The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) and conform to calendar year date changes. The effect of the proposed rule amendment will be to enable the agency to better ...

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

68A-17.005Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) 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 WEAs.

SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendment would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) as follows:

North Central Region;

Suwannee Ridge WEA – move the last (December) general gun mobility-impaired hunt to the third weekend in November;

South Region; and

John G. and Susan H. Dupuis Jr. - allow harvested wild hog to be dismembered before checking at the check station, and correct an error related to missing hunt dates for the existing April wild hog-still hunt.

Additionally, the proposed rule amendment 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 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 n; Section 375.313, FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution n; Sections 379.2223, 375.313, FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: During the Commission’s regular meeting February 19-20, 2020, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., each day.

PLACE: Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola Street, Tallahassee FL, 32301.

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 [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency by calling [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: George Warthen, 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-17.005 Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas.

(1) Southwest Region.

(a) through (e) No change.

(f) Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area – Royce Unit – Highlands County.

1. Open season:

a. Archery – September 25-27 20-22 and October 16-18 11-13.

b. General gun – November 20-22 15-17.

c. Small game – December 11-13 6-8, 25-27 20-22, opening 3 days prior to the third Monday in January and closing 3 days thereafter and January 30 through February 4-7 2.

d. Wild hog-still – May 1-2 2-3 and 8-9 9-10.

e. Youth turkey hunt – March 13-14 14-15.

f. Spring turkey – March 20-22 21-23 and April 2-4 3-5.

g. No change.

2. through 3. No change.

(g) through (k) No change.

(2) North Central Region.

(a) Santa Fe Swamp – Bradford County.

1. Open season:

a. Archery – September 25 20 through October 23 18.

b. Muzzleloading gun – October 24-26 19-21.

c. Archery and muzzleloading gun – November 7 2 through January 3 December 29.

d. Spring turkey – March 20 21 through April 25 26.

e. through f. No change.

2. through 3. No change.

(b) Fort White Mitigation Park – Gilchrist County.

1. Open season:

a. Archery season – October 24-28 19-23, October 31 through November 4 26-30 and November 14-18 9-13.

b. Small game – November 19 14 through March 7 1.

c. Youth spring turkey – March 13-14 14-15.

d. Spring turkey – March 20-24 21-25 and March 27-31 28 through April 1.

e. through g. No change.

2. through 4. No change.

(c) Suwannee Ridge – Hamilton County.

1. Open season:

a. Mobility-impaired general gun – October 16-18 11-13, October 30 through November 1 25-27, November 6-8 1-3 and 20-22 December 13-15.

b. Mobility-impaired spring turkey – March 26-28 27-29 and April 16-18 17-19.

2. through 3. No change.

(d) through (e) No change.

(f) Lafayette Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area.

1. Open seasons:

a. Archery season – September 26-30 21-25 and September 27 through October 2-6 1 and October 9-13 4-8.

b. Muzzleloading gun season – October 24-26 19-21.

c. Family hunt – November 7-8 2-3 and 14-15 9-10.

d. Wild hog-still – January 23-27 18-22 and January 30 through February 3 25-29.

e. Small game – November 16 11 through January 22 17 and February 4 January 30 through March 7 1.

f. Youth spring turkey – March 13-14 14-15.

g. Spring turkey – March 20-22 21-23 and 26-28 27-29.

h. through j. No change.

2. through 3. No change.

(g) Watermelon Pond Wildlife and Environmental Area.

1. Open seasons:

a. Archery season – October 17-25 12-20.

b. Small game – November 21 16 through December 6 1 and December 19 14 through January 10 5.

c. Youth spring turkey – March 13-14 14-15.

d. through g. No change.

2. through 3. No change.

(3) Northwest Region.

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) L. Kirk Edwards – Leon County.

1. No change.

2. Open seasons for that portion of the area east of Chaires Cross Road:

a. Archery – Opening 37 days prior to the first Saturday in November and closing 3 days thereafter, reopening 11 days later and closing 3 days thereafter, and reopening 11 days later and closing 3 days thereafter October 3-6, 17-20 and October 31 through November 3.

b. Family hunt – Opening the Thursday following the close of archery season and closing 3 days later November 7-10.

c. Archery and muzzleloading gun – Opening the fourth Thursday in November and closing 3 days thereafter, reopening 4 days later and closing 3 days thereafter, and reopening 11 days later and closing 3 days thereafter 28 through December 1, December 5-8 and 19-22.

d. Small game – Opening the second Saturday in November and closing the first Sunday in March (except during the archery and muzzleloading gun season) 9-27, December 2-4, 9-18, and December 23 through March 1.

e. through h. No change.

3. through 4. No change.

(4) South Region.

(a) Southern Glades – Dade County.

1. Open season:

a. Archery – August 1-30 3 through September 1.

b. Muzzleloading gun – September 11-13 13-15.

c. General gun – September 19 21 through October 18 20 and November 23-29 25 through December 1.

d. Small game – November 30 December 2 through February 21 23.

e. through g. No change.

2. through 3. No change.

(b) John G. and Susan H. Dupuis Jr. – Palm Beach and Martin counties.

1. Open season:

a. Archery – September 11-13 13-15, 18-20 20-22 and 25-27 27-29.

b. Muzzleloading gun – October 9-11 11-13, 16-18 18-20 and 23-25 25-27.

c. General gun for mobility-impaired – October 31 through November 1 2-3.

d. General gun – November 6-10 8-10 and 13-17 15-17.

e. Wild hog-still – Opening 9 days prior to Thanksgiving Day and ending 2 days thereafter, opening the first Tuesday following Thanksgiving Day and ending 2 days thereafter, and opening the second Saturday in May and closing 8 days thereafter in April and May.

f. Youth turkey hunt – February 27-28 29 through March 1.

g. Spring turkey – March 9-11 10-12, 19-21 20-22 and 26-28 27-29.

h. through j. No change.

2. through 3. No change.

4. General regulations:

a. through f. No change.

g. During periods when the check station is staffed, hunters shall check in and out at the check station and check all game taken, and no deer, wild hog, or turkey may be dismembered until checked at the check station. Hunters must enter and exit the area through the designated entrance where the check station is located. People through-hiking on the Florida Trail may enter or exit the area through the Florida Trail.

h. through j. No change.

(c) CREW – Collier and Lee Counties.

1. Open season:

a. Archery – August 8-16 10-18.

b. Muzzleloading gun – September 5-7 7-9.

c. General gun – November 21-29 23 through December 1.

d. Small game – December 5 7 through January 3 5.

e. Spring turkey – March 6-9 7-10 and 10-14 11-15.

f. through h. No change.

2. through 3. No change.

4. General regulations:

a. through g. No change.

h. Hunters shall enter and exit the Corkscrew Marsh Unit only through Gate 5 and Gate 6.

i. through k. No change.

(d) No change.

(e) John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland – Palm Beach and Martin Counties.

1. Open season:

a. Archery – September 12-15, 14-17 and 19-22 21-24, 26-29 September 28 through October 1, and October 3-6 5-8.

b. Muzzleloading gun – October 16-19 19-21.

c. General gun – October 31 through November 2 2-4, and November 7-9 9-11 and 14-16 16-18.

d. Small game – November 21 23 through the second Sunday in January.

e. Spring turkey – March 20 21 through April 4 5 (Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only).

f. through h. No change.

2. through 4. No change.

(5) No change.

 

PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE:  July 1, 2020

 

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 379.2223, 375.313 FS. History–New 7-1-83, Amended 11-30-83, 7-1-84, 8-21-85, Formerly 39-17.05, Amended 6-1-86, 8-13-87, 8-18-88, 8-17-89, 4-11-90, 7-1-91, 10-31-91, 4-14-92, 4-20-93, 7-1-94, 9-15-94, 3-30-95, 8-15-95, 7-1-96, 4-3-97, 10-28-97, 7-1-98, 8-11-98, 7-1-99, Formerly 39-17.005, Amended 7-1-00, 5-1-01, 6-2-02, 5-25-03, 7-1-04, 7-1-05, 7-1-06, 7-1-07, 7-1-08, 1-6-09, 7-1-09, 10-29-09, 7-1-10, 7-1-11, 11-14-11, 7-1-12, 7-26-12, 7-1-13, 7-1-14, 7-2-14, 7-1-15, 7-29-15, 7-1-16, 7-1-17, 9-14-17, 7-1-18, 7-1-19, 7-1-20. 

 

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.R.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: George Warthen, 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 11, 2019

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: December 9, 2019