RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
68A-13.003: Hunting Regulations for Ducks, Geese, and Coots
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule change is to establish bag limits for taking ducks in conformance with federal regulations. Rule wording would be changed to increase the bag limit for scaup to four.
SUMMARY: This rule amends migratory bird hunting regulations to establish duck, goose and coot season dates and bag limits.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:
The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.
The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: the nature of the rule and the preliminary analysis conducted to determine whether a SERC was required.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: During the Commission’s regular meeting December 5-6, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., each day.
PLACE: Franklin County Courthouse, 33 Market Street, Apalachicola, Florida 32320.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: The ADA Coordinator, at (850)488-6411.. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Diane R. Eggeman, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Fl 32399-1600.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

68A-13.003 Hunting Regulations for Ducks, Geese, and Coots.

The Commission has approved the following regulations and bag limits for taking ducks, geese, and coots:

(1) Duck, light goose, and coot season:

(a) through (c) No change

(d) In addition to the open season specified in paragraph (1)(a) above, a “Youth Waterfowl Hunt” will be held on the first Saturday and Sunday following the last Sunday in January. Youth hunters must be under 16 years of age and must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 18 years of age. Daily bag limits and species restrictions for ducks, geese, and coots will be as described in paragraphs ~~paragraph~~ (1)(f) and ~~subsection~~ (4)(c). Common moorhens may also be taken on the “Youth Waterfowl Hunt;” bag and possession limits for this species will be as specified in Rule 68A-13.008, F.A.C.

(e) No Change

(f) Limits: The possession limit for ducks and coots shall be two days’ bag limit. There shall be no possession limit for light geese. Light geese include only snow (including blue) and Ross’ geese.

1. Ducks: The daily bag limit for ducks is six, including no more than four mallards, of which only two can be females, four ~~two~~ scaup, four scoters, three wood ducks, two redheads, two pintails, one canvasback, one black duck, one Florida duck (mottled duck), and one fulvous whistling-duck. In addition to the daily bag limit for ducks, the daily bag limit for mergansers is five, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.

2. through 3. No change.

(2) through (5) No change.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.; Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 8-1-79, Amended 10-23-79, 8-19-80, 9-29-81, 8-30-82, 7-27-83, 8-13-84, 8-13-85, 10-1-85, Formerly 39-13.03, Amended 8-5-86, 8-24-87, 8-18-88, 12-12-88, 8-17-89, 10-30-89, 8-9-90, 10-31-90, 8-22-91, 10-31-91, 8-23-92, 10-22-92, 9-2-93, 10-28-93, 11-6-94, 10-23-95, 10-20-96, 8-7-97, 10-28-97, 11-12-98, 6-23-99, Formerly 39-13.003, Amended 11-7-00, 5-13-02, 5-1-03, 7-1-04, 7-1-05, 2-1-06, 7-1-06, 1-9-07, 1-8-08, 7-1-08, 1-6-09, 1-19-10, 7-1-10, 1-5-11, 3-25-12, ________.

BE ADVISED THAT THESE PROPOSED RULES MAY BE FILED FOR ADOPTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING THE COMMISSION MEETING AT WHICH THEY ARE CONSIDERED IF THE RULES ARE NOT CHANGED. IF CHANGED, THE RULES MAY BE FILED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER PUBLICATION OF A NOTICE OF CHANGE IN THE F.A.W.