29187414, 68A-15.004 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 29187414

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

TYPE I WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-15.004	General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas
68A-15.005	Quota Permits; Antlerless Deer Permits; Special-Opportunity Permits
68A-15.006	Regulations Relating to Miscellaneous Areas
68A-15.061	Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Southwest Region
68A-15.062	Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - North Central Region
68A-15.063	Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northwest Region
68A-15.064	Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - South Region
68A-15.065	Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northeast Region

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the proposed rule amendments is to revise regulations pertaining to general rules for Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), rules related to the application and issuance of quota and special-opportunity permits, and specific rules for miscellaneous areas and WMAs in the Southwest, North Central, Northwest, South, and Northeast Regions. The effect of the proposed rule amendments will be to enable the agency to better manage fish and wildlife resources and public recreation on lands in the WMA system.

SUMMARY:

The proposed rule amendments adjust current regulations as follows:

68A-15.004 (General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas):
Harvesting Saw Palmetto Berries on WMAs – remove redundant rule language related to the harvest of saw palmetto berries on lands in the WMA system, so 581.189 F.S. is in force on these areas.
Labeling tree stands, elevated shooting platforms, trail cameras, and ground blinds on WMAs – require WMA users to obtain a Go Outdoors Florida customer identification number and permanently attach this number in a legible and conspicuous manner to all tree stands, elevated shooting platforms, trail cameras, and ground blinds before placing any of these items on a WMA, prohibit tampering with or removal of this identifying information without the owner’s permission, and establish that FWC and cooperator staff may remove any of these items if they are not properly labeled.

Additionally, the proposed rule amendment also clarifies existing rules; removes unnecessary, redundant, or conflicting language; corrects prior mistakes; and makes non-substantive, technical corrections.

68A-15.005 (Quota Permits; Antlerless Deer Permits; Special-Opportunity Permits):
Applying for returned permits – prohibit individuals who return a permit they obtained in Phase 1 from applying for a permit for that same hunt during Phase 4 reissues.
Forfeiting preference points – establish that individuals who do not apply for a given quota hunt type during Phase 1 for a period of 5 consecutive years will forfeit all their preference points for that quota hunt type.
Issuance of spring turkey quota permits to non-residents – establish that no more than 10% of spring turkey quota permits for each specific hunt may be issued to non-residents.
Preference-only applications – allow individuals to apply for a preference point during Phase 1 of the quota application process.
Preference points for returned quota permits – establish that when individuals return a quota permit, they will only receive the number of preference points they had prior to applying.
Selling or purchasing special-opportunity permits – clarify that it is prohibited to sell, purchase or offer to purchase special-opportunity permits.
Transferability of special-opportunity permits – allow non-residents to transfer special-opportunity permits to residents.

Additionally, the proposed rule amendment also clarifies existing rules; removes unnecessary, redundant, or conflicting language; corrects prior mistakes; and makes non-substantive, technical corrections.

68A-15.006 (Regulations Relating to Miscellaneous Areas):
Babcock Ranch Preserve Tier II Hunt Area – allow hunting with airbows (pre-charged pneumatic airguns firing arrows) during the crossbow and muzzleloading gun seasons. 
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Area– allow gray squirrel to be hunted year-round; and allow hunting with airbows (pre-charged pneumatic airguns firing arrows) during the crossbow and muzzleloading gun seasons.
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Area, Rolling Meadows Unit – allow gray squirrel to be hunted year-round; and allow hunting with airbows (pre-charged pneumatic airguns firing arrows) during the crossbow and muzzleloading gun seasons.
Kissimmee River Public Use Area – require a no-cost Commission-issued permit for taking deer with dogs on the area; and allow hunting with airbows (pre-charged pneumatic airguns firing arrows) during the crossbow and muzzleloading gun seasons (except in the Starvation Slough Hunt Area).

68A-15.061 (Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas – Southwest Region):
Babcock Webb WMA – allow vehicle access for scouting beyond the Bird Dog Training Area the day before the general gun season on named and numbered roads only; allow public access to the area from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during the archery season and from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the general gun and small game seasons; establish a 2-day muzzleloading gun hunt occurring the fourth weekend of September (100 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions), allow motor vehicle access beyond the Bird Dog Training Area for scouting the day prior to the muzzleloading gun season on named and numbered roads only, allow public access to the area from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during the muzzleloading gun season, and allow the take of wild hog during the muzzleloading gun season; and restrict the operation of licensed motorcycles to only named and numbered roads during the bird dog training, general gun and small game seasons.
Green Swamp WMA – remove the daily quota permit requirement during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons, eliminate the requirement for hunters to check in and check out at a check station during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons, allow the dismemberment of hog during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons, remove the rule regarding no more than three free running dogs per wild hog dog daily quota permit, and remove the rule regarding allowing only three hunters to participate per daily quota permit during the wild hog-dog season.
Lake Marion Creek WMA – allow the take of wildlife with centerfire rifles during small game season; expand the archery season from two 3-day quota hunts to three 3-day quota hunts (35, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) each hunt); and expand the muzzleloading gun season from one 3-day quota hunt to two 3-day quota hunts (35, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) each hunt).
Upper Hillsborough WMA – prohibit the use or operation of electrical generators powered by an internal combustion engine within the campgrounds from 10:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.; and remove the daily quota permit requirement during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons, eliminate the requirement for hunters to check in prior to hunting and check out when finished hunting at a check station when entering and exiting the area and checking all game taken during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons, allow the operation of motor vehicles beyond the camp sites from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons, allow the dismemberment of wild hog during the wild hog-dog and small game seasons, remove the rule regarding no more than three free running dogs per daily quota permit during the wild hog-dog season, and remove the rule regarding a hunting group of two persons and a guest per daily quota permit during the wild hog-dog season.

68A-15.062 (Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas – North Central Region):
Camp Blanding WMA – prohibit bicycles East of State Road 230 in Zones C and D in the archery only area; prohibit trail cameras year-round; and replace the term "hunting equipment" with elevated shooting platforms and tree stands when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.
Citrus – allow quail hunting in the portion of the area the lies east of County Road 491 between Forest Road 16 and County Road 480 during small game season.
Flying Eagle – allow the use of centerfire rifles during general gun and small game season; shift the second spring turkey hunt to occur one week later; and replace the term "hunting equipment" with elevated shooting platforms and tree stands when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.
Grove Park WMA – close the archery season two days earlier, establish a 7-day crossbow season to occur after the close of archery season, and allow hunting with airbows (pre-charged pneumatic airguns firing arrows); and replace the term "hunting equipment" with elevated shooting platforms and tree stands when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.
Gulf Hammock WMA - replace the term "hunting equipment" with elevated shooting platforms and tree stands when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.
Hatchet Creek WMA – prohibit vehicle access for scouting on named roads the weekend prior to the archery, muzzleloading gun and family hunt seasons.
J.P. Hall Bayard Point WMA – allow hunting in Area 1; establish a 2-day family hunt (15 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) beginning the first day of the Zone C general gun season and allow the take of 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per family hunt quota permit; increase the number of quota permits for the archery and muzzleloading gun seasons from 20 to 32, increase the number of quota permits for the general gun and wild hog seasons from 10 to 20, and increase the number of quota permits for the youth turkey and spring turkey seasons from 10 to 13; and increase the small game season from 15 days to 21 days by extending the close of the season to the last Sunday of January. 
Log Landing WMA - allow hunting on Wednesdays during archery, muzzleloading gun and spring turkey seasons.
Potts WMA – shift the second spring turkey hunt to occur one week later; and replace the term "hunting equipment" with elevated shooting platforms and tree stands when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.

68A-15.063 (Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas – Northwest Region):
Apalachee WMA – clarify that dogs may only be used to take furbearers during the raccoon season; and require hunters to check in and out and check harvested wildlife in Zone A only when the check station is staffed.
Apalachicola WMA – allow any dog to be used to hunt small game during the small game season in the still-hunt area, except during dates that overlap with any season open for deer hunting; allow free-running dogs to be used to chase rabbits during daylight hours in the Fox Hunt Area throughout the Fox, Raccoon, Opossum, and Bobcat (FROB) Season; clarify that nighttime raccoon and opossum hunting is allowed in the dog hunt area only; clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited in the still hunt area; correct existing errors in the boundary descriptions of the still hunt and fox hunt areas; and define the boundaries of the dog hunt area as that portion of the area outside the still hunt area.  
Apalachicola WMA, Bradwell Unit – clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited.
Aucilla WMA – clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited in the still hunt area; and clarify that trapping season opens the day after the last day of general gun season as established for the portion of the area outside the Pinhook Still Hunt Area.
Beaverdam Creek WMA – remove unnecessary language preventing overlap in small game and general gun seasons to align small game season with the dates as presented in the brochure.
Blackwater WMA – allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting during the statewide waterfowl season in the Field Trial Area; clarify that rabbits may only be chased during daylight hours during the FROB season; clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is only allowed in the dog hunt area during general gun and small game seasons and throughout the area during the wild hog-dog season; clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited in the still hunt area; correct an oversight from when rabbits were made legal to chase during FROB season, which inadvertently allowed the take of wildlife with a gun during daylight hours; correct existing errors in the boundary description of the dog hunt area; establish in rule that any dog may be used to hunt small game during the general gun season; require hunters during the family hunt to check in and check all harvested wildlife only when the check station is staffed; and update the northern boundary of the Field Trial Area to run along roads open to motor vehicles.
Blackwater WMA, Hutton Unit – clarify that only individuals who possess a valid daily quota permit are allowed vehicle access on the powerline roads during the quail season; clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited; clarify that the wild hog-dog hunts 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; correct an error that established the family hunt on the second instead of the third Saturday in February; correct existing language that limits vehicle access to quota permit holders even though certain area hunts are daily quota or non-quota; correct an oversight that omitted the family hunt from the list of seasons with check station requirements; move the second-to-last quail hunt to begin the third Monday in February (President’s Day) and close one day thereafter to avoid overlap in certain years with the newly established family hunt; and require hunters to check in and out and check harvested wildlife only when the check station is staffed.
Box-R – clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited; and require hunters to check in and out and check harvested wildlife only when the check station is staffed.
Chipola River WMA – remove unnecessary language preventing overlap in small game and general gun seasons to align small game season with the dates as presented in the brochure.
Choctawhatchee River WMA – clarify that any dog may be used during the wild hog-dog season throughout the still hunt area and to take raccoon and opossum during the general gun and small game seasons outside the East River Island Area and Holmes Creek Unit; clarify that the bag limit for wild turkey during spring turkey season is 1 gobbler or bearded turkey per spring turkey or youth turkey quota permit; define the boundaries of the dog hunt area as that portion of the area outside the still hunt areas; extend the area-wide archery/muzzleloading gun season from 11 days to 18 days to end at the same time as the Zone D general gun season; and remove unnecessary language preventing overlap in small game and general gun seasons to align small game season with the dates as presented in the brochure.
Econfina Creek WMA – allow motor vehicle access from May-September on Dog Roads 1-8, 10, 13-17, 19, 20-28 and 33-37, Enfinger Road, and on numbered roads in the Mobility-impaired Area; clarify that off-highway vehicles are prohibited, except as allowed in the Mobility-impaired Area; define the dog hunt area as that portion of the area outside the Cat Creek, Mobility-impaired, and Still Hunt areas; increase the general gun-dog quota from 80 to 120 no-cost, quota permits; and remove unnecessary language preventing overlap in small game and general gun seasons to align small game season with the dates as presented in the brochure.
Econfina Creek WMA, Cat Creek Area – remove unnecessary language preventing overlap in small game season with general gun and muzzleloading gun seasons to align small game season with the dates as presented in the brochure.
Econfina Creek WMA, Fitzhugh Carter Area – align mitigation bank rules with FWC rules as follows to clarify that: during periods closed to hunting and fishing, public access other than by foot is prohibited; electric bicycles and trailers are prohibited; off-highway vehicles are prohibited; swimming is prohibited; and vessels are prohibited, except canoes, kayaks, and those boats provided for use on the area; correct an oversight that allowed dogs other than bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting; and require hunters to check in and out and check harvested wildlife only when the check station is staffed.
Eglin AFB WMA – allow game (trail) cameras only as specified by the Installation Commander; allow wild hog to be hunted during the small game season; clarify that dogs may only be used to take deer, furbearers, and wild hog in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander; correct existing errors in the season dates for the general gun and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons to align with when these opportunities are held on the area; establish a wild hog-still season in areas and at times specified by the Installation Commander; establish that all traffic laws of the State of Florida and Department of Defense are applicable to this area, unless otherwise provided by area rules; and prohibit the operation of boats with internal combustion engines on all freshwater bodies instead of on lakes and ponds only.
Escambia River WMA – allow free-running dogs to be used to chase rabbits during daylight hours in the Dog Hunt Area throughout the Fox and Bobcat Season; define the boundaries of the dog hunt area as that portion of the area outside the still hunt area; and remove unnecessary language preventing overlap in small game and general gun seasons to align small game season with the dates as presented in the brochure.
Escribano Point WMA – clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited; and correct an oversight for small game season dates to avoid unintended overlap in certain years with archery season on the area.
Garcon Point WMA – correct an omission that allowed horses to be used on the area; and remove unnecessary language regarding the take of deer with dogs. 
Joe Budd WMA – allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting during the dove season; and remove unnecessary language regarding the take of deer with dogs.
Lafayette Creek WMA – allow the harvest of one antlerless deer per family hunt quota permit; clarify that during the wild hog-still season, only wild hog may be taken; clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited; correct oversights for small game season dates to avoid unintended overlap with deer seasons on the area; and correct the 3-day archery/muzzleloading gun season dates to end on the third Monday in February as intended.
Ochlockonee River WMA – allow waterfowl hunting during all 9 days of the September Duck seasons instead of Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only; clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited; and correct a mistake that omitted the bag limit of two gobblers or bearded turkeys per quota permit, but no more than one per person, for the recently established spring turkey quota hunt.
Perdido River WMA – allow the harvest of one antlerless deer per family hunt quota permit; clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited; and correct an oversight for small game season dates to avoid unintended overlap in certain years with archery season on the area.
Pine Log WMA – clarify that dogs may only be used to take furbearers during the raccoon season; convert the existing 23-day non-quota spring turkey season into one 9-day quota hunt (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) with a bag limit of one gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit, followed by a 14-day non-quota hunt and allow turkey hunting in the archery-only area without a quota permit; establish in rule that any dog may be used to hunt small game during the general gun season; correct an oversight that omitted the family hunt and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons from the list of seasons with check station requirements; correct the 3-day archery/muzzleloading gun season dates to end on the third Monday in February as intended; prohibit nighttime raccoon and opossum hunting in the archery-only area; and require hunters to check in and out and check harvested wildlife only when the check station is staffed.
Plank Road WMA – clarify that during the wild hog-still season, only wild hog may be taken; clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited, except for taking raccoon and opossum during the small game season.
Point Washington WMA – clarify that dogs may only be used to take furbearers during the raccoon season; and establish in rule that any dog may be used to hunt small game during the general gun season.
Talquin WMA – clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited; and correct a mistake that omitted the bag limit of two gobblers or bearded turkeys per quota permit, but no more than one per person, for the recently established spring turkey quota hunt.
Tate’s Hell WMA – allow any dog to be used to hunt small game during the small game season in the still-hunt area, except during dates that overlap with any season open for deer hunting; allow free-running dogs to be used to chase rabbits during daylight hours in the Fox Hunt Area throughout the FROB Season; clarify that nighttime raccoon and opossum hunting is allowed in the dog hunt area only; clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited in the still hunt area; correct existing errors in the boundary description of the still hunt area; and define the boundaries of the dog hunt area as that portion of the area outside the still hunt area.
Tate’s Hell WMA, St. James Island Unit – increase the antler point regulation from 3 points or a 10-inch main beam on a side to 4 points or a 14-inch main beam on a side; and remove unnecessary language regarding the take of deer with dogs.
Tate’s Hell WMA, Womack Creek Unit – clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited, except during the general gun-dog season; increase the antler point regulation from 2 points on a side to 3 points or a 10-inch main beam on a side; and remove the shoulder height restriction for hunting dogs and allow any dog to be used for hunting small game during the small game season, except during dates that overlap with archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun-still, and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons.
Telogia Creek WMA – clarify that bird dogs and retrievers may be used to take migratory birds when their respective statewide seasons overlap area-specific seasons; correct an error that allowed any dog to be used to hunt small game during all area seasons instead of during general gun and small game seasons only; and remove unnecessary language regarding the take of deer with dogs.
Tyndall AFB WMA – update Florida Administrative Code to align FWC rules with current Department Of Defense rules as follows: allow bicycles and electric bicycles only as specified by the Installation Commander; allow trail cameras only as specified by the Installation Commander; allow only street-legal motor vehicles to be operated and only on named and numbered roads; clarify the exception to the antler point regulation for persons less than 16 years of age; clarify that taking deer, furbearers, and wild hog with dogs is prohibited; establish a bag limit of 4 deer, no more than 2 of which may be antlerless, during all seasons combined; establish a crossbow season during the last 5 days of the Zone D crossbow season in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander; establish that all traffic laws of the state and Department of Defense are applicable to this area, unless otherwise provided by area rules; establish that all persons participating in hunts during muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons must wear a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material above the waist as an outer garment, except those individuals participating in dove hunts on designated dove fields or waterfowl hunts; establish that for those hunts with designated stand locations, individuals may only hunt at their assigned stand; establish that individuals taking wildlife must possess a valid Tyndall AFB hunting permit; establish that scouting is allowed only as specified by the Installation Commander; prohibit fires, except in designated camping areas; prohibit hunting deer, wild hog, or coyote by methods other than still-hunting directly from an assigned tree stand (no stalking allowed); prohibit hunting with airguns, except non pre-charged pneumatic airguns for taking gray squirrel; prohibit moving or attempting to move pre-placed ladder stands at designated stand locations; prohibit quail hunting; prohibit the use of a light at night to disclose the presence of wildlife; remove obsolete language regarding antler point regulations and bag limits on the Flightline and West units, which are no longer part of the WMA; require individuals to enter and exit the area at designated entrances as specified by the Installation Commander; require hunters to check in upon entering the area, check out before exiting the area, and check all harvested wildlife as specified by the Installation Commander; and require hunters to obtain permission from the check station operator before pursuing wounded wildlife into a closed area or hunting block to which they are not assigned.
Wakulla WMA – clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited.
Yellow River WMA – clarify that taking furbearers with dogs is prohibited, except for taking raccoon and opossum during the general gun, raccoon, and small game seasons; and establish in rule that any dog may be used to hunt small game during the general gun season.

68A-15.064 (Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas – South Region):
Allapattah Flats WMA – add a 2-day mobility-impaired hunt to be held the weekend between the muzzleloading gun and family hunt seasons, establish a bag limit of one antlered and one antlerless deer during the mobility-impaired hunt but only allow mobility-impaired hunters to harvest an antlerless deer, and allow street-legal vehicles on trails and all-terrain vehicles on and off-trails during, 3 days prior to, and one day after the mobility-impaired hunt; and correct an oversight that allowed quail to be taken throughout the small game season instead of beginning the second Saturday in November as intended.
Big Cypress WMA – prohibit non-residents from hunting wild turkey during the first 9 days of the zonal spring turkey season (non-quota units only); and prohibit the take of deer in the portion of the area south of U.S. Hwy. 41 and review this prohibition every two years beginning after the close of the 2026-27 hunting season to determine if the regulation is appropriate or should be repealed.
Dinner Island Ranch WMA – clarify that individuals who possess a valid camping permit and their guests may access their designated campsite at any time during the dates listed on their permit; clarify when hunting is allowed on dove fields; correct an oversight that allowed wild quail to be taken throughout the small game season instead of beginning the second Saturday in November as intended; increase the bag limit during the family hunt from 1 per quota permit to 2 per quota permit but no more than 1 per person; issue dove field permits via random online lottery during Phase 1; reduce the Phase 1 dove quota from 100 to 75 for dove field 1; and remove check station requirements for dove hunters.
Dinner Island Ranch – Caracara Unit WMA – establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (17,251 acres) in Hendry County as follows: 16-day archery season (four 4-day hunts, 30 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 3-day muzzleloading gun season (30 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 2-day general gun for mobility-impaired season (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 9-day general gun season (three 3-day hunts, 30 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 24-day small game season (ten 2-day hunts and one 4-day hunt, no quota); 2-day youth turkey hunt (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 12-day spring turkey season (three 4-day hunts, 15 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 31-days of dove, snipe, or waterfowl hunting (one 12-day hunt, one 9-day hunt, and two 5-day hunts; no quota); year-round fishing and frogging; prohibit trapping; allow hunting of all legal game, wild turkey (gobblers or bearded turkeys only), fish, frogs, and furbearers; the bag limit for deer will be 1 antlered deer per quota permit during the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun seasons; during the general gun for mobility-impaired season, the bag limit for deer will be 1 antlered and 1 antlerless deer per quota permit, but only mobility-impaired hunters may harvest an antlerless deer; the bag limit for wild turkey will be 1 gobbler or bearded turkey per youth or spring turkey quota permit; prohibit the harvest of antlered deer not having at least 1 antler with 4 or more points or a 14-inch main beam (except by persons less than 16 years of age); prohibit the harvest of antlerless deer, except during the general gun for mobility-impaired season; prohibit the harvest of wild turkey, except during the spring turkey season; prohibit taking quail during small game season dates occurring prior to the second Saturday in November; allow quail to be taken during the general gun season; allow the take of wild hog (no bag limit or size restriction) during all area-specific hunting seasons, with the following exceptions: dove, duck, snipe and spring turkey (including the youth turkey hunt), allow public access year-round, except during quota hunts, when only individuals possessing a valid quota permit and their guests may access the area; prohibit motorized vehicles (including airboats and off-highway vehicles), with the following exceptions: street-legal vehicles may be operated from one and one-half hours before sunrise until one and one-half hours after sunset on designated roads and parking areas as indicated on the hunt map, allow ATVs and recreational off-highway vehicles (side-by-sides) to be operated on the area during the mobility-impaired general gun season by individuals authorized to participate in the hunt; require motor vehicles to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance; prohibit hunting with dogs, with the following exceptions: bird dogs and retrievers may be used during the dove, duck, and snipe seasons and any dog may be used to hunt small game (gray squirrel, migratory birds, quail, and rabbits) during the small game season; prohibit camping; prohibit fires; and prohibit horses.
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA – correct an oversight that allowed quail to be taken throughout the small game season instead of beginning the second Saturday in November as intended.
Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Management Area, Okeechobee Unit – allow the use of street-legal motor vehicles during the portion of the statewide snipe season that occurs between muzzleloading gun and small game seasons and during the portion of the statewide dove season that occurs between archery and muzzleloading gun seasons.
Holey Land WMA – correct an oversight that allowed quail to be taken throughout the small game season instead of beginning the second Saturday in November as intended.
J.W. Corbett WMA – prohibit non-residents from hunting wild turkey during the first 9 days of the zonal spring turkey season (which includes the first 5 days of the area-specific spring turkey season).
Okaloacoochee Slough WMA – clarify that all motorized vehicles are prohibited, except street-legal motor vehicles are allowed on named or numbered roads and named or numbered trails; correct an oversight that allowed quail to be taken throughout the small game season instead of beginning the second Saturday in November as intended; and increase the bag limit during the family hunt from 1 per quota permit to 2 per quota permit but no more than 1 per person.
Picayune Strand WMA – add a 2-day mobility-impaired hunt to be held the weekend before general gun season begins, establish a bag limit of one antlered and one antlerless deer during the mobility-impaired hunt but only allow mobility-impaired hunters to harvest an antlerless deer, allow quota permit holders and their guests to operate swamp buggies and side-by-sides on designated roads in that portion of the area east of and including Miller Blvd. and south of and including Berson Blvd. during and one week prior to the mobility-impaired hunt, and during the mobility-impaired hunt, allow individuals authorized to participate in the hunt to operate ATVs and side-by-sides off-road; correct an oversight resulting from the shift in general gun season dates, which caused small game season to start on a Monday instead of a Saturday as intended; and correct an oversight that allowed quail to be taken throughout the small game season instead of beginning the second Saturday in November as intended.
Rotenberger WMA – correct an oversight that allowed quail to be taken throughout the small game season instead of beginning the second Saturday in November as intended.
Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA – correct an oversight that allowed quail to be taken throughout the small game season instead of beginning the second Saturday in November as intended.

68A-15.065 (Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas – Northeast Region):
Caravelle Ranch WMA – allow the take of antlerless deer by youth during the family hunt (Bag limit: one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit; limit one deer per person per day); change vehicular access hours for Spring turkey from opening at 4:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.; codify the vehicular access hours for the dove field hunts from 11 a.m. until one hour after sunset; extend vehicle access to the area to include the day after each hunt until 6pm (excluding small game and dove hunts). 
Deep Creek WMA – establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (5,800 acres) in St. Johns County as follows: 25-day archery season (one 16-day hunt and one 9-day hunt, 10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 9-day muzzleloading gun season (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 2-day family hunt (5 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 4-day general gun hunt (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 3-day wild-hog still season (10 no cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 21-day (Fri – Sun) small game season (no quota; walk-in only); 2-day youth spring turkey season (5 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 9-day spring turkey season (three 3-day hunts, 5 no cost, quota permits, no exemptions); fishing and frogging allowed year-round; allow hunting of all legal game, fish, frogs, and furbearers; 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); the bag limit for deer shall be 1 antlered or antlerless deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit during the archery season and 1 antlered deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons, and one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit; limit one deer per person per day during the family hunt, prohibit the harvest of antlerless deer except during archery season and the family hunt; allow the take of turkey during spring turkey seasons only (gobbler or bearded turkey only); the bag limit for turkey shall be 1 per person and 2 per quota permit; allow the take of wild hog during small game season and quota hunts (except spring turkey) with no bag limits or size restrictions; allow public access year-round; prohibit airboats, off-highway vehicles (including ATVs, side-by-sides, and off-highway motorcycles), swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles; allow motorized vehicles to be operated only on designated roads and parking areas; prohibit motorized vehicles (except in designated parking areas) during small game season and all other times outside of designated hunts; during periods closed to hunting horses may be used only on named or numbered roads and designated trails; hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt migratory birds during their respective statewide seasons when they overlap with area-specific hunting seasons and any dog may be used to hunt small game (gray squirrel, migratory game birds, quail, and rabbits) during small game season; prohibit the take of wild hog with dogs; prohibit hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season; prohibit camping and fires.
Dunns Creek WMA – allow the use of dogs during the small game season for small game and for migratory birds when statewide seasons overlap with area hunting seasons.
Gores Landing WMA – allow raccoon hunting at night, with dogs, during the small game season and allow vehicular access to area at night only during the small game season.
Herky Huffman/Bull Creek WMA – replace the term "hunting equipment" with “elevated shooting platforms and tree stands” when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season; prohibit non-residents from hunting wild turkey during the first 9 days of the zonal spring turkey season.
Jumper Creek WMA – prohibit non-residents from hunting wild turkey during the first 9 days of the zonal spring turkey season.
Lake Monroe WMA – hunters must enter and exit from a designated entrance or from Lake Monroe or the St. Johns River. Access from SR 415 is prohibited. 
Lake Panasoffkee WMA – extend the close of shooting hours during the Special Opportunity Spring Turkey Season from 1 p.m. to sunset; replace the term "hunting equipment" with “elevated shooting platforms and tree stands” when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.
Little Big Econ WMA – allow vehicular access from the Winding River Lane designated entrance during all hunting seasons (currently only allowed for September duck season); allow hunters to enter and exit the WMA from the Econlockhatchee River.
Marshall Swamp WMA – allow raccoon hunting at night, with dogs, during the small game season.
Rice Creek WMA – establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (5,272 acres) in Putnam County as follows: 25-day archery season (one 16-day hunt and one 9-day hunt, 15 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 9-day muzzleloading gun season (15 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 2-day family hunt (5 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 4-day general gun hunt (15 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions); 3-day wild-hog still season (15 no cost, quota permits, no exemptions); 21-day (Fri – Sun) small game season (no quota; walk-in only); 2-day youth spring turkey season (5 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, 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; allow hunting of all legal game, fish, frogs, and furbearers; 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); the bag limit for deer shall be 1 antlered or antlerless deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit during the archery season and 1 antlered deer per person, but no more than 2 deer per quota permit during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons, and one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit; limit one deer per person per day during the family hunt, prohibit the harvest of antlerless deer except during archery season and the family hunt; allow the take of turkey during spring turkey seasons only (gobbler or bearded turkey only); the bag limit for turkey shall be 1 per person and 2 per quota permit; allow the take of wild hog during small game season and quota hunts (except spring turkey) with no bag limits or size restrictions; allow public access year-round; prohibit motorized vehicles (walk-in only); during periods closed to hunting, horses may be used only on designated trails; hunting with dogs is prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt migratory birds during their respective statewide seasons when they overlap with area-specific hunting seasons and any dog may be used to hunt small game (gray squirrel, migratory game birds, quail, and rabbits) during small game season; prohibit the take of wild hog with dogs; prohibit hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season; allow camping only in designated campsites and allow fires only in designated areas.
Rock Springs Run WMA – add 1 additional scout day for quota hunts; reduce the quota number for deer hunts from 125 to 100; allow hunting equipment on the WMA two days in advance of the hunts. 
Seminole Forest WMA – replace the term "hunting equipment" with “elevated shooting platforms and tree stands” when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.
Seminole Forest WMA, Lake Tracy Unit – replace the term "hunting equipment" with “elevated shooting platforms and tree stands” when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.
Seminole Ranch WMA – define vehicular access times for the area; define check station hours for the area; update/delete rule language that references specific roads that it is prohibited to “take wildlife by use of a gun on or from the rights-of-way”; replace the term "hunting equipment" with “elevated shooting platforms and tree stands” when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.
Silver Springs Forest WMA – allow raccoon hunting at night and with dogs during the small game season (walk in only); shift the wild-hog season from August to starting 6 days after the close of the small game season.
Three Lakes WMA – remove the height restriction on deer dogs; replace the term "hunting equipment" with “elevated shooting platforms and tree stands” when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season; prohibit non-residents from hunting wild turkey during the first 9 days of the zonal spring turkey season.
Triple N Ranch WMA – replace the term "hunting equipment" with “elevated shooting platforms and tree stands” when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.
Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA – replace the term "hunting equipment" with “elevated shooting platforms and tree stands” when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.
William Beardall Tosohatchee WMA – replace the term "hunting equipment" with “elevated shooting platforms and tree stands” when referring to what can be left on the WMA during hunting season.

Additionally, the proposed rule amendment also clarifies existing rules; removes unnecessary, redundant, or conflicting language; corrects prior mistakes; and makes non-substantive, technical corrections.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.

LAW:

Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

1/31/2025 Vol. 51/21

COMMENTS:

From 1/31/2025 To 2/21/2025 (21 Days)

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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