15547371, 68A-15.065 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

Home

Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 15547371

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 – 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 the use of vehicles from 4 a.m. until 1.5 hours after sunset on days open to scouting and hunting; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Caravelle Ranch 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; extend vehicle access on the area from 2 p.m. to 1 hour after sunset during the spring turkey season; clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply; and shift the first phase special opportunity dove hunts from the first and second Saturday to the second and third Saturday to alleviate overlap with the archery season.
Charles H. Bronson 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.
Dunns 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.
Etoniah 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.
Fort Drum WMA – clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Gores Landing 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.
Guana River 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; and extend vehicle access on the area from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time and 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time during the spring turkey season.
Half Moon 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; change the quota during the archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun season hunts from 75 to 50; 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.
Herky Huffman/Bull 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; and persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.
Jumper 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.
Lake George 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.
Lake George WMA, Dexter Mary Farms 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; allow vehicle access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset on the Saturday and Sunday prior to each special-opportunity spring turkey hunt; and clarify that during the spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Lake Monroe 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.
Lake Panasoffkee WMA – shift special-opportunity archery hunts to prevent overlap with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Little Big Econ 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.
Marshall 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; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Matanzas 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.
Ocala 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.
Richloam 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.
Richloam WMA, Baird 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.
Rock Springs Run 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.
Ross Prairie 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.
Salt Lake 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 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.
Seminole 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; and persons less than 16 years of age may harvest any antlered deer with 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.
Seminole Forest WMA, Lake Tracy 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.
Seminole Ranch 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.
Three Lakes 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.
Three Lakes WMA, Prairie Lakes 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; 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.
Tiger Bay 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.
Tiger Bay WMA, Rima Ridge 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.
Tosohatchee 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 define antlerless deer as any deer, except a spotted fawn, that is without antlers or whose antlers are less than one inch in length visible above the hairline.
Triple N WMA – extend the shooting hours during spring turkey season from 1 p.m. to sunset; extend vehicle access on the area from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the spring turkey season; and clarify that during spring turkey season the area limit of 1 per day and the statewide season limit of 2 apply.
Upper St. Johns River Marsh 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).

Under Florida law, E-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your E-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.