shotguns during the archery season.

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:

1/9/2014 Vol. 40/06

COMMENTS:

From 1/9/2014 To 1/30/2014 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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