Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) General
prohibitions: Hunting, fishing or trapping is prohibited on any portion of any
wildlife management area posted as closed to hunting, fishing or trapping.
Hunting, fishing, trapping, camping or other usage related to such activity on
any wildlife management area shall only be at the time and in the manner
provided by the regulations for the particular wildlife management area. During
a given season, all legal methods for taking fish, frogs or wildlife during the
season will be allowed, unless prohibited under the rules governing a
particular area. Taking furbearers with traps, snares or at night is prohibited
unless allowed by an area specific rule.
(2) Permits required:
(a) 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
exempted in subsection (3), hereof, to take wildlife on a wildlife management
area.
(b) A short-term use permit
or special-use permit is mandatory on those wildlife management areas where
required by regulations for that area. On areas where short-term use permits
(daily or multi-day permits) are authorized, holders of such permits shall
possess or display a valid short-term use permit receipt in the manner
specified on the receipt. Access to areas open to special-opportunity deer,
wild hog (still hunt only), and wild turkey hunting is prohibited by persons
not in possession of the appropriate special-opportunity hunt permit except
that a non-permitted individual may accompany a permittee. While hunting or
scouting, a non-permitted individual may accompany a permittee and participate
in the hunt but shall not occupy a vehicle separate from the permittee or take
wildlife with a gun, and shall be in the immediate vicinity (25 feet or less)
of the permittee. Persons using the Florida Trail for through-hiking are exempt
from the permit requirements of this paragraph.
(c) A written authorization or permit issued
by the Department of Defense, in addition to licensing as required by Section
379.354, F.S., shall be required
to hunt, fish or frog on any Wildlife Management Area owned by the United
States of America, Department of Defense. This authorization or permit shall be
displayed for inspection upon the request of any law enforcement
officer.
(d) The lead managing
agency or landowner of a wildlife management area may authorize persons to
engage in otherwise prohibited activities not relating to the taking of fish or
wildlife, to allow for access, vehicles, vessels, camping, or horses, valid
only during periods closed to hunting. The landowner of a wildlife management
area that requires a Recreational Use Permit (RUP) may only give such
authorization to persons holding a RUP for that area. Persons so authorized
must possess a copy of the authorization when engaged in such
activities.
(3) Permit
exceptions: Persons exempted by Section
379.353, F.S., those persons who
possess a gun on Osceola, Ocala and Apalachicola Wildlife Management Areas for
the exclusive purpose of shooting at a Commission authorized shooting range,
persons in possession of a special-use permit; persons engaging in activities
pursuant to Rule 68A-25.032 or
68A-25.042, F.A.C.; or persons
hunting, fishing or frogging on lands owned by the United States of America,
Department of Defense, are excepted from wildlife management area stamp
requirements.
(4) Legal to hunt:
(a) Wild turkey may not be taken during any
fall season in which firearms may be used unless otherwise provided for a
specific area. Notwithstanding provisions in Rule
68A-13.004, F.A.C., wild turkey
of either sex may be taken during muzzleloading and general gun seasons as
specifically provided by area rule. During periods in which the taking of wild
turkey is allowed, the daily bag limit for wild turkey shall be one per day
unless otherwise provided by specific area regulation.
(b) Only species which are legal to take in
the region where the wildlife management area lies, unless otherwise provided
for a specific area, may be taken.
(c) During the spring turkey season, the
hunting or taking of any other species of wildlife is prohibited unless
otherwise provided for a specific area.
(d) Wild turkey of either sex or antlerless
deer may be taken during archery seasons unless otherwise provided by specific
area regulation.
(e) Antlerless
deer may be taken during gun seasons only by hunters possessing valid
antlerless deer permits or as otherwise provided by specific area
regulation.
(f) On any wildlife
management areas where an antlered deer quota is established by order, no
person shall take antlered deer after the quota for antlered deer is
attained.
(g) Notwithstanding the
provisions in Rule 68A-24.002, F.A.C., the take of
bobcat with a gun is prohibited from March 2 through March 31.
(h) Game may be taken by falconry during
established statewide seasons that coincide with periods when wildlife
management areas are otherwise open for public use or hunting unless prohibited
by specific area regulation. Dogs may be used during falconry only during those
periods when the use of dogs for hunting is permitted by specific area
regulation.
(i) Wild hogs may be
taken in accordance with the following provisions:
1. Wild hogs may only be taken from one-half
hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset during any season open for
the taking of any game mammal or any season established for the taking of wild
hog only, with no size or bag limit unless otherwise provided by area specific
rule.
2. Methods of take, other
than those allowed for the taking of game during each open season, are
prohibited.
3. During any season
established for the taking of wild hog only, only legal methods of take for
game are allowed unless otherwise provided by area specific rule.
4. Wild hogs may not be transported
alive.
(j) Non-protected
mammals and non-protected birds may be taken during any season open for the
taking of game mammals or game birds with no size or bag limit unless otherwise
provided by area specific rule.
(k)
Shooting hours for mourning and white-winged doves shall be from one-half hour
before sunrise until sunset unless otherwise provided by specific area
regulation.
(5) Hunters:
(a) Authorized hunting equipment, defined for
the purposes of this rule as tree stands and elevated shooting platforms, or
dogs (if permitted by area regulations) may be taken on the area after 8:00
a.m. one day before the opening of the hunt and shall be removed from the area
before 6 p.m. one day following the close of the hunt unless otherwise provided
by specific area regulations.
(b)
Driving a metal object into any tree, or hunting from a tree in which a metal
object has been driven, is prohibited.
(6) Guns:
(a) Taking wildlife (except migratory birds
and non-protected birds during migratory bird season) with a gun (except a bow)
is prohibited on any wildlife management area during the established archery
season unless otherwise stipulated in a regulation established for a specific
area. Taking wildlife (except migratory birds and non-protected birds during
migratory bird season) with a gun (except a muzzleloading gun) is prohibited on
any wildlife management area during the established muzzleloading gun season
unless otherwise stipulated in a regulation established for a specific area.
Taking wildlife with a gun is prohibited on any wildlife management area during
any season open only for the taking of fur-bearing animals or frogs unless
otherwise stipulated in a regulation established for a specific area.
(b) Taking migratory birds and non-protected
birds with centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns is allowed during established
area seasons when one or more migratory birds are legal to take except when
prohibited by specific area rule.
(c) Taking wild turkey with firearms other
than centerfire and muzzleloading shotguns using number 2 or smaller diameter
shot during the spring turkey season is prohibited, except that muzzleloading
rifles are not prohibited for taking wild turkey on Joe Budd and Raiford
Wildlife Management Areas.
(d)
Taking wild turkey with air guns other than pre-charged pneumatic air guns
propelling an arrow or bolt meeting specifications outlined in Rule
68A-12.002, F.A.C., during the
spring turkey season is prohibited.
(e) Methods of take for non-protected mammals
and non-protected birds, other than those allowed for the taking of game during
each open season, are prohibited.
(7) Dogs:
(a) Dogs may be used for hunting during open
seasons, except bear season or if prohibited by regulations for the particular
management area. The take of non-protected birds with dogs is allowed during
any season when at least one species of small game is legal to take with dogs.
The Executive Director or designee may issue permits to raccoon or fox hunting
organizations that are sanctioned by the United Kennel Club, American Kennel
Club, Professional Kennel Club, or similar sanctioning entity to allow raccoon
or fox hunting during otherwise closed seasons and at times and places
designated in the permit. Permits may be issued only in areas where this
activity will not negatively impact wildlife, where adjoining landowner
conflicts will be minimal, where cooperating landowners are in agreement with
the permit conditions, and when not in conflict with other user
groups.
(b) No person shall
knowingly or negligently allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during
any period in which the taking of such wildlife by the use of dogs is
prohibited.
(c) Dogs may be
possessed, under physical restraint only, during any period in which the taking
of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited, unless otherwise prohibited by
specific area rule.
(d) Dogs on
leashes may be used for trailing wounded game unless otherwise prohibited under
specific area regulations.
(e) No
person shall take deer using the aid of dogs without a valid deer-dog hunting
permit.
(8) Camping:
(a) On those areas where Commission camping
permits are required by specific area rule, those permits will be issued by the
Commission unless denial is either necessary to protect natural and cultural
resources in campgrounds, minimize conflicts among area users in the
campgrounds, maintain public safety, ensure compliance with health department
county codes, and to offer a fair opportunity to obtain a campsite or as
appropriate based on Rule
68-1.010, F.A.C.
(b) Commission camping permit conditions will
be included as necessary to protect natural and cultural resources in
campgrounds, minimize conflicts among area users in the campgrounds, maintain
public safety, ensure compliance with health department county codes, and to
offer a fair opportunity to obtain a campsite.
(c) Camping during periods open to hunting
shall be limited to designated campgrounds except as provided by specific area
rules or permit conditions for particular wildlife management areas. Camping is
allowed during periods closed to hunting unless prohibited by specific area
regulations or permit condition.
(d) When camping is allowed on any wildlife
management area, authorized camping equipment may be taken on the area after
8:00 a.m. one day before the opening of each season and shall be removed from
the area before 6:00 p.m. one day following the close of each season unless
otherwise provided by specific area regulations or permit condition.
(9) Vehicles:
(a) No motor vehicle shall be operated on any
part of any wildlife management area designated by area regulations as closed
to vehicular traffic or temporarily closed by administrative action and posting
notice of such on those areas because of inclement weather, poor road
conditions, construction or management activities or wildlife surveys. The use
of two-wheeled motor-powered vehicles or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited on
any roads or trails not open to or used by other vehicles unless otherwise
provided by specific area regulation.
(b) No person shall park any vehicle in a
manner which obstructs a road, gate or firelane.
(c) Notwithstanding specific area
regulations, motorcycles and mopeds that are licensed and registered to operate
on public roads of the State may be operated on any road or trail open for
licensed and registered vehicular traffic.
(d) Electric bicycles may be operated only on
named or numbered roads. Unless otherwise prohibited by specific area rule,
Class 1 electric bicycles (as defined in Section
316.003, F.S.) are exempt from
this restriction and may be used pursuant to regulations relating to
bicycles.
(10) Grain and
food: No person shall place, expose or distribute any grain or other food for
wildlife on any wildlife management area except as authorized by permit from
the executive director. No person shall take wildlife on any land or waters
upon which grain or other food has been deposited, provided that quail may be
hunted in proximity to established game feeders.
(11) Release of animals: No person shall
release any species of the animal kingdom on any wildlife management area where
the Commission is the landowner or lead managing agency unless authorized by
specific area regulations or written authorization from the executive
director.
(12) Plants:
(a) No person shall cut or destroy any tree
on, or remove any tree, shrub, or protected plant (as designated in Section
581.185, F.S.) from, any
wildlife management area without written permission from the landowner or
primary land manager.
(b) No person
shall possess or remove saw palmetto berries from any wildlife management area
where the Commission is the landowner or lead managing agency without written
permission.
(c) No person shall
remove plants, rocks, minerals, animal life, other natural resources or parts
thereof where the Commission is the landowner or lead managing agency without
written authorization from the Executive Director or designee in accordance
with the criteria of Rule
68A-9.002, F.A.C.
(d) No person shall plant, propagate,
introduce, or cause to grow any species of plant not native or indigenous to
the wildlife management area on any wildlife management area where the
Commission is the landowner or lead managing agency unless authorized by an
approved comprehensive management plan or written authorization from the
executive director.
(13)
Alligators: Notwithstanding any other provision in Title 15, F.A.C., the
harvest of alligators, their eggs or hatchlings may be conducted on wildlife
management areas in accordance with Commission order(s) and Rules
68A-25.031,
68A-25.032 and
68A-25.042, F.A.C. Guns and bait
may be used for taking alligators by alligator hunt participants as specified
in Rule 68A-25.042 or
68A-25.032, F.A.C., whichever is
applicable, and persons taking alligators pursuant to those rules on wildlife
management areas shall not be required to check in and out at a check station,
or check any alligators taken. A private landowner making his lands available
for use in the wildlife management area system may participate in an alligator
management program on such lands in accordance with Rule
68A-25.032, F.A.C.
(14) Public access is prohibited in areas
posted as "Closed to Public Access." Such areas may be closed by posting
because of resource protection, construction, management activities, public
health or safety, agricultural disease, or contractual agreement.
(15) Fishing and Frogging:
(a) Fishing or frogging are permitted only
during the seasons specifically established for these activities under the
particular wildlife management area.
(b) Shooting frogs is permitted only during
hunting seasons established for the particular wildlife management area and
only with guns that are legal methods of take during each particular open
hunting season.
(16) The
Executive Director may authorize recreational activities, including the take of
fish and wildlife, by executive order to facilitate special outdoor
recreational opportunities as described in Section
589.19, F.S., to be administered
by the Florida Forest Service on those wildlife management areas where the
Florida Forest Service is the lead land manager.
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law
Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.,
379.2223,
379.354
FS.
