5036645, 68A-15.065 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 5036645

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

TYPE I WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-15.065

Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northeast Region

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the proposed rule changes is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Northeast 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 Northeast Region as follows:
Buck Lake WMA – add a five day gap between the first and second archery hunt.
Bull Creek WMA – change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length; require camping equipment to be removed one day after the end of the muzzleloading gun, small game, and spring turkey seasons; and remove the requirement that hunters obtain a daily check station permit for the Crabgrass Creek portion of the WMA during small game season.
Caravelle Ranch WMA – change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length and a bag limit of one antlered or one antlerless deer per permit, per person, per season during the archery season; a bag limit of one antlered deer per permit, per person, per season during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons, allow only one quota permit to be utilized per person per season during all seasons which deer are legal to take; and change the opening day of the supervised small game season from Sunday to Saturday.
Dunns Creek WMA – allow a youth or mentor license holder to accompany a quota permit holder.
Etoniah Creek WMA – prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken; and allow horses on the area year-round.
Fort Drum WMA – establish a bag limit of one antlered deer per special-opportunity permit, per person, per season; establish a bag limit of one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per special-opportunity permit, per person, per season; allow only one special-opportunity permit to be utilized per person, per season; allow tent camping only at the designated campsite; and require that deer, wild hog and turkey be checked at the check station before being dismembered.
Guana River WMA – change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length and a bag limit of one antlered or one antlerless deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the archery season; a bag limit of one antlered deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; allow only one quota permit to be utilized per person per hunt during all seasons which deer are legal to take; and establish a spring turkey season with two, 3-day hunts (quota of six, no exemptions);
Half Moon WMA – technical changes to clarify rules related to the taking of deer.
Jumper Creek WMA – add geese as legal to take during the waterfowl season.
Lake George WMA – prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season.
Lake George WMA – Dexter/Mary Farms Unit – establish a bag limit of one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit during the archery season; eliminate the special-opportunity dove season; eliminate the general gun hog season; add wild hog as legal to take during the small game season; and prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season.
Lake Panasoffkee WMA – convert the special-opportunity hog seasons to general gun hog seasons; and extend scouting hours during spring turkey season to 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset.
Matanzas WMA – prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season; and move duplications of the rules for Family Hunts from area specific regulations to Rule 68A-15.005, F.A.C.
Ocala WMA – establish a 9-day general gun still hunt (quota of 225) one week after the general gun dog hunt on the Church Lake Unit; prohibit hunting from the right-of-way of Deerhaven Road and North Boulevard; and eliminate the quota on the Pipeline Unit during the general gun season.
Relay WMA – allow the take of wild hogs, without the use of dogs, during the small game season; require camping equipment be removed by the Saturday following spring turkey season; and no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken.
Richloam WMA – establish a new 3-day general gun hog-dog season (no quota); and reduce the requirement for hunters to check game to the first nine days of the general gun season and during the spring turkey season.
Richloam WMA: Baird Unit – change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length and a bag limit of one antlered or one antlerless deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the archery season; a bag limit of one antlered deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; allow only one quota permit to be utilized per person per hunt during all seasons which deer are legal to take; and establish a new 3-day general gun hog season (quota of 50, no exemptions); prohibit use of centerfire rifles for taking turkey during the spring turkey season; and remove requirement to check game during the small game season.
Rock Springs Run WMA – allow possession of handguns on the area but prohibit their use for taking wildlife; require hunters to enter and exit only at designated entrances; require hunters to obtain a permit at the check station to hunt the West BMK portion of the area; and require that hunters access the West BMK portion only from Old McDonald Road.
Ross Prairie WMA – no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken.
Seminole Forest WMA – change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length and a bag limit of one antlered and one antlerless deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the archery season; a bag limit of one antlered deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; allow only one quota permit to be utilized per person per hunt during all seasons which deer are legal to take; and prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season.
Seminole Forest WMA: Lake Tracy Unit – increase the quota for archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun hunts from 10 to 20; increase the quota for spring turkey season from 5 to 10; and prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; and no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken.
Seminole Ranch WMA – allow centerfire rifles during the general gun season; allow handguns; and revise quota for the general gun hog hunt by issuing 25 permits by general gun quota application for the first two days of the season and issue 25 permits first-come, first-served at the check station for the last five days of the season.
Three Lakes WMA – eliminate the second general gun dog hunt; and require camping equipment to be removed one day after the end of the muzzleloading gun, small game, and spring turkey seasons
Three Lakes WMA – Prairie Lakes Unit – allow waterfowl hunters to access the Lake Jackson boat ramp during all open seasons.
Tiger Bay WMA – prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; and no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken.
Tiger Bay WMA: Rima Ridge Unit – prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; and no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken.
Tosohatchee WMA – increase the daily-use permit fee from $3 per car to $4 per person to match the previous lead managing agency’s fee structure; and add fish and frogs as legal to take.
Triple N Ranch WMA – establish a bag limit of one antlered deer per special-opportunity permit, per person, per season; establish a bag limit of one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per special-opportunity permit, per person, per season; allow only one special-opportunity permit to be utilized per person, per season; allow take of wild hog with no size or bag limit; and allow authorized hunting equipment to be taken onto the area when vehicular access is allowed.
Additional proposed rule changes would simplify and standardize regulations related to the take of wild hog on WMAs; liberalize regulations related to the possession of firearms, in accordance with Florida Statutes; and 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 375.313 FS.

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution 375.313 FS.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

1/4/2008 Vol. 34/01

COMMENTS:

From 1/4/2008 To 1/25/2008 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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