18371720, 68A-15.063 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 18371720

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

TYPE I WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-15.063

Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northwest Region

PURPOSE:

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

Apalachicola WMA, Bradwell Unit – add a youth spring turkey hunt (quota of 3, no exemptions); add a scout day between the two archery hunts; and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Aucilla WMA – allow the use of dogs to hunt wild hog during small game season.
Blackwater WMA, Hutton Unit – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season. 
Box-R WMA – allow the take of wild hog during small game season; prohibit the use of dogs to take wild hog during the small game season; and move the second general gun season hunt to the end of January to better capture the rut. 
Chipola River WMA – allow access to improved recreational areas from sunset to sunrise only to individuals participating in authorized hunting and/or fishing activities, actively launching/retrieving a boat or authorized to camp within the area; and establish five 3-day wild hog-still season hunts (one per month from May through September).
Choctawhatchee River WMA – allow access to improved recreational areas from sunset to sunrise only to individuals participating in authorized hunting and/or fishing activities, actively launching/retrieving a boat or authorized to camp within the area; and allow raccoon hunting at night by the aid of a light and dogs during the general gun and small game seasons. 
Econfina Creek WMA – allow access to improved recreational areas from sunset to sunrise only to individuals participating in authorized hunting and/or fishing activities, actively launching/retrieving a boat or authorized to camp within the area; and allow through hikers on the Florida National Scenic Trail to camp in designated campsites along the trail without obtaining a camping permit. 
Eglin AFB WMA – clarify that a Department of Defense-issued permit is required for all recreational users on the area. 
Escambia River WMA – allow access to improved recreational areas from sunset to sunrise only to individuals participating in authorized hunting and/or fishing activities, actively launching/retrieving a boat or authorized to camp within the area; and establish five 3-day wild hog-dog season hunts (one per month from May through September).
Joe Budd WMA – add the allowance to use modern shotguns during the youth turkey hunt; and change the issuance of spring turkey season daily quota permits first-come, first-served at the check station to random draw via the Commission’s Recreational License Issuance Services (RLIS).  
Lafayette Creek WMA – establish a wild hog-still season hunt during February; and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Ochlockonee River WMA – establish five 3-day wild hog-still season hunts (one per month from May through September); and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season. 
Perdido River WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Pine Log WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Point Washington WMA – clarify that camping is prohibited, except when camping in designated campsites by permit from the Florida Forest Service; and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Talquin WMA – establish five 3-day wild hog-still season hunts (one per month from May through September); and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Tyndall WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season in areas and during days designated by the Installation Commander.
Wakulla WMA – expand the first archery season hunt from two days (Saturday and Sunday) to three days (Saturday through Monday); and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Yellow River WMA – allow access to improved recreational areas from sunset to sunrise only to individuals participating in authorized hunting and/or fishing activities, actively launching/retrieving a boat or authorized to camp within the area; remove the designation and boundary for the Burnt Grocery Creek Unit and regulate this area with Yellow River WMA rules; remove the quota permit requirement during the youth spring turkey hunt; allow hunting during the youth spring turkey hunt on the entire WMA; and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game 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 n; Sections 375.2223, 375.313, Florida Statutes.

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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