25449519, 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: 25449519

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 adjust how some season dates are described to better conform to calendar year 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 how some season dates are described to better conform to calendar year changes, and revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the North Central Region as follows:

Andrews WMA – eliminate the zone tag requirement for the wild hog-still season.
Bayard WMA – establish a 15-day small game season (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only); allow the use of any dog to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel, and migratory game birds) during small game season; prohibit the use of vehicles during small game season; and allow the use of horses in Areas 2, 3 and 4 during small game season.
Camp Blanding WMA – clarify that the wild hog-dog season hunts begin 1.5 hours after sunset on the first day of each hunt and end 1.5 hours before sunrise the last day of each hunt; clarify that wild hog may be taken only at night with the aid of a light, dogs, and a firearm; and clarify that hunting of wild hog by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat or animal is prohibited.
Cypress Creek WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during small game season and summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only)) by individuals who possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD); and remove the unintended allowance to hunt with dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less.
Devil’s Hammock WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only)) by individuals who possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD).
Flying Eagle WMA – allow veterans or active-duty members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) to take waterfowl during the Veteran’s and Military Waterfowl Days.
Grove Park WMA – allow any dog to hunt small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel, and migratory birds) during small game season.
Hatchet Creek WMA – allow veterans or active-duty members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) to take waterfowl during the Veteran’s and Military Waterfowl Days; and prohibit the use of vehicles during the Veteran’s and Military Waterfowl Days.
Holton Creek WMA – prohibit the use of horses the day before each mobility-impaired season hunt; and allow the take of non-protected birds.
Homosassa WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during the last 23 days of small game season by individuals who possess a special use permit from the Florida Forest Service.
Jennings Forest WMA – correct a previous rule change processing error to return to the wild hog-still season to a 3-day hunt.
Little River WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only)) by individuals who possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD); and expand the quail hunting opportunity during small game season from 16 to 27 days by allowing quail hunting for three 9-day periods (one period each in November, December, and January, respectively).
Lochloosa WMA – allow persons possessing a valid Grove Park Wildlife Management Area Recreational Use Permit to drive all-terrain vehicles on Fish Camp Road to access Grove Park Wildlife Management Area.
Log Landing WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during small game season and summer months ((opening the third Friday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only)) by individuals who possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD).
Lower Econfina River WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only)) by individuals who possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD).
Mallory Swamp WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only)) by individuals who possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD).
Middle Aucilla WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only)) by individuals who possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD).
Osceola WMA – allow dogs under physical restraint in the still hunt area year-round; and change the 10-day deer-dog training season schedule from a Sunday through Tuesday to Saturday through Monday (shift one day earlier) and prohibit deer-dog training in the Big Gum Swamp Wilderness during deer-dog training season.
Steinhatchee Springs WMA – allow nighttime raccoon hunting during summer months ((opening the third Thursday in June and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only)) by individuals who possess a special use permit from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD).
Thomas Creek WMA, Kings Road Unit – remove the unintended allowance to hunt with dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less.
Troy Springs WMA – allow the use of dogs to take squirrel, rabbit, and quail during small game season; and establish quail hunting for 18 days during small game season by allowing quail hunting for three 6-day periods (one period each in November, December, and January, respectively).

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:

1/13/2022 Vol. 48/09

COMMENTS:

From 1/13/2022 To 2/3/2022 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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