68A-17.005: Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule changes is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) 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 WEAs.
SUMMARY: The proposed rule changes would revise or establish specific area regulations on WEAs as follows:
Southwest Region.
Bullfrog Creek Mitigation Park – require persons to enter and exit at designated entrances; and allow public access from 0.5 hours before sunrise until 0.5 hours after sunset.
Chinsegut WEA – clarify that public access is limited to foot traffic unless participating in Commission sponsored activities; allow public access from 0.5 hours before sunrise until 0.5 hours after sunset; prohibit the possession of any animal; and require persons to enter and exit at designated entrances.
Crooked Lake Mitigation Park (NEW) 1,147 acres – prohibit the possession of any animal; limit public access to foot traffic; require persons to enter and exit at designated entrances; and allow public access from 0.5 hours before sunrise until 0.5 hours after sunset.
Hickey Creek Mitigation Park – require persons to enter and exit at designated entrances.
Janet Butterfield Brooks Mitigation Park (NEW) 319 acres – prohibit public access as required by the acquisition agreement.
Lake Wales Ridge WEA – prohibit the possession of any animal, except dogs under physical restraint are allowed and horses are allowed by permit; limit public access to foot traffic, bicycle or horses; require persons to enter and exit at designated entrances; and allow public access from 0.5 hours before sunrise until 0.5 hours after sunset.
Lake Wales Ridge WEA, Royce Unit – move the wild hog-still hunt dates from January to May and remove the quota permit requirement; prohibit the use of horses during periods open for hunting; and expand scouting opportunities by allowing vehicle access on named roads one day prior to all hunts except small game.
Moody Branch Mitigation Park (NEW) 960 acres – prohibit the possession of any animal, except horses are allowed by permit; limit public access to foot traffic or horses; require persons to enter and exit at designated entrances; and allow public access from 0.5 hours before sunrise until 0.5 hours after sunset.
Perry Oldenburg Mitigation Park – prohibit the possession of any animal; require persons to enter and exit at designated entrances; and allow public access from 0.5 hours before sunrise until 0.5 hours after sunset.
Platt Branch Mitigation Park – require persons to enter and exit at designated entrances; and allow public access from 0.5 hours before sunrise until 0.5 hours after sunset.
North Central Region
Bell Ridge Mitigation Park (NEW) 720 acres – prohibit possession of any animal; allow access only on foot; and allow entrance and exit at designated entrances.
Fort White Mitigation Park – establish three 5-day archery hunts (quota 10, no exemptions); establish a 14-day small game season; establish two 5-day spring turkey hunts (quota 3, no exemptions); establish a falconry season with statewide dates; allow fishing and frogging only along the bank of the Santa Fe River; prohibit trapping; establish as legal to take all legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers; set the bag limit for deer during archery season at one antlered or one antlerless deer per quota permit; set the bag limit for turkey during spring turkey season at one gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit; require persons enter and exit at designated entrances; allow access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset; prohibit possession of any animal, except that dogs may be used for trailing wounded game, bird dogs may be used for hunting during the small game season and falcons may be used during the falconry season; prohibit access by motorized vehicles; remove rule that restricts access to foot traffic only; allow bicycles to be ridden on firebreaks, well-defined roads and trails; allow access during the archery and spring turkey seasons only to persons participating in the hunt; and prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season.
Lafayette Forest WEA (NEW) 2,148 acres – establish three 5-day archery hunts (quota 15, no exemptions); establish a 3-day muzzleloading gun season (quota 15, no exemptions); establish two 2-day family hunts (quota 10, no exemptions); establish two 5-day wild hog-still hunts (quota 20, no exemptions); establish two 3-day spring turkey hunts (quota 5, no exemptions); establish a falconry season with statewide dates; establish as legal to take all legal game, fish and furbearers; allow fishing year round; prohibit trapping; set the bag limit for deer during the archery season at one antlered or one antlerless deer per quota permit; set the bag limit for deer during the family hunts at one antlered or one antlerless deer per person; set the bag limit for deer during the muzzleloading gun season at one antlered deer per quota permit; set the bag limit for turkeys during the spring turkey season at one gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit; only allow wild hog to be hunted during the wild hog-still season; require that all persons shall enter and exit at designated entrances; public access will be allowed only from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset, except that persons with a Special Use Authorization for Mallory Swamp WMA, from the Suwannee River WMD, may travel McCalls Chapel Grade; prohibit possession of any animal, except a dog on a leash may be used for trailing wounded game, dogs may be transported throughout the year on McCall Chapel Grade and falcons may be used during the falconry season; prohibit access by motorized vehicles except on Lafayette Loop and McCall Chapel Grade; allow Lafayette Loop to be driven on only by persons authorized to participate in the hunts and only on hunt days and the day prior to each hunt; during hunting periods access will be limited to persons participating in the hunt, except that McCall Chapel Grade will be open to the public access year round; and prohibit the use of all-terrain vehicles and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles.
Santa Fe Swamp WEA – allow public access only from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset unless in possession of a Special Use Authorization from the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Suwannee Ridge WEA – allow public access only from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset.
Watermelon Pond WEA (NEW) 4,231 acres – establish a 9-day archery season (no quota); establish two 2-week small game hunts; establish a falconry season with statewide dates; establish as legal to take all legal game, fish and furbearers; prohibit trapping; allow fishing and frogging throughout the year; establish the bag limit for deer of one per person; require persons to enter and exit at designated entrances; prohibit access by motorized vehicles; allow bicycles to be ridden only on named or numbered roads or designated bicycling trails; prohibit the possession of any animal except that horses may be ridden on roads and designated trails, dogs on a leash may be used to track wounded game, bird dogs and waterfowl retrievers may be used for hunting during the small game season and falcons may be used during the falconry season; and allow public access only from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset.
Northwest Region
Apalachicola River WEA – clarify that there is no crossbow season; establish a wild hog-dog season with five 3-day hunts (quota 5 per hunt, no exemptions) for that portion of the area west of Saul Creek Road, south of a line running east from Misfit Landing to the Apalachicola River and west of the Apalachicola River; allow up to two hunters and one guest, the use of no more than three free-running dogs and only one gun per quota permit during the wild hog-dog hunts; specify that wild hog-dog hunts will begin at 12:01 a.m. on the first day of the hunt and end at 11:59 p.m. (midnight) the last day of the hunt; prohibit hunting from sunrise to sunset during the wild hog-dog season; allow wild hogs to be hunted during the wild hog-dog season by the aid of a light with a firearm, provided that the firearm is not loaded until immediately prior to shooting a bayed hog (hunting of wild hog under this provision by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat or animal is prohibited); and limit camping on Northwest Florida Water Management District lands to no more than 14 consecutive days.
South Region
John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland WEA – establish an 8-day spring turkey season with hunting allowed on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays (no quota); and bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt migratory birds during migratory bird seasons.
John G. and Susan H. Dupuis, Jr. WEA – move the wild hog-still hunts that currently occur on weekdays to weekends (Friday through Sunday); allow public access during the wild hog-still hunts; specify that hunters camping during the hog-still hunts shall use the Family Use campground on Jim Lake grade or primitive campsites on hiking trails; and prohibit the take of deer during wild hog-still season.
Northeast Region.
Split Oak Forest Mitigation Park – prohibit the possession of any animal, except horses are allowed by permit.
Additional proposed rule changes would provide non-substantive technical changes, such as grammatical corrections, language standardization, or clarification of an existing rule.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: The agency has determined that this rule will ____or will not __X__have an impact on small business. A SERC has ____ or has not _X_ been prepared by the agency.
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.
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 17-18, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., each day
PLACE: Franklin County Courthouse, 33 Market Street, Apalachicola, FL 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, Florida 32399-1600
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
68A-17.005 Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas.
(1) Southwest Region.
(a) Little Gator Creek – Pasco County.
1. No change.
2. Public access is prohibited except by permit.
2. The disturbance or removal of any tree or plant is prohibited.
3. Fishing is permitted on the Withlacoochee River only.
4. Unauthorized public access is prohibited.
5. The possession of dogs or trapping devices is prohibited.
(b) Hickey Creek Mitigation Park – Lee County.
1. Possession of any animal is prohibited.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
3. Public access other than by foot (pedestrian) is prohibited.
4. Public access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
1. Taking wildlife with guns is prohibited.
2. Unauthorized removal, cutting, or possession of live or dead trees or plants is prohibited.
3. Camping or campfires are prohibited.
4. The possession of dogs, horses, or other pets or livestock is prohibited.
5. Access is restricted to foot traffic only.
6. Access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
7. The release of any wildlife on the area is prohibited.
(c) Platt Branch Mitigation Park – Highlands County.
1. Possession of any animal is prohibited.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
3. Public access other than by foot (pedestrian) is prohibited.
4. Public access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
1. Taking wildlife with guns is prohibited.
2. Unauthorized removal, cutting, or possession of live or dead trees or plants is prohibited.
3. Camping or campfires are prohibited.
4. The possession of dogs, horses, or other pets or livestock is prohibited.
5. Access is restricted to foot traffic only.
6. The release of any wildlife on the area is prohibited.
(d) Lake Wales Ridge – Highlands and Polk Counties County.
1. Possession of any animal is prohibited except dogs as provided by paragraph 68A-17.004(7)(c), F.A.C., are allowed and horses are allowed by permit.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
3. Public access other than by foot (pedestrian), bicycle or horseback (equestrian) is prohibited.
4. Public access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
1. The use of motorized vehicles is prohibited.
2. Horseback riding is allowed by permit only.
(e) Bullfrog Creek Mitigation Park – Hillsborough County.
1. Possession of any animal is prohibited.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
3. Public access other than by foot (pedestrian) is prohibited.
4. Public access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
1. The possession of dogs, horses, or other pets or livestock is prohibited.
2. Access is restricted to foot traffic only.
(f) Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area – Royce Unit – Highlands County.
1. Open season:
a. Archery – October 15-17 16-18 and 22-24 23-25.
b. General gun – November 19-21 20-22.
c. Small game – December 10-12 11-13 and 24-26 25-27, January 21-23 22-24 and 28-30 29-31.
d. Wild hog-still General gun hog – May 7-8 and 14-15 January 9-10 and 16-17.
e. Spring turkey – March 18-20 19-21 and April 1-3 2-4.
f. Fishing and frogging – Allowed Permitted throughout the year.
2. Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs, and furbearers. The bag limit for antlered deer shall be one per quota hunt permit. Antlerless deer may be taken by antlerless deer permit only. Only wild hog may be taken during the wild hog-still general gun hog season. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit for turkey shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota hunt permit.
3. General regulations:
a. The use of tracked vehicles, airboats, all-terrain vehicles or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, airboats, or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited. Horses and bicycles may be used only on firebreaks and named or numbered roads. During periods open to hunting, horses are prohibited. The use of horses is prohibited during the general gun and spring turkey seasons.
b. No change.
c. During periods when the area is closed to hunting, public access other than by foot (pedestrian), bicycle, or horseback (equestrian) is prohibited, except that motorized vehicles shall be allowed permitted on Royce Road year round year-round and shall be allowed permitted on all named and numbered roads one day prior to all hunts, except small game the general gun and spring turkey hunts.
d. through e. No change.
(g) Perry Oldenburg Mitigation Park – Hernando County.
1. Possession of any animal is prohibited.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
3. Public access other than by foot (pedestrian) is prohibited.
4. Public access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
1. Taking wildlife with guns is prohibited.
2. Fires are prohibited.
3. Disturbance or removal of any trees or plants is prohibited.
4. Possession of dogs or trapping devices is prohibited.
5. Access shall be restricted to foot traffic only. No motorized vehicles or horseback riding shall be allowed.
6. Camping is prohibited.
(h) Chinsegut – Hernando County.
1. Public access other than by foot (pedestrian) is prohibited. Unauthorized public access is prohibited on that portion of the area lying east of C.R. 581. Access is permitted by foot traffic only on that portion of the area lying south of the intersection of U.S. 41 and C.R. 581 and west of U.S. 41 known as the Big Pine Tract.
2. Fishing and frogging is prohibited.
3. Possession of any animal is prohibited. The possession of dogs or trapping devices is prohibited.
4. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
5. Public access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
6. The Commission may authorize additional public access, including but not limited to hours of access and methods of access, to facilitate public access to the Chinsegut Nature Center and Commission sponsored activities.
(i) Moody Branch Mitigation Park – Manatee County.
1. Possession of any animal is prohibited except horses are allowed by permit.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
3. Public access other than by foot (pedestrian) or horseback (equestrian) is prohibited.
4. Public access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
(j) Crooked Lake Mitigation Park – Polk County.
1. Possession of any animal is prohibited.
2. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
3. Public access other than by foot (pedestrian) is prohibited.
4. Public access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
(k) Janet Butterfield Brooks Mitigation Park – Hernando County.
1. Public access is prohibited.
(2) North Central Region.
(a) Santa Fe Swamp – Bradford County.
1. Open season (hunting prohibited at other times):
a. Archery – September 25 26 through October 24 25.
b. Muzzleloading gun – October 29-31 30 through November 1.
c. Archery and muzzleloading gun – November 13 14 through January 9 10.
d. Spring turkey – March 19 20 through April 24 25.
e. Fishing is allowed permitted throughout the year.
2. Legal to take: Wild hog, Ggray squirrel, rabbit, deer with one or more antlers at least five inches in length and fish. Deer (except spotted fawns) and turkey of either sex may be taken during the archery season. Only bearded turkey or gobblers may be taken during the spring turkey season.
3. General regulations:
a. through d. No change.
e. Public access is prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise, except by persons possessing a Special Use Authorization from the Suwannee River Water Management District.
(b) Fort White Mitigation Park – Gilchrist County.
1. Open season:
a. Archery season – October 23-27, October 30 through November 3 and November 13-17.
b. Small game – November 20 through December 3.
c. Spring turkey – March 19-23 and 26-30.
d. Fishing and frogging – Prohibited except along the bank of the Santa Fe River.
e. Trapping – Prohibited.
f. Falconry – Game may be taken by falconry during established statewide seasons that coincide with periods when the area is otherwise open for public use or hunting.
2. Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. During the archery season, the bag limit shall be one antlered or one antlerless deer per quota permit. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit shall be one gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit.
3. General regulations:
a. Persons shall enter and exit the area at designated entrances.
b. Public access is prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise.
c. Possession of any animal is prohibited except that a dog on a leash may be used to trail wounded game, bird dogs are allowed for hunting during the small game season and falcons may be used during the falconry season.
d. Motorized vehicular access is prohibited.
e. Bicycles may only be ridden on firebreaks, trails and well-defined roads.
f. Only persons participating in the hunts are allowed on the area during hunting periods, except during small game season.
g. The use of centerfire rifles for taking wild turkey during the spring turkey season is prohibited.
1. The possession of dogs, horses, or other pets or livestock is prohibited.
2. Access is restricted to foot traffic only.
(c) Suwannee Ridge – Hamilton County.
1. Open season:
a. Mobility-impaired general gun – October 15-17 16-18, October 29-31 30 through November 1, November 5-7 6-8 and December 17-19 18-20.
b. Mobility-impaired spring turkey – March 25-27 26-28 and April 15-17 16-18.
2. Legal to take: Any deer (except spotted fawn), wild hog, gobbler or bearded turkey (during spring turkey season only), gray squirrel, and rabbit. The bag limit shall be two deer or two bearded turkeys per quota permit. Only certified mobility-impaired hunters may take an antlerless deer.
3. General regulations:
a. through b. No change.
c. Vehicles may be operated only from one and one-half hours before sunrise until one and one-half hours after sunset, only on designated portions of named or numbered roads during periods open to hunting and one day prior.
d. The use of tracked vehicles, airboats, motorcycles, or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited, except all-terrain vehicles may be used during mobility-impaired hunts only, during all hunts.
e. through h. No change.
i. Public access is prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise.
(d) No change.
(e) Bell Ridge Mitigation Park
1. Possession of any animal is prohibited.
2. Public access other than by foot (pedestrian) is prohibited.
3. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
(f) Lafayette Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area
1. Open seasons:
a. Archery season – September 25-29, October 1-5 and 8-12.
b. Muzzleloading gun season – October 29-31.
c. Family hunt – November 13-14 and 20-21.
d. Wild hog-still – January 29 through February 2 and February 5-9.
e. Spring turkey – March 19-21 and 25-27.
f. Fishing – Allowed year round.
g. Trapping – Prohibited.
h. Falconry – Game may be taken by falconry during established statewide seasons that coincide with periods when the area is otherwise open for public use or hunting.
2. Legal to take: All legal game, fish and furbearers. During the archery season the bag limit shall be one antlered or one antlerless deer per quota permit. During the family hunt the bag limit shall be one antlered or one antlerless deer per person. During the muzzleloading gun season, the bag limit shall be one antlered deer per quota permit. During the wild hog-still season, only wild hog may be taken. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit shall be one gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit.
3. General regulations:
a. All persons shall enter and exit the area at designated entrances.
b. Public access is prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise except that persons with a Special Use Authorization for Mallory Swamp Wildlife Management Area, from the Suwannee River Water Management District, may traverse McCalls Chapel Grade.
c. Possession of any animal is prohibited except that a dog on a leash may be used for trailing wounded game, dogs may be transported year round on McCalls Chapel Grade and falcons may be used during the falconry season.
d. Motorized vehicular access is prohibited except on McCalls Chapel Grade and Lafayette Loop. Lafayette Loop may be driven on only by persons authorized to participate in the hunts and only on hunt days and the day prior to each hunt.
e. During hunting seasons public access is limited to persons participating in the hunt, except that all persons may use McCalls Chapel Grade to access Mallory Swamp Wildlife Management Area.
f. The use of all-terrain vehicles and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.
(g) Watermelon Pond Wildlife and Environmental Area
1. Open seasons:
a. Archery season – October 23-31.
b. Small game – November 20 through December 3 and December 18-31.
c. Fishing and frogging – Allowed year round.
d. Trapping – Prohibited.
e. Falconry – Game may be taken by falconry during established statewide seasons that coincide with periods when the area is otherwise open for public use or hunting.
2. Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. The bag limit for deer shall be one per person.
3. General regulations:
a. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
b. Motorized vehicular access is prohibited.
c. Bicycles may be ridden only on named or numbered roads or designated bicycling trails.
d. Public access is prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise.
e. Possession of animals is prohibited; except that dogs on a leash may be used for trailing wounded game, horses are allowed only on roads and designated horse trails, bird dogs and waterfowl retrievers may be used for hunting during the small game season and falcons may be used for falconry season.
(3) Northwest Region.
(a) No change.
(b) Apalachicola River – Gulf, Franklin, and Liberty counties.
1. Hunting shall be allowed only during the open seasons established for migratory birds in Rules 68A-13.003 and 68A-13.008, F.A.C., and during open seasons, except crossbow season, established for deer, turkey, quail, and squirrel in Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C., during an archery and muzzleloading gun season opening 19 days following the close of the zonal antlered deer season and closing 6 days thereafter, and during a wild hog-dog season with hunts opening the third Friday and closing 2 days thereafter in the months of July, August, September, May, and June, and except for the following:
a. through d. No change.
e. Wild hog may only be taken during the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, and archery/muzzleloading gun and wild hog-dog seasons. During the wild hog-dog season, wild hogs may be taken only on that portion of the area west of Saul Creek Road, south of a line running east from Misfit Landing to the Apalachicola River and west of the Apalachicola River.
2. No change.
3. General regulations:
a. Camping is limited to tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles only. Camping is permitted throughout the area, except where posted as no camping. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators, and freezers, unless contained in mobile campers, lumber, sheet metal, or other building materials are prohibited. Camping more than 14 consecutive days at a time is prohibited in that portion of the area posted as Northwest Florida Water Management District lands.
b. through g. No change.
h. During the wild hog-dog season, a quota permit shall allow a hunting group of two persons and a guest, as authorized by Rule 68A-15.005, F.A.C., (3 total) to participate in the hunt and only one gun and no more than three free-running dogs may be used to take wildlife per hunting group.
i. During the wild hog-dog season, hunts will begin at 12:01 a.m. on the first day of the hunt and end at 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the hunt.
j. During the wild hog-dog season, taking wild hog is prohibited from sunrise to sunset.
k. During the wild hog-dog season, wild hog may be taken by the aid of a light with a firearm provided that no such firearm shall be loaded at any time except immediately prior to the shooting of a bayed hog. The hunting of wild hog under this provision by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat or animal is prohibited.
(c) L. Kirk Edwards – Leon County.
1. No change.
2. Open seasons for that portion of the area east of Chaires Cross Road: Spring turkey – During the first three days of the spring turkey season for Zone C of the Central Zone, and the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the third and fifth weekends of the spring turkey season for Zone C of the Central Zone.
3. through 4. No change.
(4) South Region.
(a) Southern Glades – Dade County.
1. Open season:
a. Archery – September 11 12 through October 10 11.
b. Muzzleloading gun – October 15-17 16-18.
c. General gun – October 30 31 through December 5 6.
d. Small game – November 13 14 through March 6 7.
e. No change.
f. Fishing is allowed permitted throughout the year.
g. No change.
2. Legal to take: All legal game (except turkey), fish, frogs and furbearers (except bobcat and otter). Take of antlerless deer is prohibited during archery season. The take of wild hog with a shoulder height of less than 15 inches is prohibited. Deer with one or more antlers at least five inches in length, wild hog with a shoulder height of 15 inches or more; duck, coot, and snipe; fish, and frogs. The take of wild hog is prohibited during small game season. Wild hog: daily bag, 1; possession limit, 2.
3. No change.
(b) John G. and Susan H. Dupuis Jr. – Palm Beach and Martin counties.
1. Open season:
a. Archery – September 10-12 11-13, 17-19 18-20 and 24-26 25-27.
b. Muzzleloading gun – October 8-10 9-11, 15-17 16-18 and 22-24 23-25.
c. General gun for mobility-impaired – October 30-31 31 through November 1.
d. General gun – November 5-7 6-8 and 12-14 13-15.
e. Wild hog-still General gun hog – November 19-21, 17-19, 24-26, December 3-5, 10-12 1-3 and 17-19 8-10. Wild hog only. No bag or size limit.
f. Spring turkey – March 8-10 9-11, 18-20 19-21 and 25-27 26-28.
g. Small game – December 11 12 through January 30 31.
h. No change.
i. Fishing is allowed permitted when public access is allowed.
j. No change.
2. Legal to take: All legal game, gobblers or bearded turkeys (during spring season only), wild hog, fish and furbearers (except otter). Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited. Antlerless deer (except spotted fawns) may be taken during the archery and general gun for the mobility-impaired seasons. The bag limit for deer shall be one per quota hunt permit, except during the general gun for mobility-impaired season when one (1) antlered and one (1) antlerless deer may be taken per quota permit. The bag limit for turkey shall be one per quota hunt permit. The take of wild hog is prohibited during small game season. The take of deer is prohibited during the wild hog season.
3. Camping – During the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun for mobility-impaired, and spring turkey seasons, only those persons participating in the hunt no person shall camp on the area and except those possessing a current Dupuis quota hunt permit and during the general gun hog season, only general gun hog hunters may camp on the area; camping is permitted only on the campsite adjacent to Gate 3. Authorized camping equipment may be taken on the area after 8:00 a.m. one day before each hunt and shall be removed from the area before 5 p.m. one day following each three-day hunt of the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun hog, general gun for mobility-impaired, and spring turkey seasons. Authorized camping equipment shall be removed from the area before 5:00 p.m. one day following each three-day hunt of the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun hog, general gun for mobility-impaired, and spring turkey seasons. Persons hunting during the small game and wild hog-still seasons shall use the Family Use campground on Jim Lake Grade or primitive campsites on the hiking trails. For persons not participating in the hunts and during During the remainder of the year, camping is allowed permitted only at designated primitive campsites on hiking trails, the Family Use campground on Jim Lake Grade, and at the designated equestrian staging area at Gate 3. Small game shall utilize the Family Use campground on Jim Lake Grade or the primitive sites on the hiking trails.
4. General regulations:
a. No change.
b. Hunting over bait or placing bait or other food for wildlife is prohibited.
c. Hunting or the possession of guns is prohibited in areas posted as closed.
d. through g. renumbered b. through e. No change.
f.h. Horses are prohibited during the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun for mobility-impaired, and spring turkey, and general gun hog seasons. During the remainder of the year horses may be used only on designated equestrian trails and named or numbered roads. Persons horseback riding on the area shall enter and exit only at Gate 3.
g.i. During the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun for mobility-impaired, spring turkey, and wild hog-still general gun hog seasons, hunters shall check in and out at the check station at Gate 3 and check all game taken. No deer, wild hog, or turkey may be dismembered until checked at the check station. During the small game season, hunters shall enter and exit the area through Gate 1.
h.j. No change.
i.k. During the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun for mobility-impaired, and spring turkey, and general gun hog seasons, no person shall enter or exit the area except through Gate 3 and all such persons shall possess a valid quota hunt permit for the area or be a guest of a valid quota permit holder as provided in Rule 68A-15.005, F.A.C. During the wild hog-still season, no person shall enter or exit the area except through Gate 3.
j.l. No change.
k.m. No change.
n. Only one mobility-impaired quota hunt permit may be utilized per individual per hunt.
l.o. Hunting with The possession or use of firearms other than shotguns is prohibited during the small game season.
m.p. No change.
(c) CREW – Collier and Lee Counties.
1. Open season:
a. Archery – September 11-19 12-20.
b. Muzzleloading gun – October 16-18 17-19.
c. General gun – October 30 31 through November 7 8.
d. Small game –December 4-31 5 through January 1.
e. Spring turkey – March 5-8 6-9 and 9-13 10-14.
f. No change.
g. Fishing and frogging – Allowed Permitted throughout the year.
2. Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs, and furbearers (except bobcat and otter). The bag limit for deer shall be one per quota hunt permit. The taking of deer is prohibited in the Corkscrew Marsh Unit. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit for turkey shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota hunt permit. The taking of turkey is prohibited during the archery season. The take of wild hog is prohibited during small game season.
3. Camping: Camping is allowed at designated sites by individuals with written authorization from the South Florida Water Management District or by individuals participating in hunts in possession of a valid quota hunt permit.
4. General regulations:
a. through b. No change.
c. The use of tracked vehicles, swamp buggies, unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, or vessels, except canoes or kayaks, is prohibited, except that swamp buggies may be operated by individuals participating in hunts possessing a valid quota hunt permit.
d. Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads designated for vehicles. During the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun and spring turkey seasons beginning at 8 8:00 a.m. the day prior to the opening of each season vehicles may also be operated on named or numbered trails by individuals possessing a valid quota hunt permit.
e. through f. No change.
g. Persons may enter the area WEA no earlier than two hours before sunrise and must exit the area within two hours after sunset, unless camping at a designated campsite.
h. through k. No change.
(d) Florida Keys – Monroe County.
1. No change
2. Fishing is allowed permitted throughout the year.
3. No change.
4. General regulations:
a. through f. No change.
g. No person shall release wildlife or any species on the area.
h. through k. renumbered g. through j. No change.
k.l. The use of tracked vehicles, unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited.
l.m. No change.
(e) John C. and Mariana Jones / Hungryland – Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
1. Open season:
a. Archery – September 11-14 12-15, 18-21 19-22, 25-28 26-29 and October 2-5 3-6.
b. Muzzleloading gun – October 16-18 17-19.
c. General gun – October 30 31 through November 1 2, November 6-8 7-9 and 13-15 14-16.
d. Small game – November 20 21 through December 19 20.
e. Spring turkey – March 19 through April 3 (Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only).
f.e. No change.
g.f. Fishing and frogging – Allowed Permitted throughout the year.
2. Legal to take: Deer, gobblers or bearded turkeys (during spring turkey season only), quail, gray squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, coyote, skunk, fish, frogs and migratory game birds as established by Rules 68A-13.003 and 68A-13.008, F.A.C. The bag limit for deer shall be one each per quota permit. The taking of antlerless deer is prohibited during the archery season. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited.
3. Camping: Camping is allowed permitted only at designated primitive campsites. Only tents may be used for camping.
4. General regulations:
a. through b. No change.
c. The use of tracked vehicles, buggies, airboats, unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles is prohibited.
d. through e. No change.
f. Dogs are prohibited except bird dogs and retrievers may be used for taking small game and migratory birds hunting during the small game season.
g. through i. No change.
(5) Northeast Region. Split Oak Forest Mitigation Park – Orange and Osceola counties.
(a) Possession of any animal is prohibited except horses are allowed by permit. Taking wildlife with guns is prohibited.
(b) All persons shall enter and exit the area only at designated entrances. Fires are prohibited.
(c) Public access other than by foot (pedestrian) or horseback (equestrian) is prohibited. Disturbance or removal of any trees or plants is prohibited.
(d) Public access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. Possession of dogs or trapping devices is prohibited.
(e) Access shall be restricted to foot traffic at designated access points or horseback riding which shall be allowed only by permit.
(f) Access is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
(g) Camping is prohibited.
(h) The release of any wildlife on the area is prohibited.
PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2010.
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 379.2223, 375.313 FS. History–New 7-1-83, Amended 11-30-83, 7-1-84, 8-21-85, Formerly 39-17.05, Amended 6-1-86, 8-13-87, 8-18-88, 8-17-89, 4-11-90, 7-1-91, 10-31-91, 4-14-92, 4-20-93, 7-1-94, 9-15-94, 3-30-95, 8-15-95, 7-1-96, 4-3-97, 10-28-97, 7-1-98, 8-11-98, 7-1-99, Formerly 39-17.005, Amended 7-1-00, 5-1-01, 6-2-02, 5-25-03, 7-1-04, 7-1-05, 7-1-06, 7-1-07, 7-1-08, 1-6-09, 7-1-09, 10-29-09, 7-1-10.
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.