Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) General
prohibitions: Hunting, fishing or trapping is prohibited on any portion of any
wildlife and environmental area posted as closed to hunting, fishing or
trapping. Hunting, fishing, trapping, camping or other usage related to such
activity on any wildlife and environmental area shall only be at the time and
in the manner provided by the regulations for the particular wildlife and
environmental area. During a given season, all legal methods for taking fish,
frogs or wildlife during that season shall 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) All regular licenses are required for
persons, except those exempted in subsection (3), hereof, to take wildlife on a
wildlife and environmental area.
(b) 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 and
environmental area.
(c) A
short-term use permit or special-use permit is mandatory on those wildlife and
environmental 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, hog, and wild turkey hunting is prohibited by persons
not in possession of the appropriate special-opportunity hunt permit except
persons using the Florida Trail for recreational hiking.
(d) The lead managing agency or landowner of
a wildlife and environmental 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 and environmental 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., persons utilizing
the Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area for recreational
activities, and persons in possession of a special-use permit are excepted from
wildlife management area stamp requirements.
(4) Legal to Hunt: Legal game shall be only
those wildlife species identified as legal to take in specific area
regulations.
(a) Notwithstanding provisions in
Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C., wild turkey
of either sex may be taken as provided by specific area regulation.
(b) 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.
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 game mammals or any season established for the taking of wild hog
only, with no size or bag limit unless provided by area specific
rule.
2. Methods of take, other
than those allowed for the taking of game mammals 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) Shooting hours for mourning 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 and environmental area during the established
season for archery hunting 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 and environmental area during
the established season for muzzleloading gun hunting unless otherwise
stipulated in a regulation established for a specific area. Taking wildlife
with a gun is prohibited on any wildlife and environmental 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 wild turkey with firearms other
than centerfire or 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 Santa Fe Swamp Wildlife and
Environmental Area.
(c) Taking
migratory birds and non-protected birds with centerfire and muzzleloading
shotguns is allowed during established area seasons when one or more migratory
game birds are legal to take except when prohibited by specific area
rule.
(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
wildlife and environmental 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 Commission-issued
deer-dog hunting permit.
(8) Camping:
(a) Camping is prohibited unless otherwise
authorized under specific area regulations.
(b) 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
68A-5.004, F.A.C.
(c) 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.
(d) No persons shall bring building materials
onto the area or erect permanent or semi-permanent structures.
(9) Vehicles:
(a) No motor vehicle shall be operated on any
part of any wildlife and environmental 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 and environmental 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. No person shall
provide food for wildlife on any wildlife and environmental area.
(11) Release of animals: No person shall
release any species of the animal kingdom on any wildlife and environmental
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
and environmental area unless authorized by the landowner or the Commission.
Planting of trees, shrubs or other vegetation is prohibited unless authorized
by the landowner or the Commission.
(b) No person shall possess or remove saw
palmetto berries from any wildlife and environmental area where the Commission
is the landowner or lead managing agency without written permission.
(c) No person shall plant, propagate,
introduce, or cause to grow any species of plant not native or indigenous to
Florida in any wildlife and environmental 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.
(d) 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.
(13) The disturbance or removal of
any manmade or cultural materials (such as shell middens, graves or other
archaeologically or historically significant materials or sites) or natural
materials (such as coral or lighter pine) is prohibited.
(14) Alligators: Notwithstanding any other
provision in Chapter 68A-17, F.A.C., the harvest of alligators, their eggs or
hatchlings may be conducted on wildlife and environmental 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
and environmental areas shall not be required to check in and out at a check
station or check any alligators taken.
(15) 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.
(16) Fishing and Frogging: Fishing or
frogging are permitted throughout the year unless otherwise provided under
specific area regulations.
(17)
Fires: All fires are prohibited unless otherwise provided under specific area
regulations or permit condition.
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law
Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.,
379.354,
375.313
FS.
