21444098, 68A-15.064 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 21444098

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

TYPE I WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-15.064

Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - South Region

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the proposed rule amendment 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 amendment will be to enable the agency to better manage fish and wildlife resources and public use on WMAs.

SUMMARY:

The proposed rule amendment would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on WMAs in the South Region as follows:

Big Cypress WMA, Stairsteps (Zones 1-3) and Loop units only - establish that only deer having at least one antler with 4 or more points can be harvested; prohibit hunting with guns other than bows during the general gun season; and establish a bag limit for deer of 1 annually in the Stairsteps and Loop units combined.
Dinner Island Ranch WMA – within posted dove fields, remove daily quota requirement for dove hunts during Phase 2 and 3 of the statewide dove season. A daily quota will still be required during Phase 1 dove field hunts.
Fisheating Creek WMA – during special-opportunity spring turkey hunts (east of U.S. 27 only) the legal shooting hours for turkey hunting shall remain ½ hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.; and during spring turkey quota hunts (west of U.S. 27 only), allow harvested turkeys to be divided in the field provided each portion shall be tagged with the date/time of harvest and the name, address, and hunting license number (if required) of the person that harvested the game. Each portion of the divided turkey would be readily traceable to evidence of the birds sex identification.
Picayune Strand WMA – allow use of swamp buggies and ROVs during quota hunts and associated scouting periods, but only for hunters (and their guests) having a valid quota permit; and limit swamp buggy and ROV access to roads designated by Florida Forest Service within that portion of the area east of Miller Blvd.

Additionally, the proposed rule amendment would provide non-substantive technical changes, such as grammatical corrections, language standardization, or clarification of an existing rule.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution, Sections 379.2223, 375.313, Florida Statutes.

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution, Sections 379.2223, 375.313, Florida Statutes.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

1/25/2019 Vol. 45/17

COMMENTS:

From 1/25/2019 To 2/15/2019 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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