Summary
The proposed rule amendment would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on WMAs in the South Region as follows:
Big Cypress WMA, Stairsteps (Zones 1-3) and Loop units only - establish that only deer having at least one antler with 4 or more points can be harvested; prohibit hunting with guns other than bows during the general gun season; and establish a bag limit for deer of 1 annually in the Stairsteps and Loop units combined.
Dinner Island Ranch WMA – within posted dove fields, remove daily quota requirement for dove hunts during Phase 2 and 3 of the statewide dove season. A daily quota will still be required during Phase 1 dove field hunts.
Fisheating Creek WMA – during special-opportunity spring turkey hunts (east of U.S. 27 only) the legal shooting hours for turkey hunting shall remain ½ hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.; and during spring turkey quota hunts (west of U.S. 27 only), allow harvested turkeys to be divided in the field provided each portion shall be tagged with the date/time of harvest and the name, address, and hunting license number (if required) of the person that harvested the game. Each portion of the divided turkey would be readily traceable to evidence of the birds sex identification.
Picayune Strand WMA – allow use of swamp buggies and ROVs during quota hunts and associated scouting periods, but only for hunters (and their guests) having a valid quota permit; and limit swamp buggy and ROV access to roads designated by Florida Forest Service within that portion of the area east of Miller Blvd.
Additionally, the proposed rule amendment would provide non-substantive technical changes, such as grammatical corrections, language standardization, or clarification of an existing rule.