68A-15.061: Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Southwest Region
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule changes is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Southwest 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 Southwest Region as follows:
Arbuckle 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; prohibit the use of centerfire rifles for taking wild turkey during the spring turkey season; move the muzzleloading gun season from November to December; and convert the general gun hog season to a small game season with no quota and allow the take of wild hog.
Chassahowitzka WMA – allow camping by permit at Ryle Creek for persons paddling segment 7 of the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail; establish a new general gun hog-dog season consisting of two, 3-day hunts (quota of 75 and each permit would allow one gun, two hunters and three dogs); split the existing 9-day spring turkey season (currently a 4-day and 5-day hunt) into three, 3-day hunts, and conduct the turkey hunts on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; add geese as legal to take during the waterfowl season; and restrict horses and bicycles to roads and trails, except bicycles will be allowed “off-road” during hunting and scouting periods.
Croom WMA – prohibit the use of centerfire rifles for taking turkey during the spring turkey season; add geese as legal to take during the waterfowl season; and no longer require hunters to check game after the first 9 days of the general gun season.
Green Swamp WMA – allow camping only at designated campsites; require campers to obtain a non-transferable permit for designated campsites; require campers to attach their names and permit numbers to camping equipment; prohibit kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers unless contained in mobile campers; prohibit lumber, sheet metal and other building materials; prohibit the operation of generators between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. (create quiet hours); prohibit the possession or consumption of intoxicating beverages; and continue to require deer and wild hog to be checked at the check station, but delete an unnecessary rule that requires them to be marked with a physical tag at the check station.
Hickory Hammock WMA – split the small game season into 2 hunts and start the second hunt (last 42 days) after the close of the zonal general gun season; allow the take of wild hog during the last 42 days of small game season; allow waterfowl hunting all day during duck and coot season; and allow the use of rimfire rifles.
Hilochee WMA – prohibit public access from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise; increase quotas during archery and muzzleloading gun seasons from 5 to 10 quota permits each hunt; increase quota during general gun hog from 30 to 40 each hunt; clarify a rule that prohibits fishing in certain bodies of water; increase the number of fishing permits from 10 to 20; increase fishing opportunity by allowing fishing by permit on Sundays; remove the quota permit requirement for small game season; allow wild hog to be dismembered before being checked at the check station; no longer require hunters to check in or check game during the small game season; close Yancey road during small game season; allow the take of wild hog during small game season; and remove the special-opportunity dove season, rules associated with that season and the quota.
Hilochee WMA – Osprey Unit (NEW) – establish a new wildlife management area with the following open seasons: archery – two 2-day hunts (quota of 40 per hunt, no exemptions); family hunt – 2-day hunt (quota of 15, 1 adult and 2 children per permit, no exemptions); general gun hog-still – 2-day hunt (quota of 40, no exemptions); general gun hog-dog – two 2-day hunts (quota of 10; one gun, two hunters, and three dogs per permit; no exemptions); two 2-day spring turkey hunts (quota of 5, no exemptions); legal to take – all legal game (except deer), fish and furbearers; turkey may be taken only during the spring turkey season; bag limits for fish: no more than 20 bluegill, 10 black crappie and 6 catfish per person; size limits for fish will be no less than 8 inches total length for bluegill and no less than 10 inches total length for black crappie; prohibit public access from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise; require all persons to enter and exit at a designated entrance; prohibit airboats, tracked vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs and outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower; allow horses during non-hunting periods on designated trails and named or numbered roads; allow bicycles year-round; allow motorized vehicle access only during hunts and one day prior by persons with a quota permit; motorized vehicles must enter and exit on Robert L. Tanner Grade; prohibit nets, fish traps, trotlines, set lines, minnow seines, cast nets and bush hooks; allow bird dogs and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less for the take of small game; and allow dogs of any size during the general gun hog-dog season.
KICCO WMA – allow the use of handguns and rimfire rifles for taking wildlife.
Lake Marion 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; add an additional 3-day general gun hog hunt (quota of 50, no exemptions); move the small game season after the general gun hog season and allow the take of wild hog; no longer require wild hog to be checked before quartering; and no longer require hunters to check in or check game during small game season.
Upper Hillsborough 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 continue to require deer, turkey and wild hog to be checked at the check station, but delete an unnecessary rule that requires them to be marked with a physical tag at the check station.
Walk-in-the-Water WMA – expand the muzzleloading gun season from one 3-day hunt to two hunts (4 and 5 days respectively, quota of 25 each hunt, no exemptions); move the muzzleloading gun season from October to December; shorten the small game season from 39 days to 18 days; and no longer require hunters to check in and record all game taken at a check station.
Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA – allow public access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset; and allow the take of furbearers during the archery and general gun seasons.
Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA – Yucca Pens Unit – allow public access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset; allow the take of furbearers during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; increase the number of quota permits for general gun and muzzleloading gun from 30 to 50, each hunt, no exemptions; remove the size and bag limits for wild hog; establish scouting days; allow vehicle access for scouting; and expand the time frame when hunting equipment is allowed on the area.
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.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT 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 375.313 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution 375.313 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: During the regular meeting of the Commission, February 6-7, 2008, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., each day
PLACE: Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, 4200 Marriott Drive, Panama City Beach, Florida 32408
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: 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-15.061 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas – Southwest Region.
(1)
(a) Open season:
1. General gun – November 8 10 through January 4 6.
2. Archery – September 20 22 through October 19 21, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.
3. Small game – January 10 12 through February 8 10, Saturdays and Sundays only.
4. Spring turkey – March 21 15 through April 26 20.
5. Fishing and frogging – Permitted during periods in which hunting is allowed; and Saturdays and Sundays from May 2 3 to June 14 15. Fishing and frogging is permitted at all other times provided that access is by foot only.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, hog, fish, frogs and furbearers. No bag or size limit on hogs.
(c) Camping: Allowed by permit only and only within the designated campsites at the Permitted only at both campgrounds designated campsites during archery, general gun and spring turkey seasons. Camping is allowed Permitted only at the campsite during the designated fishing and frogging season and only at the 471 campground campsite during the designated small game season. Camping permits are non-transferable. Camping along the Green Swamp Hiking Trail (Florida Trail) is prohibited except by written permission from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers, unless contained in mobile campers are prohibited. Lumber, sheet metal or other building materials is prohibited. The alteration, defacing, moving or tampering in any way with official markings of campsites is prohibited. The use or operation of electrical generators powered by an internal combustion engine is prohibited within the campgrounds beginning each night at 10:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. A legible copy of the camping permit or the permittee’s name and permit number must be visibly affixed to camping shelters. Camping equipment must be removed by 8:00 p.m. on the last date listed on the camping permit.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 2. No change.
3. No deer or wild hog shall be quartered or otherwise dismembered until checked at a designated check station and tagged.
4. through 7. No change.
8. Camps shall be removed by 8:00 p.m., April 20 and June 15 from the Rock Ridge campground and by April 20 from the 471 campground.
9. through 10. renumbered 8. through 9. No change.
10. The possession or consumption of intoxicating beverages is prohibited.
(2)
(a) Open season:
1. Special-opportunity turkey – March 21-24 15-18, March 30 through April 2 24-27, April 4-7 March 29 through April 1, April 13-16 7-10 and 18-21 12-15.
2. Special-opportunity archery – November 1-4 3-6 and 13-16 15-18.
3. Special-opportunity general gun – December 11-14 13-16, January 5-8 7-10 and 15-18 17-20.
4. Special-opportunity hog-still – January 30 through February 1 1-3.
5. Special-opportunity hog-dog – February 11-13 13-15.
6. Small game – February 20-22 22-24 and February 27 29 through March 1 2.
7. through 8. No change.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, wild hog, fish, frogs and furbearers (except bobcat and otter). sNo bag or size limit on hog.
(c) Camping: Camping is allowed permitted at designated campsites during hunting season and at other times by permit from the Southwest Water Management District. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators, and freezers, unless contained in mobile campers are prohibited. Lumber, sheet metal or other building materials is prohibited. Each camper shall assure that their campsite is clean at all times. The alteration, defacing, moving, tampering in any way with official markings of campsites is prohibited.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 6. No change.
7. Taking wildlife with shotguns is Shotguns are prohibited during the special-opportunity archery hunts.
8. through 9. No change.
(3) Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 6-7.
2. Bird dog training – Bird dogs may be trained in the recreation area September 13 through February 8 and bird dogs may be trained in zones A, B, C and D during the small game season on those days when daily quail permits are not issued, which shall include the day that the season quota for daily quail permits is attained.
3.1. General gun – October 25 27 through November 2 4.
4.2. Small game – Opening twelve days prior to Thanksgiving Day and closing 8 days thereafter, and opening one day prior to Thanksgiving Day and closing 53 days thereafter, provided hunting shall be allowed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and the Friday after Thanksgiving Day only.:
a. November 10-18, and
b. November 21-25, and
c. November 28 through January 13 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only.
5. Field trial quail – January 24-25.
6.3. Fishing and frogging – Year-round Throughout year.
4. Archery – September 8-9.
5. Bird dog training - Bird dogs may be trained in the recreation area September 15 through February 10 and bird dogs may be trained in zones A, B, C, and D during the small game season on those days when daily quail permits are not issued which shall include the day that the season quota for daily quail permits is attained.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. During the archery season, antlerless deer may be taken by antlerless deer permit only and the take of turkey is prohibited. The take of wild hog shall only be allowed during the archery season and the first day of general gun season with a bag limit of one per quota hunt permit, per day and a possession limit of two. The take of wild hog with a shoulder height of less than 15 inches is prohibited. Quail shall be taken by daily quail or field trial quail quota permit only with a bag limit of 6 per day.
1. General gun – deer, hog, fish and frogs only. Hogs may be taken only on the first day of the general gun season. Bag limit of one hog per quota hunt permit.
2. Small game – all legal small game, fish, frogs and furbearers. Only persons in possession of a daily quail permit, issued from November 14 through December 23 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays only, shall kill or be in possession of quail. Quail shall be taken by daily quail permit only within the zone assigned on the daily quail permit. Bag limit for quail is 6 per day.
3. Archery – deer, hog, fish and frogs only. Bag limit of one hog per quota hunt permit per day.
4. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler at least 5 inches in length visible above the hairline is prohibited.
(c) Camping: Allowed at a Permitted on designated campground only campsites according to provisions of general regulation number 5. Camping is allowed continuously after 8 a.m. eight (8) days prior to the opening of general gun season until the last day of the small game season. During the remainder of the year, camping is allowed from 5:00 p.m. Friday to 9:00 p.m. Sunday and on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Labor Day. Camping equipment shall be allowed on the area only when camping is allowed. The name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for each campsite shall be visibly affixed to camping shelters.
(d) General regulations:
1. No change.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance. Users may enter the designated campsite at anytime. All users shall enter and exit the area the remainder of the management area via Tucker Grade (I-75 side). During archery season, hunters shall enter the area no earlier than 5:00 a.m. and shall exit no later than 9:00 p.m. During all other periods open to hunting, hunters shall enter the area no earlier than 5:00 a.m. and shall exit no later than 8:00 p.m. During periods closed to hunting, users shall enter the area no earlier than one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and shall exit no later than one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.
3. Public access is allowed only from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset, provided public access to the designated campground is allowed at anytime camping is allowed. Hunting will be permitted on the field trial area and Boy Scout area during the following periods:
a. General gun – October 27 through November 4, by walking hunters.
b. Small game season on Wednesdays and Thursdays only, by walking hunters, provided that the taking of quail is prohibited.
c. Field trial quail – January 26-27.
d. Archery season – by walking hunters.
4. No change.
5. Hunting camps may be set up after 8:00 a.m. October 19 and shall be removed by 9:00 p.m. the last day of the small game season. Camping is permitted from 5:00 p.m. Friday to 9:00 p.m. Sunday and on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Labor Day during the remainder of the year.
5.6. Dogs shall be caged or leashed in camp areas. Taking wildlife Hunting with dogs during the general gun season is prohibited.
6.7. During periods closed to hunting, seasons vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads in the recreational area lying south of the northern boundaries of Sections 19, 20 and 21, Township 41S, Range 24E and west of the first north-south fence line east of the Seaboard Grade. The operation of vehicles is prohibited in Sections 13, 14, 23 and 24, Township 42S, Range 24E and the west 1/2 of Section 19, Township 42S, Range 25E.
8. The name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for each campsite shall be visibly affixed to camping shelters.
7.9. Persons may use the shooting range during periods when hunting is not allowed on the area, provided that access shall only be along the most direct route on Tucker Grade between the shooting range and the check station. Guns transported to the shooting range shall be unloaded and cased. Possession of a gun during periods when hunting is not allowed is prohibited except on the shooting range and that portion of Tucker Grade directly between the shooting range and the check station. During periods open to hunting, persons possessing a gun on that portion of the area other than the shooting range or that portion of Tucker Grade directly between the range and the check station shall comply with all stamp and license requirements specified in Section 372.57, F.S., and Commission rules. Users shall not enter the shooting range before sunrise and shall exit the shooting range by sunset.
8.10. Vehicles shall be operated on named or number roads only, except during the bird dog training, general gun and small game seasons. No person shall operate a vehicle off named or numbered roads, except during the general gun and small game seasons or when training bird dogs without guns in the recreation area during the bird dog training season.
11. through 12. renumbered 9. through 10. No change.
11. Taking wildlife with a gun is prohibited during bird dog training season while training bird dogs within the recreation area.
12.13. No change.
13. The take of quail within the field trial and Boy Scout areas is prohibited, except persons in possession of a field trial quota permit may take quail within the field trial area.
14. During the archery, general gun, and small game seasons, hunting is allowed within the field trial and Boy Scout areas provided the take of quail is prohibited and access shall be on foot (pedestrian) only.
15. During the small game season only persons in possession of a daily quail permit shall kill or be in possession of quail. Daily quail permits will be issued on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays only, beginning eight days prior to Thanksgiving Day and may continue up to 39 days thereafter. Quail shall be taken by daily quail permit within the zone assigned on the daily quail permit only.
14. through 15. renumbered 16. through 17. No change.
(4) Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area – Yucca Pens Unit.
(a) Open season:
1. Muzzleloading gun – October 10-12.
2. General gun – October 25 through November 2.
3. Small game – Opening twelve days prior to Thanksgiving Day and closing 64 days thereafter, provided hunting shall be allowed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and the Friday after Thanksgiving Day only.
1. General gun – October 27 through November 4.
2. Small game – November 10 through January 13 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays only and November 23.
3. Muzzleloading gun – October 12-14.
4. Fishing and frogging – Year-round Throughout the year.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. Quail may be taken only during the small game season. The bag limit for quail shall be 6 per day. During small game season the take of wild hog is prohibited.
1. General Gun – deer, hog, fish and frogs only.
2. Small Game – all legal game (except deer, hog and turkey), fish, frogs and furbearers. Bag limit for quail is 6 per day.
3. Muzzleloading gun – deer, hog, fish and frogs only.
(c) Camping: Prohibited prohibited.
(d) General regulations:
1. All persons shall enter and exit the area at a designated entrance. Muzzleloading gun and general gun hunters shall check in and out during check station hours at the designated check station when entering or exiting the area and check all game taken.
2. All hunters shall check in and out at the designated check station when entering or exiting the area and check all game taken, except during small game season when hunters shall use the Babcock/Webb check station. Small game hunters shall check in and out at the Babcock/Webb check station and check all game taken.
3. Public access is allowed only from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset. All other users shall check in and out at a designated check station.
4. On hunting days, users may enter the management area only through the designated entrance(s) no earlier than 5:00 a.m. and shall exit no later than 8:00 p.m. On days closed to hunting, users may enter the area only through designated entrances no earlier than one-half hour before sunrise and shall exit no later than one-half hour after sunset.
5. through 6. renumbered 4. through 5. No change.
6. Motorized vehicular access is allowed only on hunt days, the day prior to each hunt and the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) prior to each hunt, except during the small game season when it is allowed only on hunt days.
7. When motorized vehicles are not allowed, public access other than by foot, bicycle, or horse is prohibited.
8.7. No change.
9.8. During periods open to hunting, horses are prohibited. During non-hunting periods horses are allowed on named or numbered roads and designated trails only. Horses are prohibited during periods in which hunting is allowed. At other times, horses may be ridden but only on named and numbered roads or designated trails.
10. Authorized hunting equipment shall be allowed on the area per paragraph 68A-15.004(5)(a) F.A.C., except equipment may also be taken on the area beginning the Saturday prior to the opening of muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons.
(5) Upper Hillsborough Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – December 6-14 8-16 and January 3-11 5-13, Saturdays and Sundays only.
2. Muzzleloading gun – November 8 10 through November 30 December 2, Saturdays and Sundays only.
3. Small game – January 17 19 through February 1 3, Saturdays and Sundays only.
4. Spring turkey – March 25-26 19-20, April 1-2 26-27, 8-9 April 2-3, 15-16 9-10 and 22-23 16-17.
5. No change.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, hog, fish, frogs, and furbearers. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more point, one inch or more in length, is prohibited. No bag or size limit on hog.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. No deer, turkey or wild hog may be dismembered or quartered until checked at a designated check station and tagged.
2. through 6. No change.
7. During periods not open for hunting, public access other than on foot (pedestrian) or by bicycle is prohibited to the area is limited to pedestrians.
8. through 9. No change.
10. Hunting equipment Guns and camping equipment may be taken into the area beginning 3:00 p.m. the day before each hunting period and shall be removed by 8:00 p.m. the last day of each hunting period except during spring turkey season when hunting equipment guns and camping equipment shall be removed by 5:00 p.m. the last day of each hunt.
11. During the small game season, wildlife may be taken only with shotguns are permitted. During the spring turkey season only muzzleloading guns, shotguns and bows and arrows are allowed for taking turkeys permitted.
(6) Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – October 11-31 13 through November 2.
2. Muzzleloading gun – December 13-21 November 3-11.
3. Small game – January 3-4 and 24-25.
3. General gun hog – November 17-25, Saturdays and Sundays only.
4. Spring turkey – March 24-26 18-20 and April 7-9 1-3.
5. Fishing – Permitted year-round. Frogging – Prohibited.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game (except turkeys shall be legal to take only during spring turkey season), furbearers and fish. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited. Deer bag limit – one per day. Wild hog bag limit – no bag or size limits. During the general gun hog season, only wild hog may be taken. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota hunt permit.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 7. No change.
8. The use of centerfire rifles for taking wild turkey during the spring turkey season is prohibited.
(7) KICCO Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 20 22 through October 19 21, Saturdays and Sundays only.
2. Muzzleloading gun – October 25 27 through November 2 4, Saturdays and Sundays only.
3. General gun hog – November 8 10 through December 7 9, Saturdays and Sundays only.
4. Small game – December 13 15 through January 4 6.
5. Spring turkey – March 21 15 through April 19 13, Saturdays and Sundays only.
6. No change.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, hog, fish, frogs, and furbearers (except bobcat and otter). No size or bag limit on hog. During the general gun hog season, only wild hog may be taken.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 2. No change.
3. Taking wildlife with The possession or use of centerfire or rimfire rifles or pistols is prohibited.
4. through 5. No change.
6. No deer, turkey, or wild hog may be dismembered or quartered until checked and tagged at the check station.
7. No change.
8. The portion of the area north and east of Road shall be open to hunting only during the general gun hog season.
9. No change.
(8)
(a) Open season:
1. General gun hog – September 12-14 14-16, 19-21 21-23 and January 9-11 11-13.
2. Archery – October 17-19 19-21.
3. Muzzleloading gun – October 27-29 29-31 and October 31 through November 2 2-4.
4. General gun – November 7-9 9-11.
5. Small game – November 10-23 and January 19 through March 1 12 through January 6.
6. Early duck – In the September season as established by Rule 68A-13.003, F.A.C., until noon.
6.7. Migratory game birds – During the migratory game bird seasons as established by Rules 68A-13.003 and 68A-13.008, F.A.C. During the duck and coot season, hunting is limited to the period one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise until noon.
8. Falconry – During the falconry season as established by Rules 68A-13.004 and 68A-13.008, F.A.C.
7.9. Spring turkey – March 26-28 20-22 and April 16-18 10-12.
8.10. No change.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited. During the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons the bag limit for antlered deer shall be one per quota permit. During the archery season the bag limit for deer shall be one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit. No size or bag limits on wild hog. During spring turkey season, the bag limit shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota hunt permit. Only wild hog may be taken during the general gun hog season. During the first fourteen (14) days of small game season the take of wild hog is prohibited.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. Taking wildlife with The possession or use of centerfire or rimfire rifles is prohibited.
2. through 6. No change.
(9) Walk-in-the-Water Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 27-28, September 29 through October 2, October 3-5, 6-9 and 10-12 29 through October 14.
2. Muzzleloading gun – December 6-9 and 10-14 October 26-28.
3. General gun hog – January 10-13 and 14-18 12-20.
4. Small game – January 31 through February 8 and February 21 through March 1 November 17 through December 9 and February 2-17.
5. Fishing – Permitted throughout the year. Frogging is prohibited.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game (except turkey), hog, furbearers and fish. Deer bag limit – one per day. No size or bag limit on hog. During the general gun hog season only wild hog may be taken.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. No change.
2. Hunters shall check in at a designated check station when entering and exiting the area, and record all game taken.
3. through 8. renumbered 2. through 7. No change.
(10) Hilochee Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Special-opportunity dove – The first, second, and fourth Saturdays only during the first phase; the first and third Saturdays only during the second phase; and the first, third, and fifth Saturdays only during the third phase of the mourning dove and white-winged dove season established by Rule 68A-13.008, F.A.C.
1.2. Spring turkey – March 27-29 21-23 and April 10-12 4-6.
2.3. Muzzleloading gun – October 31 through November 2 2-4.
3.4. General gun hog – November 28-30 through December 2, January 9-11 11-13 and 16-18 18-20.
4.5. Small game – January 23 25 through February 1 3.
5.6. Archery – October 17-19 19-21.
6.7. Fishing – Permitted only on permitted on Saturdays and Sundays only and during daylight hours only. Twenty Ten fishing permits shall be available for each weekend Saturday. Permits shall be nontransferable with no exemptions.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish (as provided below), and furbearers. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited. There shall be no size or bag limit restrictions on wild hogs. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota hunt permit. During the general gun hog season, only wild hog hogs may be taken. During the special-opportunity dove hunts, only mourning and white-winged doves may be taken. No person shall kill or possess any largemouth bass from
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. Persons shall possess a special-opportunity dove hunt permit to hunt in posted dove fields.
1.2. All users shall enter and exit the area through designated entrances. Hunters shall check in and out at a check station when entering and exiting the area and shall check all game taken, except during the small game season. Special-opportunity dove hunters may enter the area one hour before shooting time and shall exit the area by one hour after sunset.
2.3. No change.
3.4. Motorized vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads and shall be parked in designated parking areas or within 25 feet of a named or numbered road. During the small game season vehicles are prohibited on
5. Special-opportunity dove hunters must hunt from assigned stations in the posted dove fields. Hunt station assignments may be transferred at the hunt headquarters.
6. Shooting hours for special-opportunity dove hunts shall be from noon until sunset.
7. through 8. renumbered 4. through 5. No change.
6.9. No deer, wild hog, or turkey shall be dismembered until checked at a check station.
7.10. No change.
8. Public access is prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise.
(11)
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 20-22 22-24 and September 26-28 28-30.
2. Muzzleloading gun – October 25-27 27-29.
3. General gun – November 8-10 10-12 and 14-16 16-18.
4. Small game – December 26-28 7-9 and January 2-4 14-16.
5. General gun hog – December 5-7 and 19-21 January 5-7.
6. Spring turkey – March 21-23 15-17, April 3-5 March 28-30 and 17-19 April 11-13.
7. No change.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish and furbearers. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited. One antlered deer may be taken per quota permit. No more than one antlerless deer may be taken per archery quota permit during the archery season. Antlerless deer may be taken by permit only during the muzzleloading and general gun seasons. There shall be no size or bag limit restrictions on wild hog. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit for turkey shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota permit. Only wild hog may be taken during the general gun hog season.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. No change.
2. Hunters shall check in and out at a designated check station when entering and exiting the area and shall check all game taken, except during the small game season.
3. No change.
4. No deer, or wild turkey or wild hog shall be dismembered until checked at a check station.
5. through 6. No change.
(12)
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 20 22 through October 19 21 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander.
2. Muzzleloading gun – October 25 27 through November 2 4 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander.
3. General gun – November 8 10 through January 18 20 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander.
4. Small game – December 29 31 through March 1 2 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander.
5. Spring turkey – March 21 15 through April 26 20 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander.
6. Antlerless deer – November 15-21 17-23 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander.
7. through 8. No change.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, wild hogs, fish, frogs, turtles, and furbearers. Antlered deer, wild hog hogs, and quail may be taken only during days specified by the Installation Commander. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited. There shall be no size or bag limit restrictions on wild hogs.
(c) through (d) No change.
(13) Croom Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Muzzleloading gun – October 24-26 26-28.
2. General gun – November 8-30 10 through December 2.
3. Small game – December 1 3 through March 1 2.
4. Spring turkey – March 24-26 18-20, April 7-9 1-3 and 21-23 15-17.
5. Fox, raccoon and bobcat – December 11 13 through March 8 9. Hunting is permitted from 5:00 p.m. Thursday to sunrise Sunday with dogs only. Taking wildlife with No guns is prohibited during this season allowed.
6. No change.
7. Duck, geese and coot – During the migratory game bird seasons as established by Rule 68A-13.003, F.A.C.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, hog, fish, frogs and furbearers. No size or bag limit on hog. During spring turkey season, the bag limit shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota permit.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. Hunting with dogs is prohibited November 8-30 10 through December 2. Hunting with dogs other than bird dogs is prohibited December 1-10 3-12, except that dogs may be used for hunting fox, raccoon or bobcat during the fox, raccoon and bobcat season, and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less may be used to hunt small game during the small game season in the portion of the area south of Croom road, bounded on the east by Croom-Rital Road to its juncture with the boundary fence of the Croom Motorcycle area located in Sections 17, 18, 19, 30, 31 and those parts of Sections 7 and 8 lying south of the old railroad right-of-way, Township 22 South, Range 21 East, and thence bounded by said boundary fence. Trailing dogs on a leash are permitted.
2. through 3. No change.
4. Taking wildlife with The possession of firearms is prohibited at all times in Sections 17, 18, 19, 30, 31 and those parts of Sections 7 and 8 lying south of the old railroad right-of-way, Township 22 South, Range 21 East.
5. No change.
6. During the first nine days of general gun season, and the entire spring turkey, and muzzleloading gun seasons, all game taken shall be checked at the check station, and no turkey shall be dismembered until checked at the check station.
7. Taking wildlife with The possession of guns is prohibited on the Withlacoochee State Trail. Hunters shall only use designated crossings to transport guns across the State Trail.
8. The use of centerfire rifles for taking wild turkey during the spring turkey season is prohibited.
(14) Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – September 20 22 through October 19 21.
2. Muzzleloading gun – October 24-26 26-28.
3. General gun – November 8 10 through January 4 6.
4. General gun hog-dog – January 9-11 and 16-18.
5.4. Duck, geese and coot – Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only, during the migratory game bird seasons as established by Rule 68A-13.003, F.A.C.
6.5. No change.
7.6. Spring turkey – March 27-29, April 10-12 and 24-26 22-25 and March 26-30.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. The taking of bobcat and otter is prohibited. No size or bag limit on wild hogs. The bag limit for turkeys shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per spring turkey quota hunt permit. Only wild hog may be taken during the general gun hog-dog season.
(c) Camping: Prohibited, except primitive overnight camping is allowed at a designated site on Ryle Creek by persons paddling
(d) General regulations:
1. Dogs are prohibited south of County Road 550. Hunting with dogs other than retrievers or bird dogs is prohibited west of the Main grade, on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service portion of the property and east of the Swamp grade. Hunting with dogs other than retrievers or bird dogs is prohibited east of Swamp Grade, except during the general gun hog-dog season. Dogs with a shoulder height greater than 17 inches are prohibited in that portion of the area lying east of the Main grade and west of the Swamp grade, except during the general gun hog-dog season when dogs are allowed east of Main Grade.
2. through 10. No change.
11. During the general gun hog-dog season, a quota hunt permit shall be required for each group of two hunters, and only one gun may be possessed per permit.
12. The take of wild hog with the aid of dogs is prohibited, except no more than three dogs per general gun hog-dog quota hunt permit may be used during the general gun hog-dog season in that portion of the area east of Main Grade and west of
13. Horses are allowed on named or numbered roads and designated trails only. Bicycles are allowed on named or numbered roads and designated trails only, except during periods open for hunting and 7 days prior to each hunt when bicycles are allowed throughout the area.
(15) Hilochee Wildlife Management Area – Osprey Unit.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery – October 4-5 and 11-12.
2. Family hunt – November 8-9.
3. General gun hog-still – November 22-23.
4. General gun hog-dog – January 3-4 and 24-25.
5. Spring turkey – April 17-18 and 24-25.
6. Trapping – Prohibited
7. Fishing – Allowed year-round.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game (except deer), fish and furbearers. Only wild hog may be taken during the general gun hog-still and general gun hog-dog seasons.
(c) Camping: Prohibited.
(d) General regulations:
1. Public access is prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area through a designated entrance.
3. The use of airboats, outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower, tracked vehicles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, or horses is prohibited, except that horses are allowed on named or numbered roads or designated trails during periods closed to hunting.
4. During periods when the area is closed to hunting, public access other than by foot, bicycle, or horse is prohibited, except motorized vehicles shall be allowed one day prior to all hunts by persons in possession of a valid quota hunt permit.
5. Motorized vehicles shall be operated only on named or numbered roads and shall be parked in designated parking areas or within 25 feet of a named or numbered road. Motorized vehicles shall enter and exit the area only at the designated entrance located at the intersection of C. R. 557 and Robert L. Tanner Grade.
6. During periods open for hunting, motorized vehicles shall only be operated by persons in possession of a valid quota hunt permit.
7. The use of dogs, other than bird dogs and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less, is prohibited except that dogs may by used during the general gun hog-dog season. No more than 3 dogs per general gun quota hunt permit shall be used during the general gun hog-dog season.
8. During the general gun hog-dog season, a permit shall be required for each group of two hunters, and only one gun may be possessed per permit.
9. The possession of nets (except dip nets), fish traps, trotlines, set lines, minnow seines, cast nets, or bush hooks is prohibited.
PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2008.
Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9,