15547080, 68A-15.062 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 15547080

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

TYPE I WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-15.062

Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - North Central Region

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the North Central 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 amendments would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the North Central Region as follows:

Andrews 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; and extend the shooting hours during spring turkey season from 1 p.m. to sunset.
Bayard 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.
Belmore 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.
Big Bend WMA, Hickory Mound Unit – 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.
Big Bend WMA, Jena Unit – 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.
Big Bend WMA, Snipe Island Unit – 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 small game season from 30 to 58 days and begin 14 days earlier; allow the use of dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less to hunt small game during small game season; extend the shooting hours during spring turkey season from 1 p.m. to sunset; and clarify that during archery and spring turkey seasons the area limit of 1 turkey per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Big Bend WMA, Spring Creek Unit – 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.
Big Bend WMA, Tide Swamp 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; and persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.
Big Shoals 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 extend small game season from 12 to 39 days and begin on Thanksgiving Day.
Camp Blanding WMA – as an alternative to existing 3 point antler point restriction in the archery only and still hunt areas, also allow the harvest of antlered deer having at least 1 antler with a main beam of 10 inches or more; in the dog hunt area, 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; and persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.
Cary 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 with centerfire rifles during family, general gun and wild hog-still hunts; allow fishing and frogging year-round; allow horses to be ridden on named or numbered roads and designated trails only; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Cedar Key Scrub 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.
Citrus 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; expand quail hunting in the field trial area during small game season from two 2-day hunts to two 3-day hunts; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Cypress Creek 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; extend small game season from 55 to 107 days; and allow the harvest of furbearers.
Devil’s Hammock 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; allow camping year-round by permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District or the Levy County Commission; and remove the requirement during small game season for hunters to sign in and out.
Flying Eagle 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 hunting is allowed during the September teal season only during periods that coincide with archery season.
Four Creeks 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.
Goethe 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; and allow the use of bird dogs and waterfowl retrievers during the family hunt.
Grove Park 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.
Gulf Hammock 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; and allow public access the day before archery/muzzleloading gun season.
Hatchet 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.
Holton Creek 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.
Homosassa 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.
Jennings Forest 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; during small game season, allow hunting and the use of bird dogs and waterfowl retrievers in the Normandy Unit; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Little River 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; establish a 2-day family hunt (quota of 5, no exemptions); allow a bag limit for deer during the family hunt of one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Lochloosa 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 vehicle access on named or numbered roads only; and allow bicycles and horses on named or numbered roads and designated trails only.
Log Landing 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.
Lower Econfina River 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.
Mallory Swamp 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.
Middle Aucilla 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.
Osceola 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.
PotashCorp – White Springs WMA – prohibit the use of airboats and allow the use of any other motorized boat at idle speed only.
Potts 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.
Raiford 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; expand archery/muzzleloading gun season by adding two 4-day hunts (no quota permit required); establish a 4-day wild hog-still hunt (no quota permit required); and expand spring turkey season by adding one 4-day hunt (no quota permit required).
Ralph E. Simmons Memorial 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.
Steinhatchee Springs 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.
Thomas Creek WMA, Kings Road 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; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Twin Rivers 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 public access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset only, except by persons in possession of a special use permit from the Florida Forest Service; allow the use of vehicles on named or numbered roads only; allow persons to enter and exit the area only at designated entrances, via the Florida Trail, Suwannee River or Withlacoochee River; allow the harvest of furbearers and migratory birds in season; extend small game season from 23 to 39 days and begin on Thanksgiving Day; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.


Additionally, the proposed rule amendments 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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