18370944, 68A-17.005 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 18370944

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-17.005

Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) 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 WEAs.

SUMMARY:

The proposed rule amendment would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) as follows:

North Central Region

Fort White WEA – extend the small game season from 14 to 30 days by adding one 16-day hunt in February; and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.

Lafayette Forest WEA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.

South Region

CREW WEA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.

John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland WEA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.

John G. and Susan H. DuPuis Jr. WEA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season; remove rule prohibiting hunting within ¼ mile of primitive campgrounds; and clarify that only mobility-impaired hunters may harvest antlerless deer during the mobility-impaired season.

Southern Glades WEA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season; remove rule prohibiting hunting with a firearm within 500 yards of any building or structure; and prohibit hunting within 100 yards of 232nd Avenue.

Southwest Region

Lake Wales Ridge WEA, Royce Unit – improve hunting opportunity by beginning the third small game season hunt one week earlier and expanding this hunt from 3-days (Friday through Sunday) to 4-days (Friday through Monday, overlapping the Birthday of Marting Luther King, Jr.).

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:

12/15/2016 Vol. 42/242

COMMENTS:

From 12/15/2016 To 1/5/2017 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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