14041446, 68A-15.063 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 14041446

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

TYPE I WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-15.063

Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northwest Region

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Northwest 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 Northwest Region as follows:

Apalachicola WMA – allow the harvest of bearded turkey or gobbler during the muzzleloading gun season.
Apalachicola WMA, Bradwell Unit – begin the July wild hog-dog hunt 7 days later.
Aucilla WMA – establish five 3-day wild hog-dog hunts (no quota permit required).
Blackwater WMA – establish ten 3-day wild hog-dog hunts (two per month from May through September, no quota permit required); change the bag limit for deer during the archery/muzzleloading gun season in the Field Trial Area from one deer per day to one antlered and one antlerless deer per day; and expand dove season in the Field Trial Area to include the entire statewide dove season on posted dove fields.
Blackwater WMA, Carr Unit – remove the requirement for hunters to sign in and out of the area and record all harvested game.
Blackwater WMA, Hutton Unit – establish two 2-day dove hunts (quota of 40, issued first come, first served at the check station each day, no exemptions); and allow one person under the age of 16 to accompany an adult dove permit holder and hunt under the supervision and in the presence of the permit holder, provided they may each take one bag limit of dove.
Box-R WMA – increase the quota during wild hog-dog hunts from 10 to 20 (no exemptions); extend legal hunting hours during the wild hog-dog season from sunset until sunrise to sunset until 10 a.m.; and remove the requirement for hunters to check in and out at a check station and check harvested game during wild hog-dog, spring turkey, and dove seasons.
Point Washington WMA – change the quota during general gun season from one quota hunt (first 13 days and last 17 days, quota of 150, no exemptions), to two quota hunts (first 13 days and last 17 days, quota of 150 per hunt, no exemptions).

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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