Summary


The proposed rule changes would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) as follows: Lake Wales Ridge WEA – Royce Unit – establish two new wild hog weekend hunts (quota of 20 per hunt, no exemptions); establish two new 3-day archery hunts (quota of 10 per hunt, no exemptions); delete the quota permit requirement for small game season; and no longer require hunters to check in and out or check game at the check station. Suwannee Ridge WEA – allow dogs on leashes for trailing wounded game and eliminate the fishing season. CREW WEA – establish a 28-day small game season; prohibit the take of bobcat and otter; and allow the take of wildlife with dogs only during general gun and small game seasons. John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland – extend the small game season from 16 days to 30 days; expand the migratory game bird season to match the statewide season; change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having three or more points on at least one antler, each point one inch or more in length; and allow motorized vehicles on named or numbered roads and in designated parking areas unless otherwise posted as closed. John G. and Susan H. Dupuis, Jr. – allow the mobility-impaired season to start prior to general gun season; allow the take of migratory birds during migratory bird season when it coincides with the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, general gun for mobility-impaired, and small game seasons; allow registered and licensed motorcycles; and eliminate the quotas for the general gun hog hunts. Southern Glades WEA – establish a 114-day small game season. The proposed rule changes would simplify and standardize regulations related to the take of wild hogs on WEAs by area specific rule; liberalize regulations related to the possession of firearms, in accordance with Florida Statutes; and provide non-substantive technical changes, such as grammatical corrections, language standardization, or clarification of an existing rule.