The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Southwest Region and conform date changes to calendar year. In addition, the proposed rule amendment would establish ...

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

68A-15.061Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Southwest Region

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Southwest Region and conform date changes to calendar year. In addition, the proposed rule amendment would establish Everglades Headwaters WMA, Hatchineha Unit, and provide regulations for its use. The effect of the proposed rule amendment will be to provide an additional WMA to the public and to enable the agency to better manage fish and wildlife resources and public use on WMAs.

SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendment would adjust season dates to conform to date changes in the calendar year and revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Southwest Region. In addition, the proposed rule amendment would establish Everglades Headwaters WMA, Hatchineha Unit, and provide regulations for its use by the public.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: The nature of the rule and the preliminary analysis conducted to determine whether a SERC was required.

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.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: During the Commission’s regular meeting February 7-8, 2018, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., each day.

PLACE: Florida Public Safety Institute, 85 Academy Drive, Havana, Florida 32333.

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: ADA Coordinator, at [phone]. 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 – December 1 2 through January 27 28.

2. Archery – October 26 27 through November 25 26, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only and Thanksgiving Day.

3. Small game – Beginning after the close of general gun and continuing until the close of the zonal squirrel season as established by Chapter 68A-13, F.A.C., Saturdays and Sundays only.

4. Wild hog-dog – September 27-30 28 through October 1 and October 4-7 5-8.

5. Spring turkey – March 16 17 through April 21 22.

6. No change.

(b) through (d) No change

(2) Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area – West Unit.

(a) Open season:

1. Wild hog-still – October 5-7 6-8.

2. Wild hog-dog – October 17-19 18-20.

3. Special-opportunity archery – December 1-4 2-5 and 13-16 14-17.

4. Special-opportunity general gun – January 17-20 18-21, 28-31 January 29 through February 1 and February 6-9 7-10.

5. Special-opportunity turkey – March 16-19 17-20, 25-28 26-29, March 30 31 through April 2 3, April 8-11 9-12 and 13-16 14-17.

6. Small game – February 22-24 23-25 and March 1-3 2-4.

7. through 8. No change.

(b) through (c) no change.

(d) General regulations:

1. through 4. No change.

5. Individuals in possession of a special-opportunity permit or quota permit shall have vehicle access to the area from sunrise to sunset on the day preceding the hunt, except special-opportunity spring turkey permit holders shall have vehicle access to the area 1 ½ hours before sunrise until 1 ½ hours after sunset on the day preceding the hunt.

6. through 10. No change.

(3) Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Archery – September 8-12 9-13.

2. Bird dog training – Bird dogs may be trained in the bird dog training area September 15 16 through February 10 11 and bird dogs may be trained in the remainder of the area during the small game season except the field trial and Boy Scout areas.

3. General gun –November 3-11 4-12.

4. Small game – November 12-25 13-26 and on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays only November 28 29 through January 13 14.

5. Field trial quail – January 19-20 20-21.

6. through 7. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(4) Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area – Yucca Pens Unit.

(a) Open season:

1. Muzzleloading gun – October 12-14 13-15.

2. General gun – October 27 28 through November 4 5.

3. Small game – November 14 15 through January 13 14 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays only and the Friday after Thanksgiving Day.

4. through 5. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(5) Upper Hillsborough Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Wild hog-dog – November 6-8 7-9.

2. Archery – December 1-2 2-3, 8-9 9-10, December and 29-30 30-31 and January 5-6 6-7.

3. Muzzleloading gun – January 12-13 13-14, 19-20 20-21, 26-27 27-28 and February 2-3 3-4.

4. Small game – February 16-17 17-18, 23-24 24-25 and March 2-3 3-4.

5. Spring turkey – March 20-21 21-22, 27-28 28-29, April 3-4 4-5, 10-11 11-12 and 17-18 18-19.

6. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(6) Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Archery – October 13 14 through November 2 3.

2. Muzzleloading gun – December 8-16 9-17.

3. Small game – January 5-6 6-7 and 26-27 27-28.

4. Spring turkey – March 19-21 20-22 and April 2-4 3-5.

5. No change.

(b) No change.

(c) Camping: Prohibited, except as authorized Camping is permitted at the designated campground located off Rucks Dairy Road; at designated campsites along the Florida Trail; and at other sites by Special-Use Permit issued by the Florida Forest Service. Only tents, trailers or self-propelled camping vehicles may be used for camping.

(d) No change.

(7) KICCO Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Archery – September 15 16 through October 14 15, Saturdays and Sundays only.

2. Muzzleloading gun – October 20-21 21-22 and 27-28 28-29.

3. Wild hog-still – November 10 11 through December 9 10, Saturdays and Sundays only.

4. Small game – December 15 16 through January 20 21.

5. Spring turkey – March 16 17 through April 14 15, Saturdays and Sundays only.

6. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(8) Hickory Hammock Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Wild hog-still – September 14-16 15-17, 21-23 22-24 and January 11-13 12-14.

2. Archery – October 12-14 13-15.

3. Muzzleloading gun – October 20-22 21-23 and 24-26 25-27.

4. General gun – November 3-5 4-6.

5. Small game – November 12-25 13-26 and January 21 22 through March 3 4.

6. General gun for mobility-impaired – December 8-9 9-10.

7. No change.

8. Spring turkey – March 21-23 22-24 and April 11-13 12-14.

9. No change

(b) through (d) No change

(9) Walk-in-the-Water Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Archery – September 29-30 30 through October 1, October 1-4 2-5, 5-7 6-8, 8-11 9-12 and 12-14 13-15.

2. Muzzleloading gun –December 1-2 2-3, 3-6 4-7 and 7-9 8-10.

3. Wild hog-still – January 12-15 13-16 and 16-20 17-21.

4. Small game –February 2-10 3-11 and February 23 24 through March 3 4.

5. Spring turkey – March 26-28 27-29.

6. No change.

(b) No change.

(c) Camping: Prohibited, except as authorized by Permitted at designated campgrounds. Permitted at other sites by special-use permit from the Florida Forest Service. Only tents, trailers or self-propelled camping vehicles may be used for camping.

(d) No change.

(10) Hilochee Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Youth turkey hunt – March 9-10 10-11.

2. Spring turkey – March 22-24 23-25 and April 5-7 6-8.

3. Muzzleloading gun – February 15-17 16-18.

4. Wild hog-still – November 16-18 17-19, November 30 through December 2 1-3, and December 14-16 15-17.

5. Small game – January 4-20 5-21.

6. Archery – February 8-10 9-11.

7. No change.

8. Raccoon – August 2 3 through September 23 24 (from 1.5 hours before sunset on Thursday until 1.5 hours after sunrise on Sunday).

(b) through (d) No change.

(11) Lake Marion Creek Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Archery – October 13-15 14-16 and 19-21 20-22.

2. Muzzleloading gun – November 23-25 24-26.

3. General gun – January 18-20 19-21 and February 1-3 2-4.

4. Small game – January 4-6 5-7 and 11-13 12-14.

5. Wild hog-still – December 7-9 8-10 and 21-23 22-24.

6. Youth turkey hunt – March 9-10 10-11.

7. Spring turkey – March 16-18 17-19, March 29-31 30 through April 1 and April 12-14 13-15.

8. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(12) Avon Park Air Force Range Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Archery – September 15 16 through October 14 15 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.

2. Muzzleloading gun – October 20 21 through November 2 3 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.

3. General gun – November 3 4 through January 20 21 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.

4. Small game – November 10 11 through March 3 4 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.

5. Youth turkey hunt – March 9-10 10-11 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.

6. Spring turkey – March 16 17 through April 21 22 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.

7. Antlerless deer – November 17-23 18-24 in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander or a designee.

8. through 9. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(13) Croom Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Muzzleloading gun – October 20-22 21-23.

2. General gun – November 3-25 4-26.

3. Small game – November 26 December 4 through March 3 4.

4. Spring turkey – March 19-21 20-22, April 2-4 3-5 and 16-18 17-19.

5. Fox, raccoon and bobcat – December 13 14 through March 10 11. Hunting is allowed 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) through (d) no change.

(14) Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Archery – September 15 16 through October 14 15.

2. Muzzleloading gun – October 20-22 21-23.

3. General gun – November 3 4 through December 30 31.

4. Wild hog-dog – January 11-13 12-14 and 18-20 19-21.

5. through 6. No change.

7. Youth turkey hunt – March 9-10 10-11.

8. Spring turkey – March 22-24 23-25, April 5-7 6-8 and 19-21 20-22.

9. Raccoon – January 31 through February 24 1-25 and May 2-26 3-27 (from 1.5 hours before sunset on Thursday until 1.5 hours after sunrise on Sunday).

(b) through (d) No change.

(15) Hilochee Wildlife Management Area – Osprey Unit.

(a) Open season:

1. Family hunt – November 9-11 10-12.

2. Wild hog-still – November 23-25 24-26.

3. Wild hog-dog – December 7-9 8-10 and January 4-6 5-7.

4. Small game – January 24 25 through February 4 5.

5. Archery – February 8-10 9-11.

6. Muzzleloading gun – February 15-17 16-18.

7. Youth turkey hunt – March 9-10 10-11.

8. Spring turkey – April 12-14 13-15 and 19-21 20-22.

9. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(16) Weekiwachee Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Archery – October 13-18 14-19, November 10-15 11-16, December 8-13 9-14, January 12-17 13-18 and February 9-14 10-15.

2. No change

(b) through (d) No change.

(17) Lower Hillsborough Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Family hunt – December 7-9 8-10, January 11-13 12-14, January 25-27 26-28 and February 8-10 9-11.

2. Youth turkey hunt – March 22-24 23-25 and April 5-7 6-8.

3. No change

(b) through (d) No change.

(18) No change.

(19) Everglades Headwaters Wildlife Management Area – Hatchineha Unit.

(a) Open season:

1. Archery – October 13-19 and November 3-11.

2. Muzzleloading gun – November 23-25.

3. Family hunt – December 21-23.

4. General gun – January 18-20 and 24-27.

5. Small game – February 2-28.

6. Youth turkey hunt – March 9-10.

7. Spring turkey – March 21-24 and 27-31.

8. Trapping – Prohibited.

9. Fishing and frogging – Allowed year round.

(b) Legal to take: All legal game, wild hog, wild turkey (bearded turkey or gobblers only), fish, frogs and furbearers (except bobcat and otter). Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with three or more points or one antler with a main beam of ten inches or more in length is prohibited, except by persons less than 16 years of age. During the archery season, the bag limit for deer shall be two deer, only one of which can be antlerless per quota permit. During the muzzleloading gun, general gun and family hunt seasons, the bag limit for deer shall be two antlered deer per quota permit. During the spring turkey seasons, one gobbler (or bearded turkey) may be taken per person, but not more than two per quota permit.

(c) Camping: Allowed only by permit from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(d) General regulations:

1. All persons shall enter and exit the area only at a designated entrance.

2. Public access is allowed year round except during quota hunts when only individuals participating in a hunt may access the area.

3. Vehicular access is prohibited, except vehicles may only be operated on named or numbered roads and only by persons participating in a hunt during archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, family hunt, small game and spring turkey seasons and three days prior to and three days after each of these seasons. At all other times, public access other than by foot, horseback or bicycle is prohibited.

5. The use of airboats, swamp buggies, tracked vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles is prohibited.

6. Shooting hours shall be from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset (except during spring turkey season when shooting hours shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to 1p.m.).

7. Dogs are prohibited, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used for hunting small game and any dog may be used to take small game during the small game season.

8. Fires are prohibited.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 375.313 FS. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 379.2223, 375.313 FS. History–New 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, 7-1-11, 7-1-12, 7-1-13, 7-1-14, 7-1-15, 7-1-16, 7-1-17, 9-14-17,          .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Diane R. Eggeman, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: December 6, 2017

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: January 5, 2018.