3386966, 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: 3386966

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 changes 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 changes will be to enable the agency to better manage fish and wildlife resources and public use on WMAs.

SUMMARY:

The proposed rule changes 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:
Econfina Creek WMA – The proposed rule change would allow hunting on Econfina Road.
Escambia River WMA – The proposed rule change would extend the general gun season from 26 to 58 days by converting the archery/muzzleloading gun season to a general gun season. Note that deer dog hunting is currently allowed during the 26-day general gun season. This change would allow deer dog hunting opportunities for a full 58-day general gun season.
Wakulla WMA – The proposed rule change would realign existing archery/muzzleloading gun hunts to every other weekend instead of consecutive weekends; and provide for the small game season to begin the day after the end of the archery/muzzleloading gun season to run for 28 consecutive days.
Perdido River WMA – The proposed rule would establish regulations for the new WMA with the following open seasons: 30-day archery; 3-day muzzleloading gun; 4-day and 3-day family hunt; 7-day and 9-day general gun; 11-day archery and muzzleloading gun; 30-day small game; 9-day and 14-day spring turkey; migratory game birds during statewide seasons; fishing and frogging – throughout the year. It would establish as legal to take all legal game, hogs, fish, frogs and furbearers with no size or bag limit on hogs, and establish the following hunter quotas: archery – 40 by archery/muzzleloading gun quota application, no exemptions; muzzleloading gun – 40 by archery/muzzleloading gun quota application, no exemptions; family hunt – 20 by family hunt quota application for each hunt, no exemptions; general gun –  40 by general gun quota application for each hunt, no exemptions; archery and muzzleloading gun – 40 by archery/muzzleloading gun application, no exemptions; spring turkey – 15 by spring turkey application for each hunt, no exemptions. It would allow camping at designated sites or by permit from the Northwest Florida Water Management District; allow vehicles to be operated only on named or numbered roads; prohibit ATVs; allow hunting with bird dogs and retrievers; allow horses on designated horse trails only; and, prohibit the possession or consumption of intoxicating beverages.
Tate’s Hell WMA – The proposed rule change would allow the use of off-highway vehicles, including ATVs, by permit from the Florida Division of Forestry.
Tyndall AFB WMA – The proposed rule change would prohibit the taking of any antlered deer with less than 3-points on a side, each point 1 inch or more in length; and prohibit the use of handguns, rimfire or centerfire rifles for taking wildlife.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution, 372.121, 375.313 FS.

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution, 372.121, 375.313 FS.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

1/5/2007 Vol. 33/01

COMMENTS:

From 1/5/2007 To 1/26/2007 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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