The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to retain a daily bag limit of one per day for wild turkey on wildlife management areas to aid in distributing harvest of the resource among different individuals where the Commission regulates hunter ...

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

68A-15.004General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to retain a daily bag limit of one per day for wild turkey on wildlife management areas to aid in distributing harvest of the resource among different individuals where the Commission regulates hunter access; and keep the season when bobcat may be harvested on wildlife management areas as December 1 through March 1. The effect of the proposed rule amendment would maintain a daily bag limit of one turkey per day and allow the harvest of bobcat from December 1 through March 1 on wildlife management areas.

SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendment would maintain a daily limit of one turkey per day on wildlife management areas to aid in distributing the harvest among different individuals where the Commission regulates hunter access; and clarify that bobcat may only be harvested from December 1 through March 1.

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.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution n; Sections 379.2223, 379.354, Florida Statutes.

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

DATE AND TIME: During the Commission’s regular meeting February 12 - 13, 2014, 8:30 a.m. − 5:00 p.m., each day

PLACE: Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Tampa Airport – Westshore, 4500 West Cypress Street, Tampa, FL 33607

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: 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-15.004 General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas.

(1) No change.

(2) Permits required:

(a) A wildlife management area permit as provided by Section 379.353 379.354, F.S., in addition to all regular license requirements, is required for persons, except those exempted in subsection (3) hereof, to take wildlife on a wildlife management area.

(b) through (d) No change.

(3) No change.

(4) Legal to hunt:

(a) Turkeys may not be taken during any fall season in which firearms may be used unless otherwise provided for a specific area. Notwithstanding provisions in Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C., turkeys of either sex may be taken during muzzleloading and general gun seasons as specifically provided by area rule. During periods in which the taking of turkey is allowed, the daily bag limit for turkey shall be one per day unless otherwise provided by specific area regulation. The hours in which the hunting of gobblers or bearded turkeys is permitted during the spring season shall be from one-half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.

(b) through (f) No change.

(g) Notwithstanding the provisions in Rule 68A-24.002, the take of bobcat with a gun is prohibited from March 2 through March 31. Fox squirrels may not be taken.

(h) through (j) No change.

(5) through (16) No change.

PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2014

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 379.2223, 379.354 FS. History–New 8-1-79, Amended 6-4-81, 6-21-82, 6-9-83, 9-27-83, 7-5-84, 7-1-85, Formerly 39-15.04, Amended 5-7-86, 5-10-87, 4-13-88, 8-18-88, 4-19-90, 4-4-91, 4-14-92, 10-22-92, 7-26-94, 11-6-94, 3-30-95, 10-23-95, 9-15-96, 6-1-97, 7-1-98, 12-28-98, 4-15-99, Formerly 39-15.004, Amended 7-1-00, 6-2-02, 5-1-03, 7-1-04, 7-1-05, 7-1-06, 7-29-07, 7-1-08, 7-1-09, 7-1-10, 1-1-11, 5-2-12, 4-9-13, 7-1-14.

 

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: 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: November 20, 2013

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: January 8, 2014