14043289, 68A-15.065 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 14043289

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

TYPE I WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-15.065

Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northeast Region

PURPOSE:

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

Buck Lake WMA – add 23 days to the wild hog-still season (which would replace the second small game hunt); allow small game to be harvested during the wild hog-still season; and allow the harvest of bobcat and otter.
Fort Drum WMA – move the October wild hog-still hunts to November; add one 3-day wild hog-still hunt in January (Tues.-Thurs.); add one 3-day wild hog-still hunt in February (Tues.-Thurs.); and allow the harvest of furbearers.
Lake George WMA, Dexter / Mary Farms Unit – allow horses and bikes on named or numbered roads, firelines and designated trails only. 
Lake George WMA – allow horses and bikes on named or numbered roads, firelines and designated trails only.
Lake Panasoffkee WMA – move the two wild hog-dog hunts from weekdays to weekends and allow the harvest of bobcat and otter.
Richloam WMA – extend the waterfowl seasons to match the statewide waterfowl seasons and move the wild hog-dog season from late January to five days after the close of spring turkey season. 
Seminole Forest WMA – allow hunting equipment to be taken onto the area the Monday prior to archery, mobility-impaired general gun, muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons and the Thursday prior to each spring turkey hunt; and all hunting equipment shall be removed the day after the last day of each hunt. 
Seminole Forest WMA, Lake Tracy Unit – allow hunting equipment to be taken onto the area beginning the Monday prior to each archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, wild hog-still hunt and the Tuesday prior to each spring turkey hunt; and require all hunting equipment to be removed the day after each hunt.
Seminole Ranch WMA – allow the harvest of bobcat and otter. 
Three Lakes WMA, Prairie Lakes Unit – add a 3-day wild hog-still hunt in late January and a 3-day wild hog-still hunt in late February. 
Three Lakes WMA – clarify that a daily quota permit is required to hunt during small game, raccoon and spring turkey seasons. 
Tiger Bay WMA – allow horses and bikes on named or numbered roads, firelines and designated trails only. 
Triple N WMA – allow one additional day of vehicle access for scouting one day prior to each special-opportunity deer hunt and move the scouting days for the special-opportunity spring turkey season from the Saturdays and Sundays prior to each special-opportunity spring turkey hunt to the Thursdays and Fridays prior to each hunt. 
Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA – extend the time that hunting equipment is allowed on the area from one day after the close of hunting season to seven days after the close of hunting 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:

1/10/2014 Vol. 40/07

COMMENTS:

From 1/10/2014 To 1/31/2014 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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