30364121, 68A-17.004 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

Home

Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 30364121

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-17.004	General Regulations Relating to Wildlife and Environmental Areas
68A-17.005	Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas

PURPOSE:

The proposed rule amendment revises regulations pertaining to general rules for Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) and specific rules for WEAs in the North Central, Northwest, and South regions to enable the agency to better manage fish and wildlife resources and public recreation on WEAs.

SUMMARY:

The proposed rule amendment adjusts current regulations on WEAs as follows:

68A-17.004 (General Regulations Relating to Wildlife and Environmental Areas):
Baits, Lures and Visual Attractants for Trapping – allow baits, lures, and visual attractants to be used for trapping furbearers and nutria pursuant to Rule 68A-32.002, F.A.C., on WEAs with established trapping seasons, unless prohibited by area-specific rule.
Chasing Coyote and Bobcat during Special-Use Other Fox Hunts – allow bobcat and coyote to be chased by free-running dogs during permitted SUO fox hunts.
Crossbows and airbows during archery/muzzleloading gun season on WEAs – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during archery/muzzleloading gun season on applicable WEAs, unless otherwise provided by area rule.
Furbearer Language Correction – replace instances of “fur-bearing animals” with “furbearers” so that reference is made to the intended term as defined in Rule 68A-1.004, F.A.C.
Ground blinds on WEAs – establish that ground blinds may not be left unattended on a WEA until 8:00 a.m. the day before each hunt and must be removed from the area before 6 p.m. the day after the end of every hunt, unless otherwise provided by area rule.
Nighttime Hunting Restriction on Guns Equipped with Thermal or Night-vision Devices – prohibit the take of wildlife on WEAs at night (from 30 minutes after sunset through 30 minutes before sunrise) with a gun equipped with a thermal, night-vision, or similar device.
Non-Protected Mammals and Furbearer Language Correction – replace “non-protected mammals” with species formerly defined as “non-protected mammals” or removed from the definition of “furbearers” to maintain the provision of take for these wildlife, due to revisions of these definitions.
Released Quail on WEAs – clarify that northern bobwhite must be purchased from a licensed game farm to be released on a WEA.

Additionally, the proposed rule amendment also clarifies existing rules; removes unnecessary, redundant, or conflicting language; corrects prior mistakes; and makes non-substantive, technical corrections.

68A-17.005 (Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas):
Southwest Region

	NONE.

North Central Region

 	Santa Fe Swamp WEA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during the archery/muzzleloading gun season; and replace “non-protected mammals” with species formerly defined as “non-protected mammals” or removed from the definition of “furbearers” to maintain the provision of take for these wildlife, due to revisions of these definitions.
	Suwannee Ridge WEA – replace “non-protected mammals” with species formerly defined as “non-protected mammals” or removed from the definition of “furbearers” to maintain the provision of take for these wildlife, due to revisions of these definitions; require hunters to check in and out and check harvested wildlife only when the check station is staffed; and require hunters to enter and exit at a designated entrance.

Northwest Region

	Apalachicola River WEA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during archery/muzzleloading gun season; convert the Northwest Florida Water Management District still-hunt acres lying west of the Chipola River into dog-hunt acres; define the boundaries of the dog hunt area as that portion of the area outside the still hunt area; and replace “non-protected mammals” with species formerly defined as “non-protected mammals” or removed from the definition of “furbearers” to maintain the provision of take for these wildlife, due to revisions of these definitions.
	L. Kirk Edwards WEA – allow the take of wildlife with crossbows and airbows during archery/muzzleloading gun season.
	St. Andrew’s Flatwoods WEA – establish rules and regulations for a new WEA (115 acres in Bay County) as follows: prohibit taking wildlife with a gun; prohibit fishing and frogging; prohibit the possession of any animal, except dogs on a leash; prohibit access other than by foot; and prohibit public access during nighttime hours.

South Region

	CREW WEA – prohibit the take of wildlife with a gun within 100 yards of designated campsites.

Northeast Region

	NONE.
	
Additionally, the proposed rule amendment also clarifies existing rules; removes unnecessary, redundant, or conflicting language; corrects prior mistakes; and makes non-substantive, technical corrections.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.

LAW:

Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

12/30/2025 Vol. 51/251

COMMENTS:

From 12/30/2025 To 1/20/2026 (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.