68A-13.007. Hunting Regulations on Public Small-Game Hunting Areas

(1) Public small-game hunting areas shall be established and regulated as follows:

(a) All areas for public small-game hunting shall be posted as a wildlife management area.

(b) Specific small-game hunting areas shall be established by order of the executive director, and regulations for these specific areas that differ from the general regulations as set forth in this rule shall be established by posting on the area and through publishing in a newspaper of general circulation or through notice by broadcasting in an electronic media.

(c) Establishment and regulation will be dependent upon conditions existing for specific areas at the time when small-game hunting is allowed statewide.

(2) The general regulations for public small-game hunting areas shall be as follows:

(a) Legal game for each public small-game hunting area shall be as identified in the specific area regulations. Legal game shall be limited to small game, non-protected birds, frogs, and all legal fish, except that wild hogs may be included as legal game when necessary for management purposes, and alligators and alligator eggs and hatchlings may be established as legal to take pursuant to Rules 68A-25.031, 68A-25.032 and 68A-25.042, F.A.C.

(b) A daily use permit shall be required for hunting on any public small-game hunting area unless excepted by specific area regulations.

(c) Vehicles may be operated only on named and numbered roads and may be parked only in designated parking areas. Vehicles may not be operated on named and numbered roads designated by area regulations as closed to vehicular traffic or temporarily closed by administrative action and posting notice of such on those roads because of inclement weather, poor road conditions, construction or management activities or wildlife surveys.

(d) Dogs may be used for hunting during open seasons unless prohibited by specific area regulation. Dogs may be possessed, under physical restraint only, during any period in which the taking of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited.

(e) Shooting hours for ducks, geese, coots, and mourning and white-winged doves – During the shooting hours established pursuant to Rules 68A-13.003 and 68A-13.008, F.A.C., unless otherwise provided by area-specific regulation. Shooting hours for other legal game shall be provided by specific area regulation.

(f) Taking wildlife with firearms other than shotguns is prohibited unless otherwise provided by specific area regulation, except bang sticks are allowed to take alligators by person permitted to take alligators.

(g) Airboats, outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower, tracked vehicles, unregistered and unlicensed motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles are prohibited unless otherwise provided by specific area regulation.

(h) Construction or use of permanent blinds or structures is prohibited.

(i) Tampering with or destruction of equipment, improvements, and water control structures is prohibited.

(j) Public access is prohibited in portions of public hunting areas that are posted as “Closed” or “Restricted.”

(k) Releasing wildlife of any species is prohibited unless authorized by permit from the executive director.

(l) Fishing and general public access are permitted as provided by specific area regulation.

(m) Camping is permitted only in designated camp sites.

(n) A management area permit as provided by Section 379.354, F.S., in addition to all regular license requirements, is required for persons, except those persons exempted by Section 379.354, F.S.; persons engaging in activities pursuant to Rule 68A-9.007, 68A-25.032 or 68A-25.042, F.A.C.; or by Order of the Executive Director; to take wildlife on a Public Small Game Hunting Area.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 10-4-82, Formerly 39-13.07, Amended 7-1-89, 7-1-96, Formerly 39-13.007, Amended 4-30-00, 7-1-06, 7-1-08, 7-1-09, 7-1-23.