15546886, 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: 15546886

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:

Arbuckle WMA – as an alternative to existing 3 point antler point restriction, also allow the harvest of antlered deer having at least 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more; persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; allow hunting equipment on the WMA from 2 weeks prior to archery season until 1 week after muzzleloading gun season; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Avon Park Air Force Range WMA – as an alternative to existing 3 point antler point restriction, also allow the harvest of antlered deer having at least 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more; and allow persons less than 16 years of age to harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length in those areas and during those days as specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
Chassahowitzka WMA – harvesting antlered deer not having 1 antler with 2 or more points is prohibited, except persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; extend the shooting hours during spring turkey season from 1 p.m. to sunset; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Croom WMA – harvesting antlered deer not having 1 antler with 3 or more points or 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more is prohibited, except persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA – harvesting antlered deer not having 1 antler with 3 or more points or 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more is prohibited, except persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; and allow up to 2 hunters per quota permit (quota permit holder and 1 additional hunter, with a shared daily bag limit of 6 quail) during the field trial quail season.
Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA, Yucca Pens Unit – harvesting antlered deer not having 1 antler with 3 or more points or 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more is prohibited, except persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.
Green Swamp WMA – harvesting antlered deer not having 1 antler with 3 or more points or 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more is prohibited, except persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; begin the archery and general gun seasons 2 weeks later; extend the first archery hunt from 2 to 3 days; allow archery hunting on Thanksgiving Day in addition to the normal Friday through Sunday hunt; move the wild hog-dog season to the beginning of October; and begin small game season the weekend after general gun season and continue on Saturdays and Sundays through the end of the zonal small game season (number of weekends will vary between 4 and 5).
Green Swamp WMA, West Unit – clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Hickory Hammock – as an alternative to existing 3 point antler point restriction, also allow the harvest of antlered deer having at least 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more; persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; shift the mobility-impaired hunt to prevent overlap with Thanksgiving weekend; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Hilochee WMA – as an alternative to existing 3 point antler point restriction, also allow the harvest of antlered deer having at least 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more; persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; extend the shooting hours during spring turkey season from 1 p.m. to sunset; remove the requirement to check harvested game at a check station; begin the first wild hog hunt 2 weeks earlier and schedule the other 2 wild hog hunts to occur every other weekend after that; extend small game season from 10 to 17 days and move it to January; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Hilochee WMA, Osprey Unit – as an alternative to existing 3 point antler point restriction, also allow the harvest of antlered deer having at least 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more; persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
KICCO WMA – harvesting antlered deer not having 1 antler with 3 or more points or 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more is prohibited, except persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Lake Marion Creek WMA – as an alternative to existing 3 point antler point restriction, also allow the harvest of antlered deer having at least 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more; persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Lower Hillsborough WMA – harvesting antlered deer not having 1 antler with 3 or more points or 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more is prohibited, except persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Upper Hillsborough WMA – as an alternative to existing 3 point antler point restriction, also allow the harvest of antlered deer having at least 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more; and persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.
Walk-in-the-Water WMA – harvesting antlered deer not having 1 antler with 3 or more points or 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more is prohibited, except persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length; allow hunting equipment on the WMA from 2 weeks prior to archery season until 1 week after muzzleloading gun season; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Weekiwachee WMA – harvesting antlered deer not having 1 antler with 3 or more points or 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more is prohibited, except persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.

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:

1/15/2015 Vol. 41/10

COMMENTS:

From 1/15/2015 To 2/5/2015 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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