The purpose of the proposed rule change is to establish bag limits for taking ducks in conformance with federal regulations. The daily bag limit for canvasbacks is accordingly increased from one to two. The effect of this rule amendment is to allow ...

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
68A-13.003: Hunting Regulations for Ducks, Geese, and Coots
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule change is to establish bag limits for taking ducks in conformance with federal regulations. The daily bag limit for canvasbacks is accordingly increased from one to two. The effect of this rule amendment is to allow a larger harvest of these birds, but within safe levels to assure their conservation.
SUMMARY: Subparagraph (1)(f)1. of Rule 68A-13.003, F.A.C., is amended to increase the daily bag limit for canvasbacks from one to two.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
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.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: During the regular meeting of the Commission, December 5-6, 2007, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., each day
PLACE: Marriott Key Largo, 103800 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida
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: James Antista, General Counsel, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

       68A-13.003 Hunting Regulations for Ducks, Geese, and Coots.

The Commission has approved the following regulations and bag limits for taking ducks, geese, and coots:

       (1) Duck, light goose, and coot season:

       (a) through (e) No change.

       (f) Limits: The possession limit for ducks and coots shall be two days’ bag limit. There shall be no possession limit for light geese. Light geese include only snow (including blue) and Ross’ geese.

       1. Ducks: The daily bag limit for ducks is six, including no more than four mallards, of which only two can be females, two scaup, four scoters, two wood ducks, two redheads, one pintail, two one canvasbacks, one black duck, one Florida duck (mottled duck), and one fulvous whistling-duck. In addition to the daily bag limit for ducks, the daily bag limit for mergansers is five, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.

       2. Light geese: The daily bag limit for light geese is 15.

       3. Coots: The daily bag limit for coots is 15.

       (2) through (5) No change.

Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 8-1-79, Amended 10-23-79, 8-19-80, 9-29-81, 8-30-82, 7-27-83, 8-13-84, 8-13-85, 10-1-85, Formerly 39-13.03, Amended 8-5-86, 8-24-87, 8-18-88, 12-12-88, 8-17-89, 10-30-89, 8-9-90, 10-31-90, 8-22-91, 10-31-91, 8-23-92, 10-22-92, 9-2-93, 10-28-93, 11-6-94, 10-23-95, 10-20-96, 8-7-97, 10-28-97, 11-12-98, 6-23-99, Formerly 39-13.003, Amended 11-7-00, 5-13-02, 5-1-03, 7-1-04, 7-1-05, 2-1-06, 7-1-06, 1-9-07,_______.

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 FAW.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Mr. Nick Wiley, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management
NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Mr. Kenneth D. Haddad, Executive Director
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 12, 2007
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: November 22, 2006.