Summary


The proposed rule changes would adjust season dates to conform to calendar year changes and revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the South Region as follows: Holey Land WMA – The proposed rule change would allow for the transfer of general gun-vehicle permits and deer tags by FWC law enforcement supervisors or their designees in the case of a disabled track vehicle. Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA – The proposed rule change would allow for the transfer of general gun-vehicle permits and deer tags by FWC law enforcement supervisors or their designees in the case of a disabled track vehicle or airboat. Rotenberger WMA – The proposed rule change would allow for the transfer of general gun-vehicle permits and deer tags by FWC law enforcement supervisors or their designees in the case of a disabled track vehicle. Picayune Strand WMA – The proposed rule change would expand the migratory bird hunting season to match the statewide season. Allapattah Flats WMA – The proposed rule would establish regulations for the new WMA with the following open seasons: 7-day and 9-day archery; 3-day muzzleloading gun; 4-day family hunt; 5-day general gun; 58-day small game; 4-day and 5-day spring turkey; and fishing – throughout the year. It would establish as legal to take all legal game, hogs, fish, and furbearers (except bobcat and otter) with no size or bag limit on hogs, allow turkey to be taken during spring turkey season only, and establish a bag limit of one per quota permit for deer and wild turkey. It would establish the following hunter quotas: archery – 50 by archery/ muzzleloading gun quota application for each hunt, no exemptions; muzzleloading gun – 50 by archery/ muzzleloading gun quota application, no exemptions; family hunt – 25 by family hunt quota application, no exemptions; general gun – 50 by general gun quota application, no exemptions; spring turkey – 20 by spring turkey quota application for each hunt, no exemptions. It would allow tent camping and fires at designated sites; allow vehicles to be operated only on named or numbered roads year-round; allow vehicles to be operated on numbered trails during archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt, general gun, and spring turkey seasons by persons possessing a valid quota permit; prohibit tracked vehicles, swamp buggies, airboats, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles; require all hunters to check in and out when entering and exiting the area at a designated entrance and to check all game taken; prohibit the dismemberment of deer until checked at a check station; prohibit the take of wildlife with dogs, except with bird dogs or retrievers during the small game season; allow horses on named equestrian trails and designated equestrian areas only and allow shotguns only during small game season.