68A-15.064: Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - South Region
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule changes is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the South 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 South Region as follows:
Holey Land WMA – The proposed rule change would allow for the transfer of general gun-vehicle permits and deer tags by FWC law enforcement supervisors or their designees in the case of a disabled track vehicle.
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA – The proposed rule change would allow for the transfer of general gun-vehicle permits and deer tags by FWC law enforcement supervisors or their designees in the case of a disabled track vehicle or airboat.
Rotenberger WMA – The proposed rule change would allow for the transfer of general gun-vehicle permits and deer tags by FWC law enforcement supervisors or their designees in the case of a disabled track vehicle.
Picayune Strand WMA – The proposed rule change would expand the migratory bird hunting season to match the statewide season.
Allapattah Flats WMA – The proposed rule would establish regulations for the new WMA with the following open seasons: 7-day and 9-day archery; 3-day muzzleloading gun; 4-day family hunt; 5-day general gun; 58-day small game; 4-day and 5-day spring turkey; and fishing – throughout the year. It would establish as legal to take all legal game, hogs, fish, and furbearers (except bobcat and otter) with no size or bag limit on hogs, allow turkey to be taken during spring turkey season only, and establish a bag limit of one per quota permit for deer and wild turkey. It would establish the following hunter quotas: archery – 50 by archery/ muzzleloading gun quota application for each hunt, no exemptions; muzzleloading gun – 50 by archery/ muzzleloading gun quota application, no exemptions; family hunt – 25 by family hunt quota application, no exemptions; general gun – 50 by general gun quota application, no exemptions; spring turkey – 20 by spring turkey quota application for each hunt, no exemptions. It would allow tent camping and fires at designated sites; allow vehicles to be operated only on named or numbered roads year-round; allow vehicles to be operated on numbered trails during archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt, general gun, and spring turkey seasons by persons possessing a valid quota permit; prohibit tracked vehicles, swamp buggies, airboats, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles; require all hunters to check in and out when entering and exiting the area at a designated entrance and to check all game taken; prohibit the dismemberment of deer until checked at a check station; prohibit the take of wildlife with dogs, except with bird dogs or retrievers during the small game season; allow horses on named equestrian trails and designated equestrian areas only and allow shotguns only during small game season.
SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
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.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution, 372.121, 375.313 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution, 372.121, 375.313 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE TIME, DATE AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
TIME AND DATE: During the Commission’s regular meeting, February 7-8, 2007, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., each day
PLACE: Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway, West, Destin, FL 32550
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 calendar 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 by calling (850)488-9542.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Nick Wiley, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
68A-15.064 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas – South Region.
(1) No change.
(2) Holey Land Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. General gun – Walk, October 20-28 21-29.
2. General gun – Vehicle, November 3-18 4-19 (tracked vehicles and airboats only). Deer hunting by permit only during the general gun-vehicle season.
3. Archery – August 25 26 through September 16 17.
4. Muzzleloading gun – September 29 30 through October 14 15.
5. through 6. No change.
(b) through (c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 2. No change.
3. A general gun-vehicle permit is required of any person to operate a vehicle during the general gun-vehicle season. A general gun–vehicle permit and tag shall only be transferred in the field by General gun-vehicle permits and tags are not transferable, except as provided in subsection 68A-11.005(9), F.A.C.
4. through 18. No change.
(e) No change.
(3)
(a) Open season:
1. General gun – Walk, October 20-28 21-29 Conservation Areas 3A North and 2 only. December 1-30 2-31 in that portion of the area between the Old
2. General gun – Vehicle (airboats and tracked vehicles only), November 3-18 4-19, in Conservation Areas 3A North, 3A South, 2, and the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area by permit only.
3. Archery – August 25 26 through September 16 17, Conservation Area 3A North only.
4. Muzzleloading gun – September 29 30 through October 14 15, in Conservation Area 3A North only.
5. through 6. No change.
(b) through (c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 6. No change.
7. A general gun-vehicle permit is required of any person to operate a vehicle during the general gun-vehicle season. General gun-vehicle permits will be given to both tracked vehicle and airboat hunters. A general gun–vehicle permit and tag shall only be transferred in the field by General gun-vehicle permits and tags are not transferable, except as provided in subsection 68A-11.005(9), F.A.C.
8. through 23. No change.
(e) No change.
(4) Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. General gun – Walk, October 20-28 21-29.
2. General gun – Vehicle (airboats and tracked vehicles only), November 3-18 4-19 by quota permit only.
3. Archery – August 25 26 through September 16 17.
4. Muzzleloading gun – September 29 30 through October 14 15.
5. through 6. No change.
(b) through (c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. A general gun-vehicle permit is required of any person to operate a vehicle during the general gun-vehicle season. A general gun–vehicle permit and tag shall only be transferred in the field by General gun-vehicle permits and tags are not transferable, except as provided in subsection 68A-11.005(9), F.A.C.
2. through 17. No change.
(5) Big
(a) Open season:
1. No change.
2. Small game – The day following the close of general gun season through February 3 4.
3. Archery – September 1-30 2 through October 1 in all units and twelve days prior to Thanksgiving day through January 1, except during those years when January 1 falls on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday, in which case the season would close on the following Sunday in the Deep Lake Unit only.
4. Muzzleloading gun – October 6-21 7-22, except in the
5. Spring turkey – March 1 3 through April 6 8.
6. through 7. No change.
(b) through (d) No change.
(6) No change.
(7) Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 8-14 9-15 and 15-23 16-24.
2. Muzzleloading gun – October 13-15 14-16.
3. General gun – October 27-30 28-31 and October 31 through November 4 1-5.
4. General gun hog – November 17-23 18-24.
5. Small game – November 24 25 through December 16 17.
6. Spring turkey – March 1-4 3-6 and 5-9 7-11.
7. through 8. No change.
(b) through (d) No change.
(8) Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 14-16 15-17 and 21-23 22-24 west of U.S. Highway 27 only.
2. Muzzleloading gun – October 12-14 13-15 and 19-21 20-22 west of U.S. Highway 27 only.
3. General gun – November 2-4 3-5 and 23-25 24-26 west of U.S. Highway 27 only.
4. Spring turkey – March 1-4 3-6, 7-10 9-12, 14-17 16-19, 21-24 23-26 and March 28-31 30 through April 2 west of U.S. Highway 27 only.
5. Special-opportunity spring turkey – March 1-7 3-9 and 15-21 17-23 east of U.S. Highway 27 only.
6. General gun hog – December 8-9 9-10 west of U.S. Highway 27 only.
7. No change.
(b) through (d) No change.
(9) Picayune
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 8-23 9-24.
2. Muzzleloading gun – October 13-15 14-16.
3. General gun – October 27-30 28-31 and October 31 through November 4 1-5.
4. Small game – November 10-25 11-26.
5. Spring turkey – March 1-4 3-6 and 5-9 7-11.
6. Migratory game birds – During the migratory game bird seasons as established by Rules 68A-13.003 and 68A-13.008, F.A.C.
7.6. Fishing and frogging – Permitted throughout the year.
(b) through (d) No change.
(10)
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 8-14 9-15 and 15-23 16-24
2. Muzzleloading gun – October 13-15 14-16.
3. General gun – October 27-30 28-31 and October 31 through November 4 1-5.
4. Family hunt – November 10-11 11-12 and 17-18 18-19.
5. Spring turkey – March 1-4 3-6 and 5-9 7-11.
6. through 7. No change.
(b) through (d) No change.
(11) Spirit-of-the-Wild Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 8-14 9-15 and 15-23 16-24.
2. Muzzleloading gun – October 13-15 14-16.
3. General gun – October 27-30 28-31 and October 31 through November 4 1-5.
4. Spring turkey – March 1-4 3-6 and 5-9 7-11.
5. No change.
(b) through (d) No change.
(12) Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 8-14 and 15-23.
2. Muzzleloading gun – October 13-15.
3. Family hunt – October 27-30.
4. General gun – October 31 through November 4.
5. Small game – November 10 through the first Sunday in January.
6. Spring turkey – March 1-4 and 5-9.
7. Fishing – Permitted throughout the year.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, hog, fish, and furbearers (except bobcat and otter).
(c) Camping: Camping is allowed only at designated campsites. Only tents may be used for camping.
(d) General regulations:
1. Fires are prohibited except at designated campsites.
2. Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads. During the archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt, general gun, and spring turkey seasons, vehicles may be operated on numbered trails in addition to named or numbered roads by individuals possessing a valid quota hunt permit.
3. Tracked vehicles, swamp buggies, airboats, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles are prohibited.
4. Hunters shall check in and out at a check station when entering and exiting the area and shall check all game taken.
5. No deer shall be dismembered until checked at a check station.
6. Taking wildlife with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs or retrievers may be used during the small game season.
7. Horses are permitted on named equestrian trails and designated equestrian areas only.
8. The possession or use of firearms other than shotguns is prohibited during the small game season.
PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2007.
Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9,