Summary
The proposed rule amendment would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Northeast Region as follows:
Caravelle Ranch WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt south of the Cross Florida Barge Canal only (quota of 10, no exemptions) with a bag limit of one turkey per quota permit; allow only tents, trailers and self-propelled camping vehicles to be used for camping; and allow authorized camping equipment and camping for no more than 14 days within a 30-day period; and prohibit the take of dove south of Rodeheaver Road and east of State Road 19, except on the special-opportunity dove fields by persons in possession of current and valid special-opportunity dove permits.
Charles H. Bronson WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (quota of 10, no exemptions) with a bag limit of one turkey per quota permit.
Etoniah Creek WMA – establish wild hog as legal to take during small game season.
Fort McCoy WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (Recreational Use Permit required).
Guana River WMA – prohibit horses during spring turkey season.
Half Moon WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (quota of 30, no exemptions) with a bag limit of one turkey per quota permit.
Herky Huffman / Bull Creek WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (no quota permit required) and require persons to enter and exit at a designated entrance.
Jumper Creek WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (no quota permit required).
Lake George WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (quota of 25, no exemptions).
Lake Panasoffkee WMA – establish a 3-day wild hog-dog hunt in February (quota 35; no exemptions); and remove the limitation of one gun per hunting party during the wild hog-dog season.
Little Big Econ WMA – require persons to enter and exit at a designated entrance.
Ocala WMA – clarify that motorized vehicles are allowed only on designated, named or numbered roads and mixed-used roads, except all-terrain vehicles are allowed only on designated motorized trails and mixed-use roads; establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt on the Lake Delancy Unit (quota of 40, no exemptions) with a bag limit of one turkey per quota permit; allow the take of catfish by bow and arrow in Salt Springs Run; and increase the quota for muzzleloading gun on the Church Lake Unit from 225 to 250.
Ocklawaha River WMA, Gores Landing – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (quota of 5, no exemptions) with a bag limit of one turkey per quota permit.
Relay WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (Recreational Use Permit required).
Richloam WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (no quota permit required).
Richloam WMA, Baird Unit – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (quota of 30, no exemptions).
Salt Lake WMA – remove the limitation of one gun per hunting party during the wild hog-dog season.
Seminole Ranch WMA – remove the limitation of one gun per hunting party during the wild hog-dog season.
Three Lakes WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (no quota permit required).
Three Lakes WMA, Prairie Lakes Unit – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (quota of 15, no exemptions) with a bag limit of one turkey per quota permit.
Tiger Bay WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (quota of 10, no exemptions).
Tiger Bay WMA, Rima Ridge Unit – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (quota of 10, no exemptions) with a bag limit of one turkey per quota permit.
Tosohatchee WMA – remove the limitation of one gun per hunting party during the wild hog-dog season.
Twelve Mile Swamp WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (Recreational Use Permit required).
Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (no quota permit required).
Additionally proposed rule amendment would provide non-substantive technical changes, such as grammatical corrections and language standardization. There are also proposed changes to some hunting seasons on FWC-managed areas in an effort to better align season dates with times of peak deer activity associated with the breeding season and other hunter preferences.