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
Lafayette Forest WEA – allow the use of horses on the area.
Watermelon Pond WEA – establish a 2-day youth spring turkey hunt (quota of 5, no exemptions); allow the use of dogs on leashes.
Northwest Region
Apalachicola River WEA – increase the wild hog-dog hunting opportunity by removing the quota permit requirement, allow hunting wild hogs with dogs 24 hours a day, and expand the hunt area to include the portion of the area west of the Apalachicola River, west of the East River and south of Sam’s Creek Cut-off.
L. Kirk Edwards WEA – move all deer hunts later in the year to better coincide with the rut; in the area east of Chaires Cross Road, move the first small game hunt to occur during the opening weekend of duck, light goose, and coot season and move all other small game hunts one weekend later; add the opening weekend of special September duck season in the area east of Chaires Cross Road.
South Region
John G. and Susan H. Dupuis WEA – require hunters to check in, check out, and check harvested game only during periods when the check station is staffed; and require deer, wild hog, and turkey to be checked at a check station before being dismembered only during periods when the check station is staffed.
CREW WEA – require hunters to check in, check out, and check harvested game only during periods when the check station is staffed; and require deer and turkey to be checked at a check station before being dismembered only during periods when the check station is staffed.
John C. and Mariana Jones / Hungryland WEA – require hunters to check in, check out, and check harvested game only during periods when the check station is staffed; and require deer and turkey to be checked at a check station before being dismembered only during periods when the check station is staffed.
Additionally, the proposed rule amendment would provide non-substantive technical changes, such as grammatical corrections, language standardization, or clarification of an existing rule.