The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the North Central Region. 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-15.062Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - North Central Region

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the North Central Region. 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 amendment revises or modifies the season dates, locations, and access for hunting, fishing, bird dog training, or other recreational uses on WMAs in the North Central Region and specifically prohibits taking wildlife with dogs, other than bird dogs and retrievers, outside the dog hunt area at Osceola WMA. This amendment also clarifies existing rules; removes unnecessary, redundant, or conflicting language; corrects prior mistakes; and makes non-substantive technical corrections.

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: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. 375.313 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. 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 21-22, 2023, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., each day.

PLACE: Marriott Jacksonville, 4670 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 32256.

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 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: Holli Nichols, North Central Region Public Hunting Areas Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 3377 E. US Hwy. 90 Lake City FL 32055, [phone] or [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

68A-15.062 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas – North Central Region.

(1) Camp Blanding Wildlife Management Area.

(a) through (c) No change.

(d) General regulations:

1. through 14. No change. 

15. It shall be unlawful to take wildlife on or within 100 feet of East Tank Trail, Ridge, Dade, Treat and Impact Roads.

16. through 17. No change.

(2) through (4) No change.

(5) Osceola Wildlife Management Area.

(a) through (c) No change.

(d) General regulations:

1. The dog hunt area is within the area created by traversing south on Forest Service Road 237 from its intersection with the north boundary of the Osceola National Forest; southeast on Forest Service Road 263; south on Forest Service Road 234; east and north on County Road 250; west on Forest Service Road 200, north and east on Forest Road 4 to Forest Road 26; north on Forest Road 26 to Forest Road 3; east on Forest Road 3 to Eddy Grade; northwesterly on Eddy Grade to State Road 2; northwest on State Road 2; southwest on Forest Service Road 295; west on Forest Service Road 296F; south on Forest Service Road 296C; east and south on Forest Service Road 296E; south on Forest Service Road 295; south on Forest Service Road 297 to the boundary of the Osceola National Forest; then due west to the northwest corner of Section 23, Township 1 South, Range 19 East; then south along the east side of Section 27, Township 1 South, Range 19 East to the southeast corner of Section 27, Township 1 South, Range 19 East; then west to the SW corner of the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 Section 29, Township 1 North, Range 19 East; then north along the west boundary of the East 1/2 of the West 1/2 Section 29, Township 1 North, Range 19 East to the south boundary of Section 20, Township 1 North, Range 19 East; then west along the north boundary of Section 30, Township 1 North, Range 19 East to the Baker County/Columbia County line; then south along the County Line to Forest Road 36; south to Forest Road 46; south on Forest Road 39; west on Forest Road 42 until it becomes Forest Service Road 212; south on Forest Service Road 212; west on Forest Service Road 272; north on Forest Service Road 270 to the Forest Boundary; then west back to the beginning point of Forest Service Road 237. Taking wildlife with dogs other than bird dogs or retrievers is prohibited, except in the dog hunt area and as provided by paragraph 68A-15.004(7)(d), F.A.C.

2. through 7. No change.

(6) through (10) No change.

(11) Nutrien – White Springs Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. No change.

2. Fishing and frogging – Allowed throughout the year from sunrise until sunset each day, except Prohibited during periods open to hunting and allowed only by landowner permit during periods closed to hunting.

(b) Legal to take: Waterfowl, and coots, fish and frogs only. Waterfowl and coots may be hunted from the beginning of shooting hours established pursuant to rule 68A-13.003, F.A.C., until 12:00 noon.

(c) No change.

(d) General regulations:

1. Public access is prohibited, except by those persons with written permission from the landowner, by anglers from sunrise until sunset during periods when hunting is prohibited, or by hunters on days open to hunting. Hunters may enter the area beginning at 5:00 a.m. and shall exit the area by 1:00 p.m.; except that scouting is permitted during daylight hours two days prior to each phase of the waterfowl seasons.

2. through 5. No change.

(12) through (13) No change.

(14) Andrews Wildlife Management Area.

(a) No change.

(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. The bag limit for deer shall be one per quota permit. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with two or more points is prohibited, except by persons less than 16 years of age. During the family hunt, only wild hog and furbearers may be taken. During the supervised deer-hog youth hunt, only antlered deer, antlerless deer by antlerless anterless deer permit only, and wild hog may be taken. Wild hog may not be taken during the small game season. During the wild hog-still season, only wild hog may be taken. Gobblers or bearded turkeys may be taken during spring turkey season from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

(c) through (d) No change.

(15) No change.

(16) Twin Rivers Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Archery – Opening 42 days prior to the first day of Zone C antlered deer season established by Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C., and closing 6 days thereafter, and reopening 1 day later and closing 6 8 days thereafter and reopening 1 day later and closing 6 days thereafter.

2. through 8. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(17) No change.

(18) Jennings Forest Wildlife Management Area

(a) Open season:

1. through 3. No change.

4. Bird dog training – Opening 16 days after the first firest day of Zone C antlered deer season established by Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C., and closing 27 days thereafter in the quail enhancement area and in the Normandy Unit only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from October through January; except that bird dog training is prohibited during the archery season.

5. through 13. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(19) No change.

(20) Goethe Wildlife Management Area.

(a) No change.

(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with two or more points is prohibited, except by persons less than 16 years of age. During the family hunt, the bag limit for deer shall be one antlered and one antlerless anterless deer per quota permit.

(c) through (d) No change.

(21) Citrus Wildlife Management Area.

(a) No change.

(b) Legal to take: All legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers. During the archery season, take of antlerless deer shall be by antlerless anterless deer permit only. Taking of antlered deer not having at least one antler with two or more points is prohibited, except by persons less than 16 years of age. Turkey may be taken only during the spring turkey season when one gobbler or bearded turkey may be taken per quota permit.

(c) through (d) No change.

(22) Flying Eagle Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 3. No change.

4. Small game – Opening 20 13 days after the first day of Zone C antlered deer season established by Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C., and closing 2 days thereafter, reopening 19 5 days later and closing 2 days thereafter, and reopening 1 day prior to the veterans and active military waterfowl hunt established by Rule 68A-13.003, 19 days later and closing 2 days thereafter.

5. through 8. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(23) Potts Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 6. No change.

7. Trapping – Prohibited.

(b) through (d) No change.

(24) No change

(25) Devil’s Hammock Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 9. No change.

10. Trapping – Prohibited.

11. renumbered 10. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(26) No change.

(27) Middle Aucilla Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 6. No change.

7. Trapping: Prohibited.

8. through 9. renumbered 7. through 8. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(28) Little River Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 8. No change.

9. Trapping – Prohibited.

(b) through (d) No change.

(29) No change.

(30) Bayard Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 3. No change.

4. Wild hog-still – Opening 33 34 days after the last day of the Zone C antlered deer season established by Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C., and closing 2 days thereafter.

5. through 7. No change.

8. Trapping – Prohibited.

9. renumbered 8. No change.

(b) through (c) No change.

(d) General regulations:

1. through 4. No change.

5. Public access is allowed year-round, except during quota hunts in Areas 2, 3, and 4 when only individuals authorized to participate in a hunt may access Areas 2, 3 and 4 and during the youth turkey hunt when one non-hunting guest per quota permit may also access Areas 2, 3 and 4.

6. through 7. No change.

8. Motor vehicle access is prohibited during small game season and periods closed to hunting, but is allowed only by individuals participating in the hunts and only during archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, wild hog-still, and spring turkey seasons and the weekend and the day before each archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, and wild hog-still hunt and the day before each spring turkey hunt.

9. through 10. No change.

11. Taking wildlife with centerfire rifles is prohibited during small game season.

(31) No change.

(32) Steinhatchee Springs Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 7. No change.

8. Trapping – Prohibited.

9. through 10. renumbered 8. through 9. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(33) No change.

(34) Ralph E. Simmons Memorial Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 6. No change.

7. Trapping – Prohibited.

8. through 10. renumbered 7. through 9. No change.

(b) Legal to take: All legal game, bear (only during those portions of the muzzleloading gun season that coincide with the open season established for the North BMU in Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C), fish, frogs and furbearers. 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 and general gun for mobility-impaired seasons and the family hunt, the bag limit for deer shall be one antlered and one antlerless anterless deer per quota permit. During the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons, the bag limit for deer shall be one antlered deer per person, but no more than two deer per quota permit. During the general gun for mobility-impaired season only certified mobility-impaired hunters may take antlerless deer.

(c) through (d). No change.

(35) No change

(36) Belmore Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 5. No change.

6. Trapping – Prohibited.

7. through 10. renumbered 6. through 9. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(37)  Four Creeks Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 6. No change.

7. Trapping – Prohibited.

8. through 11. renumbered 7. through 10. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(38) Hatchet Creek Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 6. No change.

7. Trapping – Prohibited.

8. through 10. renumbered 7. through 9. No change. 

(b) through (c) No change.

(d) General regulations:

1. through 5. No change.

6. Vehicular access is allowed only by individuals participating in the hunts and only on hunt days, the day before each hunt, and the weekend before the archery and muzzleloading gun seasons and the family hunt.

7. No change.

8. Public access is allowed year-round except during quota hunts when only individuals authorized to participate in a hunt may access the area and during the family and youth turkey hunts when one non-hunting guest per quota permit may also access the area.

9. No change.

(39) Log Landing Wildlife Management Area.

(a) Open season:

1. through 3. No change.

4. Trapping – Prohibited.

5. through 9. renumbered 4. through 8. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(40) Thomas Creek Wildlife Management Area – Kings Road Unit.

(a) Open season:

1. through 5. No change.

6. Trapping – Prohibited.

7. through 9. renumbered 6. through 8. No change. 

(b) through (c) No change.

(d) General regulations:

1. through 2. No change.

3. Vehicles may be operated only on named or numbered roads, except during small game season when vehicles are prohibited on the area except at designated parking areas and during quota hunts when only individuals authorized to participate in a hunt may operate a vehicle on the area.

4. through 5. No change.

6. Public access is allowed year-round except during quota hunts when only individuals authorized to participate in a hunt may access the access the area and during the family and youth turkey hunts when one non-hunting guest per quota permit may also access the area.

7. through 8. No change.

PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. 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, 7-1-85, 2-16-86, 5-7-86, 6-10-86, 11-27-86, 5-10-87, 5-1-88, 6-7-88, 7-1-89, 8-17-89, 7-1-90, 9-1-90, 7-1-91, 7-2-91, 7-1-92, 7-2-92, 8-23-92, 10-22-92, 7-1-93, 7-1-94, 2-9-95, 7-1-95, 7-1-96, 9-15-96, 6-1-97, 7-1-98, 7-2-98, 7-1-99, Formerly 39-15.062, Amended 12-9-99, 7-1-00, 7-1-01, 11-11-01, 6-2-02, 10-16-02, 5-25-03, 7-7-03, 9-29-03, 7-1-04, 8-1-04, 7-1-05, 8-1-05, 7-1-06, 7-2-06, 7-1-07, 7-5-07, 7-1-08, 7-1-09, 7-20-09, 7-1-10, 7-1-11, 7-1-12, 10-9-12, 7-1-13, 7-1-14, 8-26-14, 7-1-15, 7-29-15, 7-1-16, 7-1-17, 9-1-17, 7-1-18, 7-1-19, 7-1-20, 7-1-21, 7-1-22, 7-1-23.

 

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: November 30, 2022

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: November 08, 2022