68A-15.061: Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Southwest Region
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule changes is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Southwest Region 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 WMAs.
SUMMARY: The proposed rule changes would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Southwest Region as follows:
Arbuckle WMA allow small game hunting with bird dogs, retrievers and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less; and begin the muzzleloading gun season a week earlier.
Avon Park Air Force Range WMA allow the use of rimfire rifles; allow waterfowl hunters to hunt in Morgan Hole Creek with or without dogs; open Smith and Old Bravo roads to vehicle traffic 24 hours per day; exempt persons within the passenger compartment of a vehicle from the requirement to wear fluorescent orange garments while in the hunt area; allow the Installation Commander or a designee to authorize certain activities on the area; and allow the Installation Commander to authorize the following within statewide regulation framework: hunts that do not have a 3-point antler restriction, hunts that allow the take of raccoon and opossum at night, hunting in Sandy Point Wildlife Refuge, use of handguns with barrels longer than 9 inches, use of centerfire rifles, use of all-terrain vehicles and airboats, use of vehicles off-road and use of vehicles on roads that are closed between 10 p.m. and 4:30 a.m.
Chassahowitzka WMA expand the migratory bird hunting season to match the statewide season except waterfowl and coot hunting will continue to be limited to Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; and establish a raccoon and opossum season that allows hunting from 1.5 hours before sunset on Thursdays until 1.5 hours after sunrise on Sundays in February and May.
Croom WMA allow the Florida Division of Forestry to provide camping consistent with their regulations; and increase the quota for spring turkey hunts from 10 to 15 permits (no exemptions) for each of three hunts.
Green Swamp WMA expand the open hunting area from the Cumpressco Unit to the entire WMA during small game season; establish an 8-day wild hog-dog season (the first wild hog-dog hunt will overlap the last 2 weekends of small game season and hunting wild hog with dogs will be prohibited in the Cumpressco Unit [quota of 135, no exemptions] and the second wild hog-dog hunt will occur on the 2 weekends following small game season [quota of 160, no exemptions]); each wild hog-dog quota permit will allow two hunters and a guest hunter, the use of three free-running dogs per quota permit, and only one gun may be used per quota permit; allow camping by permit at the Rock Ridge campground during the wild hog-dog season; allow vehicle access to the Rock Ridge campground after 4:00 p.m. on Friday until 1.5 hours after sunset on Sunday during the wild hog-dog season; and continue to prohibit the possession or consumption of intoxicating beverages.
Green Swamp West Unit WMA convert the current special-opportunity wild hog hunts to wild hog-still and wild hog-dog quota permit hunts; increase the quota for wild hog-still season from 200 to 225 (no exemptions) and increase the quota for wild hog-dog season from 100 to 150 (no exemptions); prohibit the use of horses during the small game season; during periods open for hunting allow only those persons participating in the hunt to operate a motor vehicle on the area; and issue an additional 40 permits (first-come, first-served at the check station) during small game season to allow the hunting of small game, but not wild hog.
Hickory Hammock WMA establish a 2-day general gun mobility-impaired season (quota of 5, no exemptions) with a bag limit of one antlered deer (one antler must have at least three points) and one antlerless deer per quota permit, but only the mobility-impaired hunter may harvest an antlerless deer; allow mobility-impaired hunters to operate all-terrain vehicles on the area during the hunt and from 8 a.m. until sunset 1 day prior to the hunt for scouting; and require all mobility-impaired hunt participants to attend a pre-hunt orientation meeting.
Hilochee WMA establish a raccoon and opossum season and allow hunting from 1.5 hours before sunset on Thursdays until 1.5 hours after sunrise on Sundays in September.
Hilochee WMA, Osprey Unit establish a 12-day small game season, during which small game and wild hog will be legal to take; prohibit the use of dogs for hunting wild hogs during the small game season; and allow raccoon and opossum hunting at night during the small game season.
KICCO WMA replace the current Public Small Game Hunting Area hog management hunts (12 days) with the addition of 14 days to the end of the current small game season.
Lake Marion Creek WMA Prohibit the hunting of bobcat and otter.
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-15.061 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas Southwest Region.
(1) Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. General gun November 13 14 through January 9 10.
2. Archery September 25 26 through October 24 25, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.
3. Small game January 15 16 through February 13 14, Saturdays and Sundays only.
4. Wild hog-dog February 5-13 and 19-27, Saturdays and Sundays only.
5.4. Spring turkey March 19 20 through April 24 25.
6.5. Fishing and frogging Allowed Permitted during periods in which hunting is allowed; and Saturdays and Sundays beginning the first Saturday in May and closing 43 days thereafter from May 1 to June 13. Fishing and frogging is allowed permitted at all other times provided that access is by foot only.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. During the wild hog-dog season, the take of deer is prohibited.
(c) Camping: Allowed by permit only and only within the designated campsites at the Rock Ridge Road and 471 campgrounds. Camping is allowed at both campgrounds during archery, general gun and spring turkey seasons. Camping is allowed only at the Rock Ridge Road campground during the wild hog-dog and fishing and frogging season and only at the 471 campground during the small game season. Camping permits are non-transferable. Camping along the Green Swamp Hiking Trail (Florida Trail) is prohibited except by written permission from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers, unless contained in mobile campers are prohibited. Lumber, sheet metal or other building materials is prohibited. The alteration, defacing, moving or tampering in any way with official markings of campsites is prohibited. The use or operation of electrical generators powered by an internal combustion engine is prohibited within the campgrounds beginning each night at 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. A legible copy of the camping permit or the permittees name and permit number must be visibly affixed to camping shelters. Camping equipment must be removed by 8 p.m. on the last date listed on the camping permit.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 3. No change.
4. Hunters may enter or exit the area at designated access points only and only during hours in which check stations are in operation.
5. Hunting with dogs (other than bird dogs) is prohibited, except that dogs may be used during the wild hog-dog season. During the wild hog-dog season, no more than 3 free-running dogs per wild hog-dog quota permit shall be allowed. During non-hunting periods the possession of dogs shall only be as authorized by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
6. Vehicles may be operated from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset during established open seasons, except during the designated fishing and frogging season when vehicles may be operated during daylight hours only. Vehicles may be operated after 8 a.m. until 1.5 hours after sunset one day prior to each archery hunt, general gun season and spring turkey season for scouting. Vehicle access to the designated campsites is allowed at any time after 8 a.m. one day prior to archery hunts, general gun season and spring turkey season until 1.5 hours after sunset on the last day of the hunt or season, and after 4 p.m. on Friday until 1.5 hours after sunset on Sunday during the small game, wild hog-dog and fishing and frogging seasons. Motorized vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads, except Stanley Fish Hole, Orange Lake and Tillman Lake roads shall be open only during the designated fishing and frogging season. Bicycles may be operated only on named or numbered roads and designated bicycle trails. During the designated fishing and frogging season Tanic Grade, Powder Grade and Levee Road north of Main Grade will be closed to vehicle traffic.
7. Tracked vehicles, airboats, all-terrain vehicles, horses and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and horses are prohibited.
8. During Hunting during the first four days of wild hog-dog small game season hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited shall be permitted only in that portion of the area located in T24S, R23E, Sections 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30 and 32 and those portions of Sections 16, 21, 28 and 33 south of Bull Barn and west of Levee Roads; and T25S, R23E, Section 5 and those portions of Sections 4 and 9 south of Main, west of Levee and north of Tram Grades and those portions of Sections 7, 8 and 18 along the Withlacoochee River and bounded by state fence.
9. No change.
10. The Until July 1, 2010, the possession or consumption of intoxicating beverages is prohibited.
11. During the wild hog-dog season, a wild hog-dog 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 may be used to take wildlife per hunting group.
(2) Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area West Unit.
(a) Open season:
1. Special-opportunity turkey March 19-22 20-23, March 28-31 29 through April 1, April 2-5 3-6, 11-14 12-15 and 16-19 17-20.
2. Special-opportunity archery November 6-9 7-10 and 18-21 19-22.
3. Special-opportunity general gun December 16-19 17-20, January 10-13 11-14 and 20-23 21-24.
4. Wild Special-opportunity hog-still February 4-6 5-7.
5. Wild Special-opportunity hog-dog February 16-18 17-19.
6. Small game February 25-27 26-28 and March 4-6 5-7.
7. Fishing and frogging Allowed Permitted throughout the year.
8. No change.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers (except bobcat and otter). Turkey may be taken only during the special-opportunity turkey hunts. The bag limit for turkey shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per special-opportunity turkey hunt permit. One antlered deer may be taken per special-opportunity deer hunt permit. Antlerless deer (except spotted fawns) may be taken by antlerless deer permit only. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with four or more points is prohibited. Only wild hog may be taken during the wild hog special-opportunity hog-still and special-opportunity hog-dog seasons.
(c) Camping: Camping is allowed at designated campsites during hunting season and at other times by permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators, and freezers, unless contained in mobile campers are prohibited. Lumber, sheet metal or other building materials is prohibited. Each camper shall assure that their campsite is clean at all times. The alteration, defacing, moving, tampering in any way with official markings of campsites is prohibited.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 2. No change.
3. The use of tracked vehicles, airboats, all-terrain vehicles or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited. The use of horses is prohibited during periods open for hunting the special-opportunity hunts.
4. No change.
5. Individuals in possession of a special-opportunity hunt permit or quota permit shall have vehicle access to the area from sunrise to sunset on the day preceding the hunt.
6. Only shotguns may be used during the special-opportunity spring turkey hunts.
7. No change.
8. The use of dogs, other than bird dogs and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less during the small game season, is prohibited except that no more than three dogs per quota hunt permit may be used during the wild special-opportunity hog-dog season. During the wild hog-dog season, no more than three free-running dogs per quota permit shall be allowed. During non-hunting periods the possession of dogs shall only be as authorized by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
9. During the wild special-opportunity 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 be required for each group of two hunters, and only one gun may be used to take wildlife per hunting group possessed per permit.
10. During periods open for hunting, motorized vehicles may only be operated by persons participating in the hunt.
11. During the small game season the take of wild hog is prohibited except by persons in possession of a daily wild hog permit. Sixty wild hog permits shall be issued daily at the check station.
(3) Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery September 11-12 12-13.
2. Bird dog training Bird dogs may be trained in the recreation area September 18 19 through February 13 14 and bird dogs may be trained in zones A, B, C and D during the small game season on those days when daily quail permits are not issued, which shall include the day that the season quota for daily quail permits is attained.
3. General gun October 30 31 through November 7 8.
4. No change.
5. Field trial quail January 29-30 30-31.
6. No change.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. During the archery season, antlerless deer may be taken by antlerless deer permit only and the take of turkey is prohibited. Wild hog may only be taken during archery season and the first day of general gun season. Wild hog: Daily bag, 1 per quota permit or 1 per exempt hunter; possession limit, 2. The take of wild hog shall only be allowed during the archery season and the first day of general gun season with a bag limit of one per quota hunt permit, per day and a possession limit of two. The take of wild hog with a shoulder height of less than 15 inches is prohibited. Quail shall be taken by daily quail or field trial quail quota permit only with a bag limit of 6 per day.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 3. No change.
4. The use of all-terrain vehicles, airboats or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles or airboats is prohibited, except that motorcycles may be used to access the shooting range along the most direct route on Tucker Grade between the shooting range and the check station.
5. through 6. No change.
7. Persons may use the shooting range during periods when hunting is not allowed on the area, provided that access shall only be along the most direct route on Tucker Grade between the shooting range and the check station.
7.8. No change.
8.9. Vehicular access for scouting shall be allowed permitted one week prior to the archery season on named and numbered roads only.
10. through 17. renumbered 9. through 16. No change.
(4) Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area Yucca Pens Unit.
(a) Open season:
1. Muzzleloading gun October 15-17 16-18.
2. General gun October 30 31 through November 7 8.
3. through 4. No change.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. Quail may be taken only during the small game season. The bag limit for quail shall be six 6 per day. During small game season the take of wild hog is prohibited.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 3. No change.
4. The use of all-terrain vehicles, airboats or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles or airboats is prohibited.
5. through 10. No change.
(5) Upper Hillsborough Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery December 11-19 12-20 and January 8-16 9-17, Saturdays and Sundays only.
2. Muzzleloading gun November 13 14 through December 5 6, Saturdays and Sundays only.
3. Small game January 22 23 through February 6 7, Saturdays and Sundays only.
4. Spring turkey March 23-24 24-25, 30-31 March 31 through April 1, April 6-7 7-8, 13-14 14-15, and 20-21 21-22.
5. Fishing and frogging Allowed Permitted year-round.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs, and furbearers. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one on antler with three or more points point, one inch or more in length, is prohibited.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 2. No change.
3. Tracked vehicles, airboats, all-terrain vehicles and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles are prohibited.
4. through 11. No change.
(6) Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery October 16 17 through November 5 6.
2. Muzzleloading gun December 11-19 19-27.
3. Small game January 8-9 9-10 and 29-30 30-31.
4. Spring turkey March 22-24 23-25 and April 5-7 6-8.
5. Fishing Allowed Permitted year-round.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game (except turkeys shall be legal to take only during spring turkey season), furbearers and fish. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited. Deer bag limit one per day. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota hunt permit.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 2. No change.
3. The take of wildlife Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except small game may be taken with bird dogs, retrievers and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less.
4. through 8. No change.
(7) KICCO Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery September 25 26 through October 24 25, Saturdays and Sundays only.
2. Muzzleloading gun October 30 31 through November 7 8, Saturdays and Sundays only.
3. Wild hog-still General gun hog November 13 14 through December 12 13, Saturdays and Sundays only.
4. Small game December 18 19 through January 23 10.
5. Spring turkey March 19 20 through April 17 18, Saturdays and Sundays only.
6. Fishing, frogging and other recreational use Allowed Permitted year-round.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs, and furbearers (except bobcat and otter). Turkey bag limit one per quota permit. During the wild hog-still general gun hog season, only wild hog may be taken.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. Hunters participating in a hunt in possession of a valid quota hunt permit may operate motor vehicles on named or numbered roads during the archery, muzzleloading gun, spring turkey, and wild hog-still general gun hog seasons. Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas or within 25 feet of a named or numbered road. The use of tracked vehicles, airboats, all-terrain vehicles or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited. Horses are prohibited except by written permission from the South Florida Water Management District.
2. through 6. No change.
7. Hunting with dogs is prohibited during the archery, muzzleloading gun, wild hog-still and general gun seasons. The use of dogs, other than retrievers, bird dogs and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less is prohibited during the small game season.
8. The portion of the area north and east of River Ranch Boulevard shall be open to hunting only during the wild hog-still general gun hog season.
9. No change.
(8) Hickory Hammock Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Wild hog-still General gun hog September 17-19 18-20, 24-26 25-27 and January 14-16 15-17.
2. Archery October 22-24 23-25.
3. Muzzleloading gun November 1-3 2-4 and 5-7 6-8.
4. General gun November 12-14 13-15.
5. Small game November 15-28 16-29 and January 24 25 through March 6 7.
6. General gun for mobility-impaired December 4-5.
7.6. No change.
8.7. Spring turkey March 24-26 25-27 and April 14-16 15-17.
9.8. Fishing and frogging Allowed Permitted throughout the year.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. 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 may be taken during the archery and general gun for mobility-impaired seasons. During the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons the bag limit for antlered deer shall be one per quota permit. During the archery and general gun for mobility-impaired seasons season the bag limit for deer shall be one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit. Only mobility-impaired hunters may take antlerless deer during the general gun for mobility-impaired season. During spring turkey season, the bag limit shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota hunt permit. Only wild hog may be taken during the wild hog-still general gun hog season. During the first fourteen (14) days of small game season the take of wild hog is prohibited.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. through 3. No change.
4. The use of tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles or three or four wheelers (ATVs) is prohibited, except that all-terrain vehicles may be used only by certified mobility-impaired hunters and only during the general gun for mobility-impaired season and from 8 a.m. until sunset one day prior to the season.
5. through 6. No change.
7. During the mobility-impaired general gun season, certified mobility-impaired hunters with quota permits, a non-hunting assistant and one guest, as authorized by Rule 68A-15.005, F.A.C., may participate in the hunt, but must share the bag limit. All mobility-impaired hunt participants are required to attend a pre-hunt orientation meeting.
(9) Walk-in-the-Water Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery October 2-3 3-4, 4-7 5-8, 8-10 9-11, 11-14 12-15 and 15-17 16-18.
2. Muzzleloading gun December 11-14 12-15 and 15-19 16-20.
3. Wild hog-still General gun hog January 15-18 16-19 and 19-23 20-24.
4. Small game February 5-13 6-14 and February 26 27 through March 6 7.
5. Fishing Allowed Permitted throughout the year.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game (except turkey), furbearers and fish. Deer bag limit one per day. During the wild hog-still general gun hog season only wild hog may be taken.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. The use of dogs, other than bird dogs, retrievers and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less, is prohibited. The use of any dog during the wild hog-still general gun hog season is prohibited.
2. through 4. No change.
5. The use of horses is prohibited during the archery, muzzleloading gun, and wild hog-still general gun hog seasons. At other times, horses may be ridden but only on firebreaks, named or numbered roads or designated horse trails.
6. through 7. No change
(10) Hilochee Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Spring turkey March 25-27 26-28 and April 8-10 9-11.
2. Muzzleloading gun November 5-7 6-8.
3. Wild hog-still General gun hog December 3-5 4-6, January 14-16 15-17 and 21-23 22-24.
4. Small game January 28 29 through February 6 7.
5. Archery October 22-24 23-25.
6. No change.
7. Raccoon September 2-26 (from 1.5 hours before sunset on Thursday until 1.5 hours after sunrise on Sunday).
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish (as provided below), and furbearers. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota hunt permit. During the wild hog-still general gun hog season, only wild hog may be taken. No person shall kill or possess any largemouth bass from Peat Lake, Little Peat Lake, Stock Lake, Hidden Lake, and Turtle Pond. No person shall take, in any one day, more than 20 bluegill, 10 black crappie, or 6 catfish. No person shall kill or possess any bluegill less than 8 inches total length or black crappie less than 10 inches total length. During the raccoon season, only raccoon and opossum may be taken.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. All users shall enter and exit the area through designated entrances. Hunters shall check in and out at a check station when entering and exiting the area and shall check all game taken, except during the small game and raccoon seasons.
2. Hunting with dogs other than bird dogs and retrievers is prohibited, except that during small game season dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less may be used and during the raccoon season dogs of any size may be used.
3. Motorized vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads and shall be parked in designated parking areas or within 25 feet of a named or numbered road. During the small game season vehicles are prohibited on Yancey Road.
4. The use of tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, horses or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, or horses is prohibited, except that horses are allowed permitted on named and numbered roads or designated trails during periods closed to hunting.
5. During periods when the area is closed to hunting, public access other than by foot, bicycle, or horse is prohibited, except that motorized vehicles shall be allowed permitted one day prior to the archery, muzzleloading gun, wild hog-still general gun hog, and spring turkey hunts, and by individuals in possession of a valid fishing permit. Persons participating in the raccoon season may operate motorized vehicles from 1.5 hours before sunset on Thursday until 1.5 hours after sunset on Sunday.
6. through 7. No change.
8. Public access is prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise, except persons participating in the raccoon season may have access from 1.5 hours before sunset on Thursday until 1.5 hours after sunset on Sunday.
9. During the raccoon season, hunting as specified by paragraph 68A-24.002(2)(b), F.A.C., is allowed.
(11) Lake Marion Creek Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery September 25-27 26-28 and October 1-3 2-4.
2. Muzzleloading gun October 30 31 through November 1 2.
3. General gun November 13-15 14-16 and 19-21 20-22.
4. Small game December 31 through January 2 1-3 and January 7-9 8-10.
5. Wild hog-still General gun hog December 10-12 11-13 and 24-26 25-27.
6. Spring turkey March 19-21 20-22, April 1-3 2-4 and 15-17 16-18.
7. Fishing and frogging Allowed Permitted throughout the year.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish and furbearers (except bobcat and otter). Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited. One antlered deer may be taken per quota permit. No more than one antlerless deer may be taken per quota permit during the archery season. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit for turkey shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per quota permit. Only wild hog may be taken during the wild hog-still general gun hog season.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. The use of tracked vehicles, airboats, horses, all-terrain vehicles or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, airboats, horses, or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited.
2. through 6. No change.
(12) Avon Park Air Force Range Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery September 25 26 through October 24 25 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
2. Muzzleloading gun October 30 31 through November 7 8 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
3. General gun November 13 14 through January 23 24 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
4. Small game January 3 4 through March 6 7 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
5. Spring turkey March 19 20 through April 24 25 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
6. Antlerless deer November 20-26 21-27 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
7. No change.
8. Fishing and frogging During periods when hunting is allowed and at other times specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs, turtles, and furbearers. Antlered deer, wild hog, and quail may be taken only during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length, is prohibited except in those areas and during those days as specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
(c) Camping: In areas and during periods specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
(d) General regulations:
1. Hunters and individuals accompanying hunters must wear a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material above the waist as an outer garment when in any hunt area during muzzleloading gun, general gun, or small game seasons, except those hunting waterfowl in on Morgan Hole Creek, the Kissimmee Marsh or Arbuckle Marsh marshes. Persons within the passenger compartment of a vehicle are not required to wear the fluorescent orange material.
2. Loaded, capped, or primed guns are prohibited and ammunition must be physically separated from guns at check stations, public campsites, the Outdoor Recreation Office, within 50 feet of Frostproof, Kissimmee Road, or Van Eeghan roads, while being transported through the Main Base, or in vehicles parked or being driven on designated roads. The only exception is that loaded, un-capped muzzleloading guns may be possessed in the aforementioned areas and muzzleloading guns may be cleared in the muzzleloading gun pits located at Willingham and Morgan Hole campgrounds.
3. Handguns Pistols with barrels longer than nine inches are prohibited, unless authorized by the Installation Commander or a designee.
4. The possession or use of centerfire rifles, except muzzleloading rifles, is prohibited, unless authorized by the Installation Commander or a designee.
5. No change.
6. Hunting with or possession of dogs is prohibited in areas designated by the Installation Commander or a designee.
7. During the general gun season, hunting in the designated dog-hunt areas is restricted to hunters using dogs, unless hunting waterfowl in Morgan Hole Creek, the Kissimmee Marsh or Arbuckle Marsh marshes. No tree stands may be erected in the designated dog-hunt areas.
8. No change.
9. Hunting and the possession of guns are prohibited in the Sandy Point Wildlife Refuge, unless authorized by the Installation Commander or a designee.
10. Vehicles may be operated only on roads designated by the Installation Commander or a designee. No person shall operate a vehicle off of named or numbered roads, except hunters with bird dogs in the designated vehicle-bird dog areas during the small game season or as authorized by the Installation Commander or a designee.
11. The use of vehicles is prohibited between 10 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. except on Frostproof, Smith, Old Bravo and Kissimmee roads, or in case of emergency. When authorized by the Installation Commander or a designee, these restrictions shall not apply.
12. No change.
13. Hunters may enter and exit the area only at entry points designated by the Installation Commander or a designee.
14. Use of all-terrain vehicles and airboats is are prohibited, unless authorized by the Installation Commander or a designee.
15. Public access is prohibited in areas designated as Closed by the Installation Commander or a designee.
16. Hunting as specified in paragraph 68A-24.002(2)(b) is allowed in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.
(13) Croom Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Muzzleloading gun October 29-31 30 through November 1.
2. General gun November 13 14 through December 5 6.
3. Small game December 6 7 through March 6 7.
4. Spring turkey March 22-24 23-25, April 5-7 6-8 and 19-21 20-22.
5. Fox, raccoon and bobcat December 16 17 through March 13 14. Hunting is allowed permitted from 5 p.m. Thursday to sunrise Sunday with dogs only. Taking wildlife with guns is prohibited during this season.
6. through 7. No change.
(b) No change.
(c) Camping: Prohibited unless authorized by the Division of Forestry. Permitted only at designated campsites. A permit issued by the Division of Forestry is required at the Silver Lake, Twin Ponds, Hog Island, River Junction and East Hunt campsites.
(d) General regulations:
1. Hunting with dogs is prohibited during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons November 14 through December 6. Hunting with dogs is prohibited during the small game season, except bird dogs and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less may be used to take small game. other than bird dogs is prohibited December 7-16, except that Dogs dogs may be used for hunting fox, raccoon or bobcat during the fox, raccoon and bobcat season., and Dogs used during the fox, raccoon and bobcat season, and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less may be used to hunt small game during the small game season are only allowed in the portion of the area south of Croom road, bounded on the east by Croom-Rital Road to its juncture with the boundary fence of the Croom Motorcycle Aarea located in Sections 17, 18, 19, 30, 31 and those parts of Sections 7 and 8 lying south of the old railroad right-of-way, Township 22 South, Range 21 East, and thence bounded by said boundary fence. Trailing dogs on a leash are permitted.
2. Motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles may be operated off roads in Sections 17, 18, 19, 30, 31 and those parts of Sections 7 and 8 lying south of the old railroad right-of-way, Township 22 South, Range 21 East (Croom Motorcycle Aarea) only. Operation of motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles in this area is permitted throughout the year but all such vehicles shall be permitted by the state Division of Forestry. Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads in that portion of the area lying outside the Croom Motorcycle Area, but such vehicles must be properly licensed under Chapter 320, F.S., or otherwise legal to operate on public roads.
3. through 4. No change.
5. Only tents, trailers or self-propelled camping vehicles may be used for camping.
6. through 8. renumbered 5. through 7. No change.
(14) Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery September 25 26 through October 24 25.
2. Muzzleloading gun October 29-31 30 through November 1.
3. General gun November 13 14 through January 9 10.
4. Wild General gun hog-dog January 14-16 15-17 and 21-23 22-24.
5. Migratory game birds Duck, geese and coot Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only, During during the migratory game bird seasons as established by Rules 68A-13.003 and 68A-13.008, F.A.C., except waterfowl and coot may be taken on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only.
6. Fishing, frogging and other recreational use Allowed Permitted year-round.
7. Spring turkey March 25-27 26-28, April 8-10 9-11 and 22-24 23-25.
8. Raccoon February 3-27 and May 5-29 (from 1.5 hours before sunset on Thursday until 1.5 hours after sunrise on Sunday).
(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. The taking of bobcat and otter is prohibited. The bag limit for turkeys shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per spring turkey quota hunt permit. Only wild hog may be taken during the wild general gun hog-dog season. Waterfowl and coot may be taken on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only. During the raccoon season, only raccoon and opossum may be taken.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. Dogs are prohibited south of County Road 550. Hunting with dogs other than retrievers or bird dogs is prohibited west of the Main grade, on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service portion of the property. Hunting with dogs other than retrievers or bird dogs is prohibited east of Swamp Grade, except during the wild general gun hog-dog season. Dogs with a shoulder height greater than 17 inches are prohibited in that portion of the area lying east of the Main grade and west of the Swamp grade, except during the wild general gun hog-dog and raccoon seasons season when dogs are allowed east of Main Grade.
2. through 5. No change.
6. All persons shall enter and exit only at designated entrances. Hunters shall check in and out at a check station and check all game taken during the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, wild hog and spring turkey seasons.
7. The use of tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited.
8. through 10. No change.
11. During the wild general gun hog-dog season, a quota hunt 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 be required for each group of two hunters, and only one gun may be used to take wildlife per hunting group possessed per permit.
12. The take of wild hog with the aid of dogs is prohibited, except no more than three free-running dogs per general gun hog-dog quota hunt permit may be used during the wild general gun hog-dog season in that portion of the area east of Main Grade and west of U.S. Hwy. 19.
13. No change.
14. During the raccoon season, hunting as specified by paragraph 68A-24.002(2)(b), F.A.C., is allowed.
(15) Hilochee Wildlife Management Area Osprey Unit.
(a) Open season:
1. Archery October 9-10 10-11 and 16-17 17-18.
2. Family hunt November 13-14 14-15.
3. Wild General gun hog-still November 27-28 28-29.
4. Wild General gun hog-dog January 8-9 9-10 and 29-30 30-31.
5. Small game February 3-14.
6.5. Spring turkey April 15-16 16-17 and 22-23 23-24.
7.6. No change.
8.7. Fishing Allowed year-round.
(b) Legal to take: All legal game (except deer), fish and furbearers. Only wild hog may be taken during the wild hog general gun hog-still and general gun hog-dog seasons. Turkey may be taken during the spring turkey season only. During the spring turkey season, the bag limit shall be one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per person. No person shall kill or possess any largemouth bass. No person shall take, in any one day, more than 20 bluegill, 10 black crappie, or 6 catfish. No person shall kill or possess any bluegill less than 8 inches total length or black crappie less than 10 inches total length.
(c) No change.
(d) General regulations:
1. Public access is prohibited from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise, except during the small game season.
2. No change.
3. The use of airboats, outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower, tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, horses or unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, or horses is prohibited, except that horses are allowed on named or numbered roads or designated trails during periods closed to hunting.
4. During periods when the area is closed to hunting, public access other than by foot, bicycle, or horse is prohibited, except motorized vehicles shall be allowed one day prior to all hunts except small game by persons participating in the hunt possession of a valid quota hunt permit. During small game season, motorized vehicle access is allowed from 1.5 hours before sunrise on the first day of the season until 1.5 hours after sunset on the last day of the season.
5. No change.
6. During periods open for hunting, motorized vehicles shall only be operated by persons participating in the hunt, except during the small game season in possession of a valid quota hunt permit.
7. The use of dogs, other than bird dogs and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less, is prohibited except that dogs of any size may be by used during the wild general gun hog-dog and small game seasons season. No more than 3 free-running dogs per general gun quota hunt permit shall be used during the wild general gun hog-dog season.
8. During the wild general gun 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 be required for each group of two hunters, and only one gun may be used to take wildlife per hunting group possessed per permit.
9. No change.
10. The take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited during the small game season.
11. During the small game season, hunting as specified by paragraph 68A-24.002(2)(b), F.A.C., is allowed.
PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2010.
Rulemaking Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 375.313 FS. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 379.2223, 375.313 FS. HistoryNew 6-21-82, Amended 7-1-83, 11-17-83, 7-5-84, 10-1-84, 7-1-85, 9-19-85, 5-7-86, 5-10-87, 6-8-87, 10-8-87, 5-1-88, 7-1-89, 7-1-90, 7-1-91, 7-2-91, 7-1-92, 8-23-92, 7-1-93, 7-1-94, 7-1-95, 7-1-96, 9-15-96, 6-1-97, 8-7-97, 7-1-98, 10-20-98, 12-28-98, 7-1-99, Formerly 39-15.061, Amended 12-9-99, 3-30-00, 7-1-00, 7-1-01, 5-13-02, 5-25-03, 7-1-04, 7-1-05, 7-1-06, 7-1-07, 7-1-08, 7-1-09, 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.
