24079103, 68A-15.064 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

Home

Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 24079103

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, adjust specific area regulations regarding the use of centerfire rifles during small game season in response to proposed changes in rule 68A-15.004, F.A.C., and adjust how season dates are described to better conform to calendar year 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 how season dates are described to better conform to calendar year changes, adjust specific area regulations regarding the use of centerfire rifles during small game season in response to proposed changes in rule 68A-15.004, F.A.C., and revise specific area regulations on WMAs in the South Region as follows:

Big Cypress WMA – allow hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season except in the Deep Lake, Corn Dance, Loop, and Stairsteps units; allow wild hog to be hunted during small game season; remove the bag limit and 15-inch shoulder height restriction for wild hog; eliminate the check station pass requirement; establish that only deer having at least one antler with 4 or more points can be harvested in Corn Dance Unit; and establish a bag limit for deer of 1 annually (all seasons combined) in Corn Dance, Loop, and Stairsteps units (all units combined).
Dinner Island Ranch WMA – allow hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season; allow wild hog to be dismembered before checking at a check station; remove the bag limit for wild hog; shift the first family hunt to occur on the opening weekend of the zonal antlered deer season; and shift each of the three 3-day general gun hunts to occur approximately 1 week later than currently scheduled.
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA – allow hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season.
Everglades Headwaters WMA, Kissimmee Bend Unit – establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (3,992 acres) in Okeechobee County as follows: 16-day archery season (four 4-day hunts, 10 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 3-day muzzleloading gun season (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 3-day family hunt (5 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 6-day general gun season (two 3-day hunts, 10 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); small game season opening the day after general gun season ends and closing the first Sunday in March (no quota); 2-day youth turkey hunt (5 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 9-day spring turkey season (three 3-day hunts, 5 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); fishing and frogging allowed year-round; prohibit trapping; allow hunting of all legal game, turkey (gobbler or bearded turkey only), fish, frogs, and furbearers (excluding bobcat and otter); prohibit the harvest of antlered deer not having at least 1 antler with 3 or more points or a 10-inch main beam (except by persons less than 16 years of age); bag limit for deer shall be 1 antlered deer per quota permit except during the family hunt when the bag limit shall be 2 antlered deer per quota permit but no more than 1 per person; prohibit the harvest of antlerless deer; allow take of turkey during archery, youth turkey, and spring turkey seasons (gobbler or bearded turkey only); bag limit for turkey shall be 1 per quota permit; allow take of wild hog during small game season and quota hunts (except youth and spring turkey) with no bag limits or size restrictions; allow public access year-round, except during quota hunts when public access is prohibited except for persons participating in a hunt; prohibit vehicular access except for licensed and permitted hunters and their guests on designated roads and trails beginning 15 days prior to the opening of archery season through the day after the last day of spring turkey season; prohibit airboats, off-highway vehicles, swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles except during quota hunts when persons participating in a hunt may operate all-terrain vehicles, recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), and swamp buggies on designated roads and trails; prohibit hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season; prohibit hunting with dogs except bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt migratory game birds in season and any dog may be used to hunt small game (gray squirrel, migratory game birds, quail, and rabbits) during small game season; and allow camping in designated campsites by permit only.
Fisheating Creek WMA – allow hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season.
Holey Land WMA – allow hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season.
J.W. Corbett WMA – allow hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season; allow wild hog to be dismembered before checking at a check station; allow wild hog to be hunted during small game season; and remove the bag limit and 20-inch shoulder height restriction for wild hog.
Okaloacoochee Slough WMA – establish a 2-day youth spring turkey hunt opening the last Saturday in February (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); lengthen the small game season to open the second Saturday in October and close the first Sunday in February; and in response to the establishment of 5,528 new acres into the WMA, increase the quota from 125 to 145 permits (for each archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun hunt), from 40 to 45 permits for the family hunt, and from 50 to 55 for each spring turkey hunt.
Picayune Strand WMA – allow wild hog to be hunted during small game season; remove the bag limit for wild hog; and prohibit public access from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise, except for permitted campers at designated campsites and individuals participating in a hunt during established seasons.
Rotenberger WMA – allow hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season.
Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA – allow hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season; allow wild hog to be dismembered before checking at a check station; and remove the bag limit for wild hog.

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 n; Sections 379.2223, 375.313, Florida Statutes.

LAW:

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

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

1/11/2021 Vol. 47/06

COMMENTS:

From 1/11/2021 To 2/1/2021 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

Under Florida law, E-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your E-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.