22844099, 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: 22844099

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:

Aucilla WMA – shift the September wild hog-dog hunt to occur the first weekend in September (1 week earlier) to avoid overlapping the opening weekend of archery season.
Blackwater WMA – allow dogs to be used for hunting deer in the dog hunt area during the 2-day family hunt; allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory game) during small game season.
Eglin WMA – limit shooting hours during spring turkey season to ½ hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.; increase antler point regulation for harvesting antlered deer in Jackson and Brier Creek units to at least 4-points on one side or a 14-inch main beam; and allow northern bobwhite quail to be released and taken by shotgun during the small game season (Sikes and Choctaw units only). A daily no-cost permit and proof that that the northern bobwhite quail were purchased from a licensed game farm would be required for each individual or group participating.
	Escambia River WMA – establish one 2-day family deer dog hunt to occur the last weekend in December (within the Dog Hunt Area only).
Plank Road WMA – increase antler point regulation for harvesting antlered deer to at least 3-points on one side or a 10-inch main beam; and establish one 3-day wild hog-still hunt each month from May through September.
Perdido River WMA – prohibit motor vehicle access on Frank Reeder Loop Road from May through September.

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; Section 379.2223, 375.313, Florida Statutes.

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution n; Sections 379.2223, 375.313, Florida Statutes.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

1/22/2020 Vol. 46/14

COMMENTS:

From 1/22/2020 To 2/12/2020 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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