18369877, 68A-15.062 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 18369877

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

TYPE I WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Overview

RULE:

68A-15.062

Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - North Central Region

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the North Central 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 amendments would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the North Central Region as follows:

Andrews WMA – shift the third small game season hunt from mid-January to late November (begin 7 weeks earlier).
Belmore WMA – change the first archery season hunt period from a Saturday-Monday hunt to a Friday-Sunday hunt by beginning the hunt 1 day earlier.
Big Bend WMA, Jena Unit – remove seasonal road closures and allow vehicular access only on open portions of named and numbered roads.
Camp Blanding WMA – extend archery season in the archery-only area from 56 to 68 days (including the period overlapping the first 6 days of archery season and the 6-day muzzleloading gun season); and establish two 3-day wild hog-dog season hunts in the dog hunt area, allow 3 dogs and 3 people per quota permit (60 daily quota permits available first-come, first-served at the check station each day of the season).
Cary WMA – change the first archery season hunt period from a Saturday-Monday hunt to a Friday-Sunday hunt by beginning the hunt 1 day earlier; and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Cypress Creek WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Devil’s Hammock WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Flying Eagle WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Four Creeks WMA – establish camping at designated sites by permit from the Florida Forest Service; change the first archery season hunt period from a Saturday-Monday hunt to a Friday-Sunday hunt by beginning the hunt 1 day earlier; and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Goethe WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Grove Park WMA – allow hunting equipment to be taken onto the WMA beginning 2 weeks prior to archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun and small game seasons.
Gulf Hammock WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Jennings Forest WMA – shift the family hunt from late December to opening day of the Zone C antlered deer season (begin 7 weeks earlier) and begin general gun season 2 days later; and allow the take of wild hog during small game season, except in the Quail Enhancement Area.
Little River WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Lochloosa WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Log Landing WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Lower Econfina River WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Middle Aucilla WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Potts WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Steinhatchee Springs WMA – change and expand the general gun season from one period of 30 days (quota permit required during the first 9 days) to 2 periods (42 days): 28 days beginning on opening day of the Zone C antlered deer season (quota permit required during the first 9 days) and 14 days (no quota permit required) beginning 65 days thereafter; begin the small game season 3 weeks earlier; and allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.
Thomas Creek WMA, Kings Road Unit – allow any dog for hunting small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) during small game season.

Additionally, the proposed rule amendments 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

LAW:

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

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

12/15/2016 Vol. 42/242

COMMENTS:

From 12/15/2016 To 1/5/2017 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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