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Meeting Agenda

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING AGENDA

	Time:	8:30 a.m.
	Dates:	February 6-7, 2008
	Place:	Bay Point Marriott Resort 4200 Marriott Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 Phone: (850) 236-6000 Fax: (850) 236-6150

THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

All interested individuals may speak at workshops or meetings of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) within the guidelines established by the Commission. In order to ensure the public's opportunity to be heard and the orderly conduct of the meeting, the Chairman reserves the right to establish a time for adjournment of the workshop or meeting, to limit the time for speakers, and to limit the time allotted for specific agenda items.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting should notify the agency at least five calendar days before the meeting by calling (850) 488-6411. If hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency by calling (850) 488-9542.

Agenda items listed under headings other than "Rules" may be moved by the Chairman to different days of the meeting to accommodate scheduling problems.

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Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.

8:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 6

Meeting Opening
1. Call to Order
2. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
3. Introduction of local FWC staff
Adoption of Agenda
1. Review and Approval of December 5-6, 2007 Commission Meeting Minutes (Background Report 1/30/08)
2. Approval of Consent Agenda (Attached)
3. Approval of Agenda
Executive Director's Report
Items Requiring Action
1. Final Rules
  1. Wildlife, Alligator, and Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Rules (Background Report 1/11/08) (Background Report 2/5/08)
    ********Group 1 - Statewide Fish and Wildlife Regulations********
    1. 68A-1.004, Definitions-The proposed rule would clarify the definition of a muzzleloading gun; define nuisance wildlife as that which causes or is about to cause property damage, presents a threat to public safety or causes an annoyance within, under or upon a building; redefine a wild hog as a hog that is free-roaming and cannot be legally claimed as a domestic hog in private ownership; clarify that all freshwater fish are defined as non-game fish, except grass carp and fish defined as freshwater game fish; delete the reference to redeyed bass and define shoal bass as Micropterus cataractae.
    2. 68A-4.001, General Prohibitions-The proposed rule changes would clarify the regulation to prohibit the feeding of bears, fox, and raccoon only when it causes a public nuisance. The current rule, as written, makes the simple act of feeding these species a public nuisance. Feeding pelicans will be prohibited when it is determined to be detrimental to their health. Intentional feeding of sandhill cranes will be prohibited. "Internet hunting" or hunting via remote control methods will be prohibited by persons not physically present at the location of the gun.
    3. 68A-4.002, Possession of Gun While Using a Light Prohibited-The proposed rule would reference exceptions for the use of guns and lights provided for in other Commission rules and provide for concealed weapons permit holders to possess handguns for personal safety.
    4. 68A-4.007, Exclusion of Certain Areas from Open Season-The proposed rule change would update a reference to the former agency name.
    5. 68A-9.008, Permits for Physically Disabled-The proposed rule changes would remove "permanently required to use assisting aids to walk" from the list of qualifying medical conditions and clarify that single-leg amputations must be above the knee for those persons seeking certification as mobility-impaired. All persons currently certified as mobility-impaired will maintain their certification, unless their certification was obtained inappropriately. The proposed rule change would also incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification.
    6. 68A-9.010, Taking Nuisance Wildlife (New)-The proposed rule would clarify, standardize and in some instances liberalize the take of nuisance wildlife by a private property owner, airport property personnel or lead manager of public land or their designee; remove the registration requirement for nuisance wildlife trappers; simplify and consolidate the method of take and the listing of species which may not be taken as nuisance wildlife without additional permits; specify that prohibited methods of take shall be as provided in the cruelty to animal statute (Section 828.12, Florida Statutes); allow the incidental take of bats when using excluding devices or repellants; clarify that the use of registered pesticides or rodenticides is allowed when used according to label; allow off-site transportation of live-trapped nuisance wildlife for the purpose of euthanasia; and reduce the limitations for harassing wildlife around airports.
    7. 68A-27.002, Provision for Harassment of Endangered, Threatened and Species of Special Concern on Airport Property-The proposed rule would provide reference to the proposed new nuisance wildlife rule (68A-9.010) regarding how certain wildlife conflicts may be addressed on airport property for public safety reasons.
    8. 68A-11.003, Use of Motorboats on Certain Waters; Permits-The proposed rule changes would remove the current prohibition on internal-combustion engines during the Youth Waterfowl Hunt on Lake Iamonia and Carr Lake in Leon County and Lake Miccosukee in Leon and Jefferson counties. The proposed rule would also increase the size of engines that can be used on Lake Miccosukee during the duck and coot season from 5 to 10 horsepower. The proposed rule change would also incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification.
    9. 68A-12.002, General Methods of Taking Game; Prohibitions-The proposed rule would allow the possession of guns in accordance with Chapter 790, F.S.; clarify the current requirement that a wild turkey may not be taken if the hunter is within 100 yards of a feeding station when feed is present; clarifies that "feed" is corn, wheat, grain or any other food or substance that has been deposited by other than normal agricultural harvesting or planting; and clarifies references to "game feeder" and "game feeding station."
    10. 68A-12.007, Hunting Dogs; Molesting Game in Closed Season; Training; Field Trials; Prohibited for Certain Hunting-The proposed rule change would allow a person participating in a deer dog training season to be in possession of a gun, but the take of wildlife with a gun would be prohibited.
    11. 68A-12.009, Taking Destructive Birds and Mammals-The proposed rule change would delete this entire rule and relocate these regulations in addition to other nuisance wildlife regulations into new rule 68A-9.010, Taking Nuisance Wildlife.
    12. 68A-13.003, Hunting Regulations for Ducks, Geese, and Coots-The proposed rule changes would expand the area open for Canada goose season to include the entire state of Florida. Falconers would be allowed to take light geese and Canada geese statewide.
    13. 68A-13.004, Open Season for Taking and Bag Limits for Non-Migratory Game and Issuance of Antlerless Deer Permits-The proposed rule would increase the spring turkey season in Holmes County from 3 days to 16 days with no change in the bag limit and strike a reference to a rule that is proposed for deletion and no longer necessary. The proposed rule change would also incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification.
    14. 68A-24.002, Methods of Taking Fur-Bearing Animals; Possession; Open Season-The proposed rule would allow the possession of guns in accordance with Chapter 790, F.S. during seasons for chasing certain furbearer species but would not allow use of guns to take these furbearer species.
    15. 68A-24.005, Transporting and Shipping Live Raccoons-A proposed new rule, 68A-9.010, contains a provision to allow the transportation of nuisance wildlife, including raccoons, for the purpose of euthanasia; however, 68A-24.005 currently prohibits the transportation of wild-trapped raccoons. The proposed rule would allow off-site transportation of live-trapped nuisance raccoons for the purpose of euthanasia.
    ********Group 2 - Statewide Regulations for Public Hunting Areas and Shooting Ranges ********
    1. 68A-9.004, Permits for Hunting or Other Recreational Use on Wildlife Management Areas-The proposed rule would increase the price for Recreational Use Permits on the following WMAs: Grove Park from $325 to $475, Ft. McCoy from $200 to $350, Relay from $275 to $425, Twelve Mile Swamp from $425 to $525 and Blue Water Creek from $200 to $325.
    2. 68A-9.007, Special-use Permits; Short-term Use Permits; Fees: Special-Opportunity Hunting and Fishing-The proposed rule changes will clarify the daily-use permit exemption for persons hiking the Florida Trail and limit that exemption to through-hikers; casual users (day hikers) will be required to obtain the required daily-use permit at Three Lakes and J.W. Corbett WMAs and the price for a daily use permit will increase from $3 per vehicle to $4 per person at Tosohatchee WMA.
    3. 68A-13.007, Regulations on Public Small-game Hunting Areas-The proposed rule would allow the possession of guns pursuant to Chapter 790, F.S., subject to state and federal law, provided the gun is securely encased in a vehicle, vessel, camper or tent during periods when the take of wildlife with the gun is prohibited; and require hunters to possess a management area permit when hunting on Public Small-Game Hunting Areas.
    4. 68A-14.001, Establishment Orders-The proposed rule would delete the reference to wild hog areas and add a reference to Commission managed shooting ranges.
    5. 68A-14.0011, Opening or Closing Areas Other Than Restricted Hunting Areas, Bird Sanctuaries or Critical Wildlife Areas; General-The proposed rule would delete the reference to wild hog areas. The rule, which establishes wild hog areas, is proposed to be deleted.
    6. 68A-15.004, General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas-The proposed rule changes would allow the possession of guns on WMAs in accordance with Chapter 790, F.S., subject to state and federal law, provided the guns are securely encased in a vehicle, vessel, camper or tent during periods when the take of wildlife with a gun is prohibited; allow wild hogs to be taken from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset during any season open for the taking of game mammals or wild hogs, with no size or bag limit unless otherwise provided by area specific rule, use only methods of take allowed for the taking of game mammals, and not transport wild hogs alive; prohibit target practice except at a shooting range or Commission sponsored event; and allow the take of non-protected mammals during any season open for the take of game mammals with no size or bag limit, unless otherwise provided by area specific rule.
    7. 68A -15.005, Quota Permits; Antlerless Deer Permits; Special-Opportunity Permits-The proposed rule changes would revise regulations related to quota permits as follows: (1) Clarify when quota permits are required to hunt on WMAs and Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs). (2) Allow a youth, Mentor License supervisor, or disabled hunter assistant to enter those areas, which restrict access to quota permit holders only. (3) Allow a youth, or Mentor License holder and their respective supervisors to participate in any quota hunt, provided at least one hunter has a quota permit and both hunters share a single bag limit. (4) Allow the assistant of a mobility-impaired hunter to participate in the hunt, but not take game with a gun, unless provided by area specific rule. (5) Standardize rule language regarding the family hunt and remove unnecessary references to the family hunt.
    8. 68A-17.004, General Regulations Relating to Wildlife and Environmental Areas-The proposed rule changes would allow the possession of guns on WEAs in accordance with Chapter 790, F.S., subject to state and federal law, provided the guns are securely encased in a vehicle, vessel, camper or tent during periods when the take of wildlife with a gun is prohibited; allow wild hogs to be taken from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset during any season open for the taking of game mammals or wild hogs, with no size or bag limit unless provided by area specific rule, using only methods of take allowed for the taking of game mammals, and not transport wild hogs alive; prohibit target practice except at a shooting range or Commission sponsored event; and allow the take of non-protected mammals during any season open for the taking of game mammals with no size or bag limit, unless otherwise provided by area specific rule.
    9. 68A-18.004, Regulations in Wildlife Refuges-The proposed rule changes would allow the possession of guns on Commission established state wildlife refuges, provided guns are not used for taking wildlife
    10. 68A-21.002, Establishment-The proposed rule would delete all rules regarding the establishment of wild hog areas. The entire chapter on wild hog areas is proposed for deletion.
    11. 68A-21.004, General Regulations Relating to Wild Hog Areas-The proposed rule would delete all rules regarding wild hog area general regulations. The entire chapter on wild hog areas is proposed for deletion.
    12. 68A-31.001, Regulations Relating to Commission Managed Shooting Ranges (New)-The proposed rule would prohibit the possession of open containers of intoxicating beverages; allow public access on unsupervised ranges from sunrise to sunset; allow public access on supervised shooting ranges as established by order of the Executive Director; and prohibit unsafe or destructive shooting.
    ********Group 3 - Southwest Region Public Hunting Areas ********
    1. 68A-15.006, Regulations Relating to Miscellaneous Areas-The proposed rule would remove reference to wild hog areas and revise specific area regulations on miscellaneous areas as follows:
      1. Kissimmee River Public Use Area-The proposed rule changes would allow the possession of guns in accordance with Chapter 790, F.S., subject to legal agreements, state law and federal law, provided the guns are securely encased in a vehicle, vessel, camper or tent during periods when the take of wildlife with a gun is prohibited; clarify rules related to wild hogs (the proposal will not reduce any opportunity, just standardize the regulations) which allow wild hogs to be taken from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset during any season open for the taking of game mammals, with no size or bag limit, use only methods of take allowed for the taking of game mammals, and not transport wild hogs alive; prohibit target practice except at a shooting range or Commission sponsored event; allow the take of non-protected mammals during any season open for the taking of game mammals, with no size or bag limit; prohibit the driving of metal objects into trees; and prohibit the distribution of food for wildlife.
    2. 68A-15.061, Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Area - Southwest Region-The proposed rule changes would incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification and would revise or establish specific area regulations on WMAs as follows:
      1. Arbuckle WMA - change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length; prohibit the use of centerfire rifles for taking wild turkey during the spring turkey season; move the muzzleloading gun season from November to December; and convert the general gun hog season to a small game season with no quota and allow the take of wild hog.
      2. Chassahowitzka WMA - allow camping by permit at Ryle Creek for persons paddling segment 7 of the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail; establish a new general gun hog-dog season consisting of two, 3-day hunts (quota of 75 and each permit would allow one gun, two hunters and three dogs); split the existing 9-day spring turkey season (currently a 4-day and 5-day hunt) into three, 3-day hunts, and conduct the turkey hunts on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; add geese as legal to take during the waterfowl season; and restrict horses and bicycles to roads and trails, except bicycles will be allowed "off-road" during hunting and scouting periods.
      3. Croom WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles for taking turkey during the spring turkey season; add geese as legal to take during the waterfowl season; and no longer require hunters to check game after the first 9 days of the general gun season.
      4. Green Swamp WMA - allow camping only at designated campsites; require campers to obtain a non-transferable permit for designated campsites; require campers to attach their names and permit numbers to camping equipment; prohibit kitchen stoves, refrigerators and freezers unless contained in mobile campers; prohibit lumber, sheet metal and other building materials; prohibit the operation of generators between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. (create quiet hours); prohibit the possession or consumption of intoxicating beverages; and continue to require deer and wild hog to be checked at the check station, but delete an unnecessary rule that requires them to be marked with a physical tag at the check station.
      5. Hickory Hammock WMA - split the small game season into 2 hunts and start the second hunt (last 42 days) after the close of the zonal general gun season; allow the take of wild hog during the last 42 days of small game season; allow waterfowl hunting all day during duck and coot season; and allow the use of rimfire rifles.
      6. Hilochee WMA - prohibit public access from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise; increase quotas during archery and muzzleloading gun seasons from 5 to 10 quota permits each hunt; increase quota during general gun hog from 30 to 40 each hunt; clarify a rule that prohibits fishing in certain bodies of water; increase the number of fishing permits from 10 to 20; increase fishing opportunity by allowing fishing by permit on Sundays; remove the quota permit requirement for small game season; allow wild hog to be dismembered before being checked at the check station; no longer require hunters to check in or check game during the small game season; close Yancey road during small game season; allow the take of wild hog during small game season; and remove the special-opportunity dove season, rules associated with that season and the quota.
      7. Hilochee WMA - Osprey Unit (NEW) - establish a new wildlife management area with the following open seasons: archery - two 2-day hunts (quota of 40 per hunt, no exemptions); family hunt - 2-day hunt (quota of 15, 1 adult and 2 children per permit, no exemptions); general gun hog-still - 2-day hunt (quota of 40, no exemptions); general gun hog-dog - two 2-day hunts (quota of 10; one gun, two hunters, and three dogs per permit; no exemptions); two 2-day spring turkey hunts (quota of 5, no exemptions); legal to take - all legal game (except deer), fish and furbearers; turkey may be taken only during the spring turkey season; bag limits for fish: no more than 20 bluegill, 10 black crappie and 6 catfish per person; size limits for fish will be no less than 8 inches total length for bluegill and no less than 10 inches total length for black crappie; prohibit public access from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise; require all persons to enter and exit at a designated entrance; prohibit airboats, tracked vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs and outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower; allow horses during non-hunting periods on designated trails and named or numbered roads; allow bicycles year-round; allow motorized vehicle access only during hunts and one day prior by persons with a quota permit; motorized vehicles must enter and exit on Robert L. Tanner Grade; prohibit nets, fish traps, trotlines, set lines, minnow seines, cast nets and bush hooks; allow bird dogs and dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less for the take of small game; and allow dogs of any size during the general gun hog-dog season.
      8. KICCO WMA - allow the use of handguns and rimfire rifles for taking wildlife.
      9. Lake Marion Creek WMA - change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length; add an additional 3-day general gun hog hunt (quota of 50, no exemptions); move the small game season after the general gun hog season and allow the take of wild hog; no longer require wild hog to be checked before quartering; and no longer require hunters to check in or check game during small game season.
      10. Upper Hillsborough WMA - change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length; and continue to require deer, turkey and wild hog to be checked at the check station, but delete an unnecessary rule that requires them to be marked with a physical tag at the check station.
      11. Walk-in-the-Water WMA - expand the muzzleloading gun season from one 3-day hunt to two hunts (4 and 5 days respectively, quota of 25 each hunt, no exemptions); move the muzzleloading gun season from October to December; shorten the small game season from 39 days to 18 days; and no longer require hunters to check in and record all game taken at a check station.
      12. Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA - allow public access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset; and allow the take of furbearers during the archery and general gun seasons.
      13. Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA - Yucca Pens Unit - allow public access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset; allow the take of furbearers during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; increase the number of quota permits for general gun and muzzleloading gun from 30 to 50, each hunt, no exemptions; remove the size and bag limits for wild hog; establish scouting days; allow vehicle access for scouting; and expand the time frame when hunting equipment is allowed on the area.
      14. Additional proposed rule changes would simplify and standardize regulations related to the take of wild hog on WMAs; and liberalize regulations related to the possession of firearms, in accordance with Florida Statutes.
    3. 68A-17.005, Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas- The proposed rule changes would incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification and would revise or establish specific area regulations on WEAs as follows:
      Royce Unit: Lake Wales Ridge - establish two new hog-only weekend hunts (quota of 20 per hunt, no exemptions); establish two new 3-day archery hunts (quota of 10 per hunt, no exemptions); delete quota permit requirement for small game season; and no longer require hunters to check in or check game at the check station.
    ********Group 4 - North Central Region Public Hunting Areas ********
    1. 68A-15.062, Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - North Central Region-TThe proposed rule changes would incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification and would revise or establish specific area regulations on WMAs as follows:
      1. Bayard WMA - allow only tent camping and only at designated sites.
      2. Belmore WMA (NEW) - establish a new WMA (approximately 8,737 acres) with the following open seasons: archery - three 3-day hunts (quota of 45 per hunt, no exemptions); muzzleloading gun - 3-day season (quota of 45, no exemptions); family hunt - 2-day hunt (quota of 20, no exemptions); general gun - one 4-day hunt and one 5-day hunt (quota of 45 per hunt, no exemptions); small game - six 3-day hunts; spring turkey - three 3-day hunts (quota of 10 per hunt, no exemptions); and fishing and frogging throughout the year; legal to take - all legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers; bag limits - archery - one antlered or one antlerless deer per person per permit, family hunt - one antlered and one antlerless deer per permit, muzzleloading gun and general gun - one antlered deer per person per permit per season, spring turkey - one gobbler per person per permit; antlered deer must have at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length; prohibit use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season; allow vehicles only on named or numbered roads; prohibit tracked vehicles, airboats, unlicensed motorcycles and ATVs; prohibit camping; prohibit hunting with dogs except bird dogs allowed during the small game and waterfowl seasons; allow horses and bicycles on roads and designated trails only; prohibit public access from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise and require entry and exit only through designated entrances.
      3. Big Bend WMA, Hickory Mound Unit - require that all persons enter and exit the WMA only at designated entrances; add a section of Swartz Tram (between Cow Creek and J.C. Franklin Grades) open for public use from May 31 through August 31; remove requirement for quota permit after the first 16 days of the general gun season and remove the requirement for a daily permit for waterfowl hunting; and reduce the timeframe when hunters must check all game taken from the entire season to the first 16 days of the archery, general gun and spring turkey seasons.
      4. Big Bend WMA, Jena Unit - eliminate the requirement that hunters check in and out, check all game, and obtain a daily use permit.
      5. Big Bend WMA, Snipe Island Unit - allow trappers to take trapped furbearers with .22s during the trapping season.
      6. Big Bend WMA, Spring Creek Unit - require all persons to enter and exit the WMA only at designated entrances; add roads on which the public could travel year-round; and reduce the timeframe when hunters must check all game taken from the entire season to the first 16 days of the archery, general gun and spring turkey seasons and all days of the muzzleloader gun season.
      7. Big Bend WMA, Tide Swamp Unit - 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 reduce the timeframe when hunters must check all game taken from the entire season to the first 16 days of the archery, general gun and spring turkey seasons and all days of the muzzleloader gun season.
      8. Big Shoals WMA - prohibit taking turkey with centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; eliminate the quota and check-in, checkout requirements during the small game season; and add wild hog as legal to take during the small game season.
      9. Camp Blanding WMA - prohibit hunting from the right-of-way of Dade, Treat and Impact Roads; allow harvest of wild hog (no size or bag limit) during all seasons except spring turkey, and allow the use of bird dogs on the still hunt area after the first 16 days of the general gun season.
      10. Cary WMA - replace five 2-day archery hunts with two 3-day hunts (increase quota from 55 to 60 per hunt), increase muzzleloading gun quota from 55 to 60 per hunt, establish a 2-day family hunt (quota of 40, no exemptions), establish a general gun season with two 3-day hunts (quota of 60 per hunt, no exemptions); eliminate bird dog training season but establish a small game season with six 3-day hunts, and establish a spring turkey season with three 3-day hunts (quota of 10 per hunt, no exemptions); require hunters to enter and exit only at the designated entrance; remove requirement for hunters to check in and out; allow camping at designated sites by permit from the landowner; allow hunting with bird dogs during small game season; and prohibit the use of centerfire rifles.
      11. Citrus WMA - prohibit use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season; and require turkeys to be checked during the spring turkey season.
      12. Cypress Creek WMA - prohibit ATVs.
      13. Devil's Hammock WMA - allow bicycling and horseback riding year-round.
      14. Flying Eagle WMA - provide a non-hunting scouting day before the second hunts of archery, general gun, and spring turkey seasons; and extend scouting hours during the spring turkey season to 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset.
      15. Four Creeks WMA (NEW) - establish a new WMA (approximately 13,147 acres) with the following open seasons: archery - three 3-day hunts (quota of 55 per hunt, no exemptions); muzzleloading gun - 3-day season (quota of 55, no exemptions); family hunt - 2-day hunt (quota of 20, no exemptions); general gun - one 4-day hunt and one 5-day hunt (quota of 55 per hunt, no exemptions); small game - six 3-day hunts; spring turkey - three 3-day hunts (quota of 15 per hunt, no exemptions); waterfowl legal during the statewide seasons; and fishing and frogging throughout the year; legal to take - all legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers; bag limits - archery - one antlered or one antlerless deer per person per permit, family hunt - one antlered and one antlerless deer per permit, muzzleloading gun and general gun - one antlered deer per person per permit per season, spring turkey - one gobbler per person per permit; antlered deer must have at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length; prohibit use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season; allow vehicles only on named or numbered roads; prohibit tracked vehicles, airboats, unlicensed motorcycles and ATVs; prohibit hunting with dogs except bird dogs during the small game season and waterfowl retrievers during waterfowl seasons; allow horses and bicycles on roads and designated trails only; prohibit public access from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise and require entry and exit only through designated entrances (which includes navigable waterways).
      16. Goethe WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season; and add frogs as legal to take.
      17. Hatchet Creek WMA (NEW) - establish a new WMA (approximately 2,760 acres) with the following open seasons: archery - three 3-day hunts (quota of 15 per hunt, no exemptions); muzzleloading gun - 3-day season (quota of 15, no exemptions); family hunt - 2-day hunt (quota of 5, no exemptions); general gun - two 3-day hunts (quota of 15 per hunt, no exemptions); spring turkey - three 3-day hunts (quota of 5 per hunt, no exemptions); and fishing and frogging throughout the year; legal to take - all legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers; bag limits - archery - one antlered or one antlerless deer per person per permit, family hunt - one antlered and one antlerless deer per permit, muzzleloading gun and general gun - one antlered deer per person per permit per season, spring turkey - one gobbler per person per permit; antlered deer must have at least one antler with three or more points, one inch or more in length; prohibit taking wildlife from Boundary Road; allow vehicular access only on hunt days and the day before each hunt; allow vehicles only on named or numbered roads; prohibit tracked vehicles, airboats, unlicensed motorcycles and ATVs; prohibit hunting with dogs; allow bicycles on roads and designated trails only; require a valid quota permit of all persons entering the area on hunt days; require hunters to enter and exit only through designated entrances and require them to check in and out at the check station and check all game.
      18. Homosassa WMA - establish an archery season with three 3-day hunts (quota of 15 per hunt, no exemptions); bag limit for deer of one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit; and define 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.
      19. Jennings Forest WMA - change definition of legal to take antlered deer to those having three or more points on at least one antler, each point one inch or more in length; and prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season; increase the number of hunts during the archery season from three to four and during the general gun season from two to three; open a currently closed area for bird dog training and archery hunting; and redefine the area for youth small-game season.
      20. Little River WMA - add quail as legal to take during the first hunt of the small game season and allow use of bird dogs during that time.
      21. Log Landing WMA (NEW) - establish a new WMA (approximately 1,147 acres) with the following open seasons: archery - two hunts, 16-day and 9-day (no quota permit required); muzzleloading gun - 3-day season (no quota permit required); small game - six 3-day hunts (no quota permit required); spring turkey - 9-day season (no quota permit required); and fishing and frogging throughout the year; legal to take - all legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers; prohibit motorized vehicles; prohibit hunting deer or wild hog with dogs; allow only bird dogs or dogs with a shoulder height of fifteen inches or less and only during the small game season; dogs on a leash may be used for tracking; prohibit fires; prohibit public access from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise; prohibit taking wildlife with centerfire rifles; and require public access only at designated entrances or via the Suwannee River.
      22. Mallory Swamp WMA - allow horses year-round; and camping year-round with a permit from the landowner.
      23. Middle Aucilla WMA - allow camping year-round with a permit from the landowner.
      24. Nassau WMA - allow take of wild hog during all seasons, except spring turkey, no size or bag limit.
      25. Osceola WMA - restrict motorized vehicles and bicycles to designated roads; and reduce requirement to check deer at a check station from the entire season to only the first 16 days of the general gun season.
      26. PotashCorp - White Springs WMA - allow the take of geese.
      27. Potts WMA - provide for non-hunting scouting days between each of the two hunts of the archery and spring turkey seasons; and extend the scouting hours during spring turkey season to 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset.
      28. Raiford WMA - prohibit ATVs; and eliminate the requirement to sign in and out at a self-service check station.
      29. Ralph Simmons WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season; and allow camping during the small game season with a permit from the landowner.
      30. San Pedro Bay WMA - eliminate requirement to check in and out at a self-service check station.
      31. Steinhatchee Springs WMA - allow horses year-round; and camping year-round with a permit from the landowner.
      32. Thomas Creek WMA (NEW) - establish a new WMA (approximately 1,753 acres) with the following open seasons: archery - three 3-day hunts (quota of 15 per hunt, no exemptions); muzzleloading gun - 3-day season (quota of 15, no exemptions); family hunt - 2-day hunt (quota of 5, no exemptions); general gun - two 3-day hunts (quota of 15 per hunt, no exemptions); small game - six 3-day hunts (no quota permit required); spring turkey - three 3-day hunts (quota of 5 per hunt, no exemptions); and fishing and frogging throughout the year; legal to take - all legal game, fish, frogs and furbearers; motorized vehicles would be prohibited; bicycles would be allowed on named or numbered roads and designated trails; prohibit hunting deer or wild hog with dogs; allow bird dogs and dogs with a shoulder height of less than 15 inches; allow bicycles on roads and designated trails only; require a valid quota permit of all persons entering the area on hunt days, except the small game season and require entry and exit only through designated entrances.
      33. Twin Rivers WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season.
      34. Additional proposed rule changes would simplify and standardize regulations related to the take of wild hog on WMAs; and liberalize regulations related to the possession of firearms, in accordance with Florida Statutes.
    2. 68A-17.005, Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas-The proposed rule changes would incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification and would revise or establish specific area regulations on WEAs as follows:
      2. Suwannee Ridge WEA - allow dogs on leashes for trailing wounded game and eliminate the fishing season.
    ********Group 5 - Northwest Region Public Hunting Areas********
    1. 68A-15.063, Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northwest Region-The proposed rule changes would incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification and would revise or establish specific area regulations on WMAs as follows:
      1. Apalachee WMA - allow vehicular access only during periods open to hunting except vehicular access would be allowed year-round on Rock Pond Road and during daylight hours one week prior to the archery season and one day prior to the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; increase the number of days that quail hunting is allowed from 12 to 24 days; 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; allow general gun season to be open the Friday after Thanksgiving; and remove daily quota requirement to hunt quail in Zone A.
        Apalachicola WMA - establish a quail enhancement area in that portion of the area lying north of Oak Ridge Road, east of State Road 61 and Highway 319, south of State Road 263, and west of State Road 363; allow bird dog training in the enhancement area November 1 through December 31; allow quail hunting in the enhancement area by quota permit only; allow quotas to be established annually by Order of the Executive Director or designee; allow quail hunts on Saturdays only (with a maximum of six Saturdays being hunted); allow up to two quota hunt permits to be issued per day and allow up to two hunters per permit; allow for a bag limit of 12 quail per permit; allow the number of days open for quail hunting to be adjusted each year as needed to achieve a harvest of up to 15% of the fall population, based on an October quail survey; and prohibit shining deer from 12 midnight until one-half hour before sunrise during the general gun season.
        Apalachicola WMA - Bradwell Unit - allow antlerless deer to be taken during the archery season; allow wild hogs to be taken during the small game season; and extend the small game season from 9 to 18 days.
        Aucilla WMA - allow antlerless deer to be taken during the archery season; allow tent camping along the Aucilla River on property owned by the Suwannee River Water Management District by permit from the District; allow still hunting only on that portion of the eastern dog hunt area north of Goose Pasture Road and east of Oneal Tram; and allow vehicular access to the area at designated entrances only.
        Blackwater WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season; establish a family hunt (quota of 50; still hunting only, no exemptions) in that portion of the area north of Highway 4 and east of Highway 191; and allow the take of up to 3 deer (antlered or antlerless) per quota permit during the family hunt; require hunters to check in and out at a check station during the family hunt; and allow the use of retrievers (dogs) on the Field Trial Area during the dove season.
        Blackwater WMA - Hutton Unit - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; establish five 3-day hog-dog hunts (quota of 5 per hunt, no exemptions); allow only wild hog to be taken during the hog-dog hunts; allow the use of no more than 3 dogs per quota permit during the hog-dog hunts; allow up to 2 hunters per quota permit and only one gun per permit during the hog-dog hunts; allow wild hog to be taken during the day or at night by the aid of a light with a firearm provided that no such firearm shall be loaded at any time except immediately prior to the shooting of a bayed hog (hunting of wild hog under this provision by display or use of a light from a moving vehicle, boat or animal is prohibited); no longer require hunters to check in and out at a check station during the spring turkey season; allow limited field trials by permit; and change the quail quota from two groups of three hunters by quail quota application to 8 individual permits at the check station, no exemptions.
        Blue Water Creek WMA - allow the take of frogs.
        Box-R WMA - allow dove hunting on the opening day of the first phase of mourning dove and white-winged dove season.
        Choctawhatchee River WMA - add a new 3-day spring turkey quota hunt (quota of 10; no exemptions).
        Econfina Creek WMA - allow vehicular access on certain roads during open seasons and prohibit vehicular access on certain roads during periods closed to hunting.
        Eglin WMA - extend the length of time that general gun hunts may occur by 10 days.
        Escambia River WMA - allow still hunting only north of State Road 184 in Santa Rosa County and north of Cedartown Road and Daffin Road in Escambia County.
        Joe Budd WMA - allow public access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset.
        Lafayette Creek WMA - prohibit vehicular access during periods closed to hunting except vehicular access would be allowed one day prior to and after each season; and move duplications of the rules for Family Hunts from area specific regulations to 68A-15.005.
        Ochlockonee River WMA - allow public access throughout the year from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset; and prohibit ATVs.
        Perdido River WMA - prohibit launching or loading of boats with a motor greater than 10 hp at Fillingam and Pipes boat ramps; allow public access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset, except access would be allowed throughout the year on Sand Landing Road, at designated campsites or by permit from the Northwest Florida Water Management District; prohibit vehicular access on Muscogee Regen Road and Red Gate Road from May through September; and move duplications of the rules for Family Hunts from area specific regulations to 68A-15.005.
        Pine Log WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey 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; no longer require hunters to check in and out at a check station during the spring turkey season; and allow limited field trials by permit.
        Point Washington WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; allow vehicular access on named or numbered roads only; require a quota permit for the last 17 days of the general gun season; and reduce the general gun quota from 300 to 150 (each hunt).
        Talquin WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; allow public access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset; prohibit ATVs; and allow vehicular access only on named or numbered roads.
        Tate's Hell WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having two or more points on at least one antler, each point one inch or more in length; prohibit shining deer from 12 midnight until one-half hour before sunrise during the general gun season; and reduce the number of quota permits from 1,000 for the first 13 days to 750 for the first 13 days.
        Tate's Hell WMA - Womack Creek Unit - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having two or more points on at least one antler, each point one inch or more in length; and allow the possession (not use) of ATVs.
        Wakulla WMA - 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 access from 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset.
        Yellow River WMA - prohibit vehicular access from May through September on Holt Enhancement Road, North Holt Cross Road and South Holt Cross Road; and no longer require a quota permit for the first 13 days of general gun season or the first 9 days of spring turkey season.
        Additional proposed rule changes would simplify and standardize regulations related to the take of wild hog on WMAs; and liberalize regulations related to the possession of firearms, in accordance with Florida Statutes.
    ********Group 6 - South Region Public Hunting Areas********
    1. 68A-15.064, Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - South Region-The proposed rule changes would incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification and would revise or establish specific area regulations on WMAs as follows:
      1. Allapattah Flats WMA - allow hunters to operate vehicles on numbered trails during the small game season; and require persons to enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
        Big Cypress WMA - remove general gun quota requirement on Corn Dance, Loop and Stairsteps Units; remove daily general gun quota requirement from the 17th day of the general gun season through December 21 on the Bear Island Unit; remove general gun quota requirement on Bear Island and Turner River Units from the 10th through 16th days and from December 22 through the last day of the general gun season; remove muzzleloading gun daily quota requirement from the 10th through 16th days on Bear Island; and remove quota requirement for second archery on Deep Lake Unit.
        Dinner Island Ranch WMA - establish a 114-day small game season; and 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.
        Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA - establish a 105-day small game season; allow the take of geese, rail and gallinule during the statewide migratory bird season; allow the use of ATVs for hunting purposes only and only during archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun-walk seasons; allow the use of ATVs for scouting purposes two weeks prior to archery season and one week prior to the start of muzzleloading gun and general gun-walk seasons; allow airboats and vehicles in Conservation Areas 3A and 2 during the second general gun-walk season; prohibit commercial recreational activities in that portion of Conservation Area 3A leased to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida unless authorized by the Miccosukee Tribe; clarify that nothing in law shall limit, diminish or abridge uses by the Miccosukee Tribe and its members who have rights guaranteed under the Indian Land Claims Settlement Act, Lease Agreement and other laws; require checking of deer and wild hog at a manned check station before quartering, dismembering, or removing them from the area on Saturdays and Sundays during the archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun-walk seasons; and allow airboats in Conservation Areas 3A South, 3B and all of 2 during the general gun-vehicle season.
        Fisheating Creek WMA - expand the migratory bird hunting season to match the statewide season west of U.S. Highway 27 only.
        Holey Land WMA - establish a 105-day small game season; allow the use of ATVs for hunting purposes only and only during archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun-walk seasons; and allow the use of ATVs for scouting purposes two weeks prior to archery season and one week prior to the start of muzzleloading gun and general gun-walk seasons.
        J.W. Corbett WMA - expand the migratory bird hunting season to match the statewide season; prohibit use of centerfire rifles south and east of Stumper's Grade; and require persons to enter and exit the area only at designated entrances.
        Okaloacoochee Slough WMA - eliminate the dove hunts; eliminate the general gun hog hunt; establish a 2-day family hunt (quota of 40, no exemptions); make wild hog legal to take during small game 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 prohibit use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season.
        Picayune Strand WMA - prohibit use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season.
        Rotenberger WMA - establish a 105-day small game season; allow the use of ATVs for hunting purposes only and only during archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun-walk seasons; allow the use of ATVs for scouting purposes two weeks prior to archery season and one week prior to the start of muzzleloading gun and general gun-walk seasons; expand the migratory bird hunting season for geese, rail and gallinule to match the statewide migratory bird season; and allow airboats during the archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun-walk and general gun-vehicle seasons for the purpose of waterfowl hunting on days when waterfowl hunting is allowed.
        Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA - establish a 114-day small game season; establish dove hunts during Saturdays of the dove season (100 quota permits at check station, each hunt); 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; allow take of wildlife with bird dogs or retrievers during general gun and small game seasons and on the posted dove field during dove hunts; require dove hunters to hunt from assigned stations in the posted field and allow them to transfer assignments at the check station; issue dove permits on a first-come, first-served basis at the check station each day of a dove hunt; establish shooting hours for the dove hunts; and establish times when hunters may enter and exit the posted dove field.
        Additional proposed rule changes would simplify and standardize regulations related to the take of wild hog on WMAs; and liberalize regulations related to the possession of firearms, in accordance with Florida Statutes.
    2. 68A-17.005, Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas-The proposed rule changes would incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification and would revise or establish specific area regulations on WEAs as follows:
      1. 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.
      2. 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.
      3. 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.
      4. Southern Glades WEA - establish a 114-day small game season.
      5. Additional proposed rule changes would simplify and standardize regulations related to the take of wild hog on WEAs; liberalize regulations related to the possession of firearms, in accordance with Florida Statutes.
      ********Group 7 - Northeast Region Public Hunting Areas********
    - 68A-15.065, Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northeast Region-The proposed rule changes would incorporate grammatical corrections and language standardization or clarification and would revise or establish specific area regulations on WMAs as follows:
      1. Buck Lake WMA - add a five-day gap between the first and second archery hunt.
      2. Bull Creek WMA - change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length; require camping equipment to be removed one day after the end of the muzzleloading gun, small game, and spring turkey seasons; and remove the requirement that hunters obtain a daily check station permit for the Crabgrass Creek portion of the WMA during small game season.
      3. Caravelle Ranch WMA - change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length and a bag limit of one antlered or one antlerless deer per permit, per person, per season during the archery season; a bag limit of one antlered deer per permit, per person, per season during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons, allow only one quota permit to be utilized per person per season during all seasons which deer are legal to take; and change the opening day of the supervised small game season from Sunday to Saturday.
      4. Dunns Creek WMA - allow a youth or mentor license holder to accompany a quota permit holder.
      5. Etoniah Creek WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken; and allow horses on the area year-round.
      6. Fort Drum WMA - establish a bag limit of one antlered deer per special-opportunity permit, per person, per season; establish a bag limit of one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per special-opportunity permit, per person, per season; allow only one special-opportunity permit to be utilized per person, per season; allow tent camping only at the designated campsite; and require that deer, wild hog and turkey be checked at the check station before being dismembered.
      7. Guana River WMA - change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length and a bag limit of one antlered and one antlerless deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the archery season; a bag limit of one antlered deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; allow only one quota permit to be utilized per person per hunt during all seasons which deer are legal to take; and establish a spring turkey season with two, 3-day hunts (quota of six, no exemptions).
      8. Half Moon WMA - technical changes to clarify rules related to the taking of deer.
      9. Jumper Creek WMA - add geese as legal to take during the waterfowl season.
      10. Lake George WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season.
      11. Lake George WMA - Dexter/Mary Farms Unit - establish a bag limit of one antlered and one antlerless deer per quota permit during the archery season; eliminate the special-opportunity dove season; eliminate the general gun hog season; add wild hog as legal to take during the small game season; and prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season.
      12. Lake Panasoffkee WMA - convert the special-opportunity hog seasons to general gun hog seasons; and extend scouting hours during spring turkey season to 1.5 hours before sunrise until 1.5 hours after sunset.
      13. Matanzas WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during spring turkey season; and move duplications of the rules for Family Hunts from area specific regulations to 68A-15.005.
      14. Ocala WMA - establish a 9-day general gun still hunt (quota of 225) one week after the general gun dog hunt on the Church Lake Unit; prohibit hunting from the right-of-way of Deerhaven Road and North Boulevard; and eliminate the quota on the Pipeline Unit during the general gun season.
      15. Relay WMA - allow the take of wild hogs, without the use of dogs, during the small game season; require camping equipment be removed by the Saturday following spring turkey season; and no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken.
      16. Richloam WMA - establish a new 3-day general gun hog-dog season (no quota); and reduce the requirement for hunters to check game to the first nine days of the general gun season and during the spring turkey season.
      17. Richloam WMA: Baird Unit - change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length and a bag limit of one antlered and one antlerless deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the archery season; a bag limit of one antlered deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; allow only one quota permit to be utilized per person per hunt during all seasons which deer are legal to take; and establish a new 3-day general gun hog season (quota of 50, no exemptions); prohibit use of centerfire rifles for taking turkey during the spring turkey season; and remove requirement to check game during the small game season.
      18. Rock Springs Run WMA - allow possession of handguns on the area but prohibit their use for taking wildlife; require hunters to enter and exit only at designated entrances; require hunters to obtain a permit at the check station to hunt the West BMK portion of the area; and require that hunters access the West BMK portion only from Old McDonald Road.
      19. Ross Prairie WMA - no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken.
      20. Seminole Forest WMA - change the definition of legal to take for antlered deer to those having at least one antler with three or more points, each point one inch or more in length and a bag limit of one antlered and one antlerless deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the archery season; a bag limit of one antlered deer per permit, per person, per hunt during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; allow only one quota permit to be utilized per person per hunt during all seasons which deer are legal to take; and prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season.
      21. Seminole Forest WMA - Lake Tracy Unit - increase the quota for archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun hunts from 10 to 20; increase the quota for spring turkey season from 5 to 10; and prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; and no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken.
      22. Seminole Ranch WMA - allow centerfire rifles during the general gun season; allow handguns; and revise quota for the general gun hog hunt by issuing 25 permits by general gun quota application for the first two days of the season and issue 25 permits first-come, first-served at the check station for the last five days of the season.
      23. Three Lakes WMA - eliminate the second general gun dog hunt; and require camping equipment to be removed one day after the end of the muzzleloading gun, small game, and spring turkey seasons
      24. Three Lakes WMA - Prairie Lakes Unit - allow waterfowl hunters to access the Lake Jackson boat ramp during all open seasons.
      25. Tiger Bay WMA - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; and no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken.
      26. Tiger Bay WMA - Rima Ridge Unit - prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during the spring turkey season; and no longer require that hunters check in and out at self-service boxes and report all game taken.
      27. Tosohatchee WMA - increase the daily-use permit fee from $3 per car to $4 per person to match the previous lead managing agency's fee structure; and add fish and frogs as legal to take.
      28. Triple N Ranch WMA - establish a bag limit of one antlered deer per special-opportunity permit, per person, per season; establish a bag limit of one gobbler (or bearded turkey) per special-opportunity permit, per person, per season; allow only one special-opportunity permit to be utilized per person, per season; allow take of wild hog with no size or bag limit; and allow authorized hunting equipment to be taken onto the area when vehicular access is allowed.
    - Additional proposed rule changes would simplify and standardize regulations related to the take of wild hog on WMAs; liberalize regulations related to the possession of firearms, in accordance with Florida Statutes.
    1. 68A-25.004, Regulations Governing the Operation of Alligator Farms-The proposed rule would make it illegal to alter the locking mechanism of CITES tags used to identify legal alligator hides.
    2. 68A-25.031, Regulations Governing Alligator Egg and Hatchling Collections on Lands Not Included in Alligator Management Programs-The proposed rule would eliminate references to specific quotas and the numbers of tags that may be requested, make hatchling tags non-refundable, and allow agents of other licensed alligator farmers to assist hatchling collection permittees with collections if in the presence of the alligator farmer whom they are licensed under.
    3. 68A-25.032, Regulations Governing the Establishment of Alligator Management Programs-The proposed rule would expand the options for establishing non-hatchling quotas to include any unused quota from the previous year and establishing provisions for utilizing previous years' data to establish alligator nest and hatchling collection quotas similar to the provisions for non-hatchling quotas; eliminate the slot limit restriction; allow agents of other licensed alligator trappers and farmers to assist permittees with non-hatchling, hatchling, and egg harvests if in the presence of the alligator trapper or farmer whom they are licensed under; prohibit the alteration of the locking mechanism of CITES tags; and clarify that the use of a light in conjunction with listed methods of take is permissible.
    4. 68A-25.042, Regulations Governing Statewide Alligator Trapping, Permitting, Taking and Sale-The proposed rule would clarify the use of baited wooden pegs and expand the legal methods of take to include the use of artificial lures; allow agents of other licensed alligator trappers to assist permittees if in the presence of the alligator trapper under whom they are licensed; clarify that taking of alligators does not include the activities of driving the vessel or the use of a light; prohibit the alteration of the locking mechanism of CITES tags; clarify that the use of a light in conjunction with listed methods of take is permissible; and extend the legal hunting hours to 1 hour before sunset and 1 hour after sunrise
  2. Freshwater Fish and Fish Management Area (FMA) (Background Report 1/11/08)
    1. 68A-20.005, Specific Fish Management Area Regulations-The proposed rule would eliminate the provision that prohibits the possession of firearms on 38 fish management areas and replace the provision with a rule that prohibits the taking of fish and wildlife with firearms on these areas; eliminate the following lakes as fish management areas: lakes Lorna Doone (14 acres, Orange County), Richmond (38 acres; Orange County), Kirkman Pond (4 acres; Orange County) and Lake Dot (3 acres; Seminole County); prohibit possession and use of cast nets in lakes Ivanhoe (Orange County) and Santiago (Orange County); allow the dates Joe Budd Pond FMA (Gadsden County) is open to public fishing during daylight hours from July through September to be established by executive order; provide for multiple designated entry points at Tenoroc FMA (Tenoroc), exempt alligator hunt participants from Tenoroc check-in requirements, clarify that dogs are prohibited on the area unless leashed, and change the names of two Tenoroc lakes from East Pasture and West Pasture to Pine Lakes.
    2. 68A-23.002, General Methods of Taking Freshwater Fish-The proposed rule would allow use of cast nets of any mesh size in the South Region; redefine species that may be legally taken with a dip net, cast net, trap, or minnow seine as golden shiners of any size and other freshwater non-game fish, including catfish, less than eight inches total length.
    3. 68A-23.003, Commercial Fishing Devices; Provision for Use in Certain Waters-The proposed rule would require all fishing devices authorized by this section to be clearly and legibly marked with the harvester's name and address while being used or possessed in or upon the waters of the state.
    4. 68A-23.004, Lawful Methods for Using Trotlines and Bush Hooks or Set Lines - Lawful Methods for Using Trotlines and Bush Hooks or Set Lines-The proposed rule would require all fishing devices authorized by this section to be clearly and legibly marked with the harvester's name and address while being used or possessed in or upon the waters of the state.
    5. 68A-23.005, Bag Limits, Length Limits, Open Season: Freshwater Fish-The proposed rule would change the black bass length regulation on Lake Okeechobee from a 13 to 18-inch slot-size limit to an 18-inch or greater minimum length limit; establish a 10-inch or greater minimum length limit for harvest of black crappie on Lake Okeechobee and would include in the boundary definition for Lake Okeechobee that portion of the C-41-A Canal, from the intersection of the C-38 Canal upstream to the S-84 structure; change the black bass regulation on Lake Trafford from a bag limit of five fish only one of which may be 14 inches or greater in total length to a five fish bag limit of which all fish must be 18 inches or greater in total length and only one fish may be 22 inches or greater in total length.
2. Draft Rules
  1. Grant Programs Administered by the Florida Division of Law Enforcement (Background Report 1/8/08)
    1. Review and discussion of draft rule 68-1.003, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Grants Program-The proposed draft rule would establish or update policies and guidelines for the Florida Boating Improvement Program, Boating Infrastructure Grant Program, Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Program, and the Boating Safety and Education Grant Program. (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/10/08) (Background Report 1/11/08)
    2. Review and discussion of draft rule 68D-16.029, Derelict Vessel Grant Program-The proposed draft rule would allow these grants to be awarded to any local government entity and allow the grants to be used to remove vessels designated and marked by any law enforcement officer. (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08)
  2. Review and discussion of draft rule 68-5.004, Certified Non-native Wildlife Adoption-The proposed draft rule would establish a procedure and standards for persons adopting non-native animals to help prevent illegal release of non-native fish and wildlife. (Background Report 1/14/08)
3. Issues
  1. Review and discussion of the FWC Quota Hunt Program assessment (Background Report 1/14/08) (Background Report 1/14/08)
  2. Review and discussion of proposed 2008-09 Work Plan for the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. (Background Report 1/8/08)
  3. Review and consideration for approval of the Florida Deer Strategic Plan (Background Report 1/8/08) (Background Report 1/8/08)
  4. Review and consideration for approval of the Waterfowl Strategic Plan (Background Report 1/14/08) (Background Report 1/14/08)
  5. Review and discussion of South Florida Ecosystem Restoration issues (Background Report 1/11/08)
4. Land Acquisitions (Background Report 1/14/08)
  1. Tenoroc Fish Management Area - Consideration of an exchange between the City of Lakeland and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for 116.1 acres of Commission-owned land in the western portion of the Bridgewater tract of Tenoroc Fish Management Area for 116.4 acres of land owned by the City of Lakeland adjacent to and immediately to the east of the Commission-owned parcel and discussion of the requirement for a determination that the state's property is no longer needed for conservation purposes.
Staff Reports
1. Legislative Issues and Budget Report (Background Report 2/4/08) (Background Report 2/4/08) (Background Report 2/5/08) (Background Report 2/5/08)
Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda
Commission Exchange
Recess Wednesday's Portion of Meeting
8:30 a.m., Thursday, February 7, Reconvene
Special Report
1. Report on fish and wildlife programs and partnerships at the Department of Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida. (Dr. John P. Hayes, Department Chair) (Background Report 2/4/08)
Items Requiring Action

Final Rules
1. Red Snapper (Background Report 1/11/08) (Background Report 2/5/08) (Background Report 2/6/08)
  FWC STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING RED SNAPPER RULES FOR FLORIDA WATERS OF THE GULF OF MEXICO BE APPROVED CONTINGENT UPON THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE PUBLISHING FINAL FEDERAL REGULATIONS FOR RED SNAPPER IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER.
  1. 68B-14.0035, Size Limits: Amberjacks, Black Sea Bass, Gray Triggerfish, Grouper, Hogfish, Red Porgy, Snapper-The proposed rule change would reduce the minimum size of red snapper harvested commercially from the Gulf of Mexico from 15 inches to 13 inches total length (TL).
  2. 68B-14.00355, Size Limits for Importation and Sale-The proposed rule change would reduce the minimum size of imported of red snapper from 15 inches to 13 inches total length.
  3. 68B-14.0036, Recreational Bag Limits: Snapper, Grouper, Hogfish, Black Sea Bass, Red Porgy, Amberjacks, Tilefish, Exception, Wholesale/Retail Purchase Exemption-The proposed rule would reduce the recreational red snapper bag limit in the Gulf of Mexico from 4-fish to 2-fish per person per day. The proposed rule would also establish a zero daily bag and possession limit of red snapper for captains and crew on for-hire vessels in the Gulf of Mexico.
  4. 68B-14.0038, Recreational Red Snapper Season-The proposed rule would change the recreational fishing season for red snapper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico from: April 15 - October 31 to June 1 through September 30 (122 days).
  5. 68B-14.0045, Commercial Harvest Requirements; Licenses, Season Closures, Bag and Trip Limits-The proposed rule would reduce the commercial bag and trip limit of red snapper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico from 4-fish to 2-fish per day. The proposed rule would also clarify commercial licensing requirements for Gulf reef fish harvest, including recent federal licensing changes for red snapper.
  6. 68B-14.005, Regulation and Prohibition of Certain Harvesting Gear: Allowable Gear, Incidental Bycatch, Violation-The proposed rule would allow only non-stainless steel circle hooks to be used to harvest any reef fish species specified in subsection 68B-14.001(2), F.A.C., when using natural baits. In addition, a venting tool and a de-hooking device would be required onboard vessels harvesting any reef fish species specified in subsection 68B-14.001(2), F.A.C.
Issues
1. Review and discussion of mullet stocks and possibilities for expanding mullet fishing opportunities. (Background Report 1/11/08)
2. Review and discussion of federal management alternatives for south Atlantic gag grouper and vermilion snapper, and Gulf of Mexico gag grouper and red grouper. (Background Report 1/10/08) (Background Report 2/6/08)
3. Report on the duties and programs of the Boating and Waterways Section, Division of Law Enforcement. (Background Report 1/10/08)
4. Report on the Division of Law Enforcement's Training Section and Academy. (Background Report 1/9/08)
Federal Issues
1. Review and discussion of federal fishery disaster relief programs including a request by the commercial shark industry for federal fishery disaster relief. (Background Report 1/14/08) (Background Report 1/14/08)
2. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Background Report 1/8/08)
3. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Background Report 1/8/08)

Commissioners' Areas of Emphasis
1. Final review and consideration for approval of the Vision Document for the Future of Florida's Freshwater Fisheries (Background Report 1/10/08)
2. New Areas of Emphasis for 2008
Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda
Commission Exchange
Commission Administrative Matters
1. The next regular Commission meeting is scheduled April 9-10, 2008 in Tallahassee, commencing at 8:30 a.m. each day.
Adjournment

Visit our web site at www.MyFWC.com agenda materials

Consent Agenda

February 2008

68B-14.005, Regulation and Prohibition of Certain Harvesting Gear: Allowable Gear, Incidental Bycatch, Violation-The proposed rule would modify the dimensions of a legal black sea bass trap to allow more flexibility in the size and shape of these traps. (Background Report 1/8/08)
WMA 08-01, Hatchet Creek WMA-The proposed order establishes the Hatchet Creek WMA in Alachua County comprising approximately 2,762 acres.(Background Report 1/11/08) (Background Report 1/11/08)
WMA 08-02, Log Landing WMA-The proposed order establishes the Log Landing WMA in Dixie County comprising approximately 1,147 acres.(Background Report 1/11/08) (Background Report 1/11/08)
WMA 08-03, Thomas Creek WMA - King Roads Unit-The proposed order establishes the Thomas Creek WMA - Kings Road Unit in Duval County comprising approximately 2,518 acres. (Background Report 1/11/08) (Background Report 1/11/08)
WMA 08-04, Belmore WMA-The proposed order establishes the Belmore WMA in Clay County comprising approximately 8,737 acres. (Background Report 1/11/08) (Background Report 1/11/08)
WMA 08-05, Four Creeks WMA-The proposed order establishes the Four Creeks WMA in Nassau County comprising approximately 13,060 acres. (Background Report 1/11/08) (Background Report 1/11/08)