Skip to main content

Hunting Rule Changes

At the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) February 2023 meeting, Commissioners approved rule changes related to 2023-2024 hunting seasons including many dealing with FWC-managed lands. Below is a summary of those changes. Most rules will take effect July 1, 2023. 

About the Rulemaking Process
Rule change proposals are based on requests from staff, cooperators and stakeholders. The FWC seeks input on proposed changes throughout the rulemaking process to achieve regulations based on hunter preference and sound science to ensure sustainability. Learn more about the rulemaking process.

Summary of Hunting Rule Changes

68A-1.004 Definitions

  • All-terrain Vehicle – delete the current definition of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and replace with the definition of ATV as defined in Florida Statutes 317.0003.
  • Bow – clarify the definition of a bow to ensure commonly-used, commercially available bows, such as compound bows, are allowed.
  • Crossbow – clarify the definition of a crossbow to ensure commonly-used, commercially available crossbows are allowed.
  • Legal Game – correct clerical errors from 2022 that misspelled “mammals” as “mannals” and inadvertently limited take of all native and non-native game species listed to “open seasons established for each species” when this language was only needed for crows.

68A-9.008 Permits for Physically Disabled

  • Alternative Mobility Permits – expand the criteria that allow individuals to qualify for an alternative mobility permit (AMP) to also include possession of a valid permanent disabled parking placard or a statement from a licensed physician certifying that individuals have a condition that prevents them from walking 200 feet without stopping to rest.
  • Crossbow Permits – allow bows equipped with devices that mechanically hold the string in the drawn position to be used for taking game by disabled crossbow permit during archery season.

68A-12.002 General Methods of Taking Game and Crows; Prohibitions

  • Bow or crossbow – allow bows equipped with devices that mechanically hold the string in the drawn position to be used for taking game by disabled crossbow permit during archery season.

68A-12.007 Hunting Dogs; Molesting Game in Closed Season; Training; Field Trials; Prohibited for Certain Hunting

  • Tracking and Correction Devices – remove the obsolete effective dates for tracking and correction devices required for dogs used to pursue deer, wild hog, fox, or coyote. These rules are now fully in effect.

68A-13.003 Hunting Regulations for Ducks, Geese, and Coots

  • Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl hunts – allow non-hunting guests with required licenses and permits to actively participate (set up decoys, call and retrieve birds, etc.) in Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunts, provided they may not take wildlife with a gun.
  • Youth Waterfowl hunts – allow non-hunting adult supervisors with required licenses and permits to actively participate (set up decoys, call and retrieve birds, etc.) in Youth Waterfowl Hunts, provided they may not take wildlife with a gun.

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

  • Hunting with dogs – remove the 17-inch shoulder height restriction for dogs used for hunting.
  • Non-protected birds – allow take of non-protected birds, such as collared doves and Egyptian goose, during established area seasons, with no bag or size limit, using methods of take as allowed by season.
  • Shooting hours – allow the take of mourning and white-winged doves and ducks, geese, and coot from ½ hour before sunrise until sunset unless otherwise specified by area-specific regulations.

68A-15.004 General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas

  • Hunting with dogs – allow dogs to be used for hunting non-protected birds during any period in which taking migratory birds with dogs is allowed.
  • Shooting hours – allow the take of mourning and white-winged doves from ½ hour before sunrise until sunset during Phase 1 of the statewide mourning and white-winged dove season, unless otherwise specified by area-specific regulations.

68A-15.005 Quota Permits; Antlerless Deer Permits; Special-Opportunity Permits

  • Quota and Special-opportunity permits – remove the requirement for Commission approval of the annual Executive Order that sets the number of limited entry quota permits prior to signature by the Executive Director.

68A-15.006 Regulations Relating to Miscellaneous Areas

  • Babcock Ranch Preserve Tier I Hunt Area – allow recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) and golf carts to be used during the general gun for mobility-impaired season by certified mobility-impaired hunters; and allow the take of gray squirrel throughout the family hunt and general gun seasons.
  • Babcock Ranch Preserve Tier II Hunt Area – allow the take of wildlife with centerfire rifles during small game season; allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used to take non-protected birds; and allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout the antlered deer season.
  • Babcock Ranch Preserve Tier II Hunt Area – allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout general gun season.

Southwest Region

68A-15.061 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Southwest Region – revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Southwest Region as follows:

  • Avon Park Air Force Range WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Babcock Webb WMA – prohibit vehicular access to the management area, except for the Bird Dog Training Area, during periods closed to hunting and during the raccoon and opossum season; and correct a previous error to return the small game hunt to one 14-day hunt and a 28-day hunt on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays only.
  • Babcock Webb WMA, Yucca Pens Unit – remove conflicting reference to Rule 68A-13.004 from the small game season.
  • Chassahowitzka WMA – remove conflicting reference to Rule 68A-13.004 from the wild hog-dog season.
  • Croom WMA – prohibit the dismembering of deer prior to checking at the check station.
  • Everglades Headwaters WMA, Hatchineha Unit – change area name from “Everglades Headwaters Wildlife Management Area – Hatchineha Unit” to “Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Management Area – Hatchineha Unit”; remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules); and allow dogs under physical restraint on the area outside of established hunting seasons.
  • Green Swamp WMA, West Unit – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Hilochee WMA – begin the general gun hunt 1 day earlier (change from Saturday through Monday to Friday through Sunday format).
  • Hilochee WMA, Osprey Unit – begin the general gun hunt 1 day earlier (change from Saturday through Monday to Friday through Sunday format).
  • KICCO WMA – allow hunting in the area north and east of River Ranch Boulevard (Packingham Slough) during established area seasons.
  • Lower Hillsborough WMA – establish two 3-day family/youth small game hunts (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only) with 1 hunt each occurring in mid-February and early-March (5 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions).
  • Orange Hammock WMA – allow vehicles to be operated on Main Grade between the designated entrance and WMA Gate 1 and allow persons participating in a quota hunt to operate vehicles on Main Grade south of WMA Gate 1; allow additional vehicle access to people participating in the mobility impaired hunt on roads and trails identified during the required mobility impaired pre-hunt meeting; remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules); and extend the hours that motor vehicles may be operated during spring turkey hunts to one and a half hours after sunset.
  • Upper Hillsborough WMA – increase the small game season from 6 days to 8 days by extending it to the last day of gray squirrel season (Saturdays and Sundays only); and remove conflicting reference to 68A-13.004 from the small game season.

North Central Region

68A-15.062 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - North Central Region – revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the North Central Region as follows:

  • Bayard WMA – correct an error to return the wild hog-still season to a 3-day weekend hunt; allow walk-in access by other recreational users during quota hunts; remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules); and prohibit the use of centerfire rifles during small game season.
  • Belmore WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Camp Blanding WMA – prohibit hunting within 100 ft of East Tank Trail and Ridge Road.
  • Devil’s Hammock WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Flying Eagle WMA – shift the first 3-day small game season hunt to occur during the Veterans and Active Military Waterfowl Hunt days.
  • Four Creeks WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Hatchet Creek WMA – allow walk-in access by other recreational users during quota hunts; and remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Little River WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Log Landing WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Middle Aucilla WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Nutrien - White Springs WMA – allow public fishing from sunrise to sunset year-round (no Nutrien permit required), except during periods open to hunting.
  • Potts WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Ralph E. Simmons Memorial WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Steinhatchee Springs WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Thomas Creek WMA, Kings Road Unit – allow walk-in access by other recreational users during quota hunts; and remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Twin Rivers WMA – expand the archery season from 16 days to 21 days by changing the second archery hunt from 9 days to 7 days and adding a third 7-day hunt (45 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions).

Northwest Region

68A-15.063 Specific regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northwest Region - revise specific area regulations on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the Northwest Region as follows:

  • Apalachee WMA – clarify that take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season.
  • Apalachicola WMA – increase the antler point restriction (APR) from 2 points on a side to 3 points or a 10-inch main beam on a side.
  • Aucilla WMA – establish a nighttime raccoon season in the dog hunt area opening the first Thursday in July and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only).
  • Beaverdam Creek WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt beginning the second Saturday in March.
  • Blackwater WMA – expand the field trial area (FTA) using a portion of newly acquired acres; extend the archery season in the FTA by allowing archery hunting during the general gun season dates (except for the Archery/Muzzleloading Gun quota hunt); prohibit the take of antlerless deer during extended archery season dates; prohibit the take of turkey during extended archery season dates; remove obsolete language regarding permit and group size requirements during quail season on the FTA; and clarify that the take of wild hogs with dogs is allowed during small game season in the dog hunt area.
  • Box-R WMA – remove the requirement for hunters using the Gulf County portion of the area to check in and out of the area and to check harvested wildlife; remove unnecessary requirement for vehicles to enter the area at a designated entrance; remove the quota requirement for the Gulf County portion of the area; establish a second small game season beginning the second Saturday in February and closing the first Sunday in March; establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt beginning the second Saturday in March; require hunters to hunt with the aid of a dog during the wild hog-dog quota season; and extend wild hog-dog hunts to run from noon on Wednesdays to noon on Mondays.
  • Econfina Creek WMA – move 1,447 acres from the still hunt area to the dog hunt area and move 1,785 acres from the dog hunt area to the still hunt area.
  • Eglin Air Force Base WMA – allow bicycles and electric bicycles in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander; prohibit the take of turkey during archery season to align with posted Eglin rules; remove unnecessary or incorrect APR language; and prohibit hunting of raccoons at night by the aid of a light and dogs, except in areas and during days specified by the Installation Commander.
  • Escambia River WMA – establish an additional 3-day wild hog-dog hunt each month from May-September; correct a clerical error that excluded September wild hog-dog season dates; establish a trapping season opening December 1 and closing March 1; and close the general gun season during the 2-day family hunt.
  • Escribano Point WMA – clarify that the take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season.
  • Flint Rock WMA – replace SR 59 with U.S. Highway 98 in language prohibiting hunting on or from certain rights-of-way.
  • Garcon Point WMA – establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (3,245 acres) in Santa Rosa County as follows:

Open Seasons:

    • Archery: 16-day season (four 4-day hunts, 10 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
    • Muzzleloading gun: 3-day season (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions)
    • General gun: 12-day season (three 4-day hunts, 10 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
    • Small game (excluding archery/muzzleloading gun season): 34-day season (no quota) and allow hunting of migratory birds during statewide seasons (no quota)
    • Archery/Muzzleloading Gun: 3-day season (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions)
    • Spring turkey: 12-day season (three 4-day hunts, 5 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
    • Fishing and frogging: allowed year-round

Legal to Hunt:

    • Allow hunting of all legal game, turkey (gobbler or bearded turkeys only), fish, frogs, and furbearers
    • The bag limit for deer will be 1 deer per quota permit during the archery season and 1 antlered deer per quota permit during muzzleloading gun, general gun, and archery/muzzleloading gun seasons
    • The bag limit for turkey will be 1 gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit
    • Prohibit the harvest of antlered deer not having at least 1 antler with 2 or more points (except by persons less than 16 years of age)
    • Allow the harvest of antlerless deer during archery season
    • Allow take of turkey during archery and spring turkey seasons only
    • Allow take of wild hog during small game season and during all quota hunts (except spring turkey) with no bag limits or size restrictions

General Area Rules:

    • Allow public access year-round
    • All persons must enter and exit the area at a designated entrance
    • Airboats, motor vehicles (including street legal vehicles, ATVs, side-by-sides, and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles), swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles are prohibited, except street legal vehicles are allowed in designated parking areas
    • Prohibit hunting with centerfire rifles
    • Prohibit hunting with dogs, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt migratory birds during their respective statewide seasons and any dog may be used to hunt small game (gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, quail, and rabbits) during small game season
    • Prohibit the take of wild hog with dogs
    • Prohibit camping and fires
  • Joe Budd WMA – clarify that the take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season.
  • Lafayette Creek WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt beginning the second Saturday in March; and remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Perdido River WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Pine Log WMA – add a 3-day archery hunt in the archery-only area that would coincide with the muzzleloading gun season dates on the rest of the area.
  • Point Washington WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt beginning the second Saturday in March; and clarify that take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season.
  • Plank Road WMA – increase archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, and general gun mobility-impaired quotas from 30 to 40 and family hunt and spring turkey quotas from 15 to 20 in response to new acres added to the area; clarify that the take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season; and correct a clerical error that inadvertently prohibited the take of antlerless deer during archery season.
  • Talquin WMA – clarify that the take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season.
  • Tate’s Hell WMA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt beginning the second Saturday in March; allow hunting of snipe and woodcock during their respective statewide seasons; and increase the antler point restriction (APR) from 2 points on a side to 3 points or a 10-inch main beam on a side.
  • Tate’s Hell WMA, St. James Island Unit – correct a clerical error that omitted snipe and woodcock from the list of migratory birds allowed to be hunted with dogs; and clarify that the take of wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season.
  • Tate’s Hell WMA, Womack Creek Unit – allow hunting of doves, snipe, and woodcock during their respective statewide seasons.
  • Yellow River WMA – allow camping for a maximum of 14 days, by special use permit or at designated primitive sites only, within that portion of the area managed by the Florida Forest Service.

South Region

68A-15.064 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - South Region – revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the South Region as follows:

  • Allapattah Flats WMA – establish two wild hog-still hunts opening the fourth Saturday in March and April and closing 8 days thereafter; allow the take of quail throughout the family hunt and general gun season; clarify bag limit language for deer during the family hunt; clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited; and allow vehicle access on numbered trails from 3 days prior to through one day after the archery, muzzleloading gun, family hunt, general gun, youth turkey, spring turkey, and wild hog-still hunt seasons.
  • Big Cypress WMA – remove unnecessary or incorrect language for the take of non-native reptiles that was replaced by Executive Order 20-17 (Take of non-native reptiles in FWC South Region); and remove redundant language regarding take of deer with dogs (take of deer with dogs would continue to be prohibited).
  • Dinner Island Ranch WMA – allow the take of mourning and white-winged doves from ½ hour before sunrise until sunset throughout the area during all 3 phases of the statewide mourning and white-winged dove season; clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited; and allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout general gun season.
  • Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA – correct clerical error that removed requirement to check deer at the check station prior to removing them from the area during periods when check stations are staffed; remove unnecessary or incorrect language for the take of non-native reptiles that was replaced by Executive Order 20-17 (Take of non-native reptiles in FWC South Region); clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season; prohibit motor vehicles, swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles outside hunting seasons and associated scouting periods (and standardize existing vehicle language in related vehicle rules for the area), except street legal vehicles are allowed on designated levees as indicated on the brochure map; and allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout general gun-walk season.
  • Everglades Headwaters WMA, Kissimmee Bend Unit – prohibit RVs and camping trailers; correct a clerical error from 2021 that prohibited take of crows throughout the statewide season; allow the take of quail throughout general gun season; correct a clerical error from 2022 by opening the small game season during the statewide quail season instead of the day after the last day of the general gun; clarify that campfires are only allowed for permitted campers in designated campsites; allow vehicular access for hunters during archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, family hunt, small game, and spring turkey seasons and three days prior to and after each of these seasons; correct a clerical error from 2022 regarding bicycle and horse rules by allowing bicycles and horses to be operated only on designated roads and trails as indicated on the brochure map; clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited; and extend the period when individuals with valid quota permits and their guests are allowed to operate all-terrain vehicles, side-by-sides, and swamp buggies to include one day prior to and one day after their permitted quota hunt.
  • Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge WMA, Okeechobee Unit – establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (1,865 acres) in Okeechobee County as follows:

Open Seasons:

    • Archery: 16-day season (four 4-day hunts, 8 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
    • Muzzleloading gun: 3-day season (8 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions)
    • Small game: 102-day season (no quota) and allow hunting of migratory birds during statewide seasons (no quota)
    • General gun: 9-day season (three 3-day hunts, 8 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
    • Family hunt: 3-day season during winter break (4 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions)
    • Youth turkey: 2-day season (4 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions)
    • Spring turkey: 12-day season (four 3-day hunts, 4 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
    • Fishing and frogging: allowed year-round

Legal to Hunt:

    • Allow hunting of all legal game, turkey (gobbler or bearded turkeys only), fish, frogs, and furbearers (except bobcat and otter)
    • The bag limit for deer will be 1 antlered deer per quota permit during the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun seasons, and 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but no more than 1 per person, during the family hunt
    • The bag limit for turkey will be 1 gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit
    • Prohibit the harvest of antlered deer not having at least 1 antler with 3 or more points or a 10” main beam (except by persons less than 16 years of age)
    • Prohibit the harvest of antlerless deer during archery season
    • Allow take of turkey during archery, youth turkey, and spring turkey seasons only
    • Allow take of wild hog during small game season and during all quota hunts (except youth and spring turkey) with no bag limits or size restrictions

General Area Rules:

    • Allow public access year-round. Public access is prohibited at night except by individuals who possess a valid camping permit and during established hunts by individuals authorized to participate in the hunt.
    • Require all users to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance
    • Prohibit vehicular access, except individuals participating in hunts may operate street legal vehicles on designated roads as indicated on the brochure map during archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, family hunt, small game, and spring turkey seasons and for hunting-related activities three days prior to and after each of these seasons; and individuals who possess a valid camping permit may operate street legal vehicles on designated roads during the dates listed on their permit
    • Airboats, off-highway vehicles (including ATVs, side-by-sides, and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles), swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles are prohibited, except during and one day prior to and after quota hunts, when individuals possessing a valid quota permit and their guests may operate all-terrain vehicles, side-by-sides, and swamp buggies on designated roads as indicated on the brochure map
    • Allow hunting with centerfire rifles during small game season
    • Prohibit hunting with dogs, except bird dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt migratory birds during their respective statewide seasons and any dog may be used to hunt small game (gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, quail, and rabbits) during small game season
    • Prohibit the take of wild hog with dogs
    • Allow hunting only with non-toxic ammunition approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    • Allow bicycles to be operated only on designated roads and trails as indicated on the brochure map
    • Prohibit horses, except on designated roads and trails as indicated on the brochure map
    • Allow camping by USFWS permit in designated campsites only (RVs and camping trailers are prohibited)
    • Prohibit campfires
  • Fisheating Creek WMA – allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout general gun season; clarify bag limit language for deer during archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun seasons; and prohibit the discharge of a bow, crossbow, or airgun or the take of wildlife on or from the Palmdale Campground, Knobby Knee Boardwalk, or the associated entrance road or parking lot.
  • Holey Land WMA – correct clerical error that removed requirement to check deer at the check station prior to removing them from the area during periods when check stations are staffed; remove unnecessary or incorrect language for the take of non-native reptiles that was replaced by Executive Order 20-17 (Take of non-native reptiles in FWC South Region); clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season; prohibit motor vehicles, swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles outside hunting seasons and associated scouting periods (and standardize existing vehicle language in related vehicle rules for the area), except street legal vehicles are allowed on designated levees as indicated on the brochure map; and allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout general gun-walk season.
  • J.W. Corbett WMA – allow tree stands during small game season; correct clerical error from 2022 that only allows hunters to operate non-street legal vehicles on numbered trails during designated periods by updating to allow hunters also to operate street legal vehicles on numbered trails during designated periods; clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season; and prohibit the discharge of a bow, crossbow, or airgun from the Hungryland Boardwalk, nature trail, entrance road, or parking lot.
  • Okaloacoochee Slough WMA – allow wild hog to be dismembered before checking at the check station; allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting doves, snipe, and waterfowl during their respective statewide seasons; clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited; correct a clerical error that caused the family hunt to overlap the small game season; correct a clerical error that caused the requirement to check wild hog at the check station before dismemberment to stay in effect; and allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout general gun season.
  • Picayune Strand WMA – increase the antler point restriction from 2 points on a side to 3 points or a 10-inch main beam on a side; allow the take of quail throughout general gun season; allow take of 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but no more than 1 per person during archery season; clarify existing bag limit language for deer during muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; allow bird dogs and retrievers to be used for hunting doves, snipe, and waterfowl during their respective statewide seasons; clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited; clarify existing language for off-highway vehicles; remove unnecessary or incorrect language for take of non-native reptiles that was replaced by Executive Order 20-17 (Take of non-native reptiles in FWC South Region); and convert the existing 16-day non-quota archery hunt to one 7-day and one 9-day quota archery hunt (145 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions).
  • Rotenberger WMA – correct clerical error that removed requirement to check deer at the check station prior to removing them from the area during periods when check stations are staffed; remove unnecessary or incorrect language for the take of non-native reptiles that was replaced by Executive Order 20-17 (Take of non-native reptiles in FWC South Region); clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited during small game season; prohibit motor vehicles, swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles outside hunting seasons and associated scouting periods (and standardize existing vehicle language in related vehicle rules for the area), except street legal vehicles are allowed on designated levees as indicated on the brochure map; and allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout general gun-walk season.
  • Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA – allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout general gun season; clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited; and clarify bag limit language for deer during archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun seasons.

Northeast Region

68A-15.065 Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas - Northeast Region – revise specific area regulations on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Northeast Region as follows:

  • Bull Creek/Herky Huffman WMA – establish a nighttime raccoon hunting season (3 weekend hunts, Fridays – Sundays, allows the use of dogs).
  • Caravelle Ranch WMA – establish a 3-day youth deer hunt by converting the first 3 days (Friday – Sunday) of the existing 9-day supervised small game hunt (10 quota permits, no exemptions, South Unit only.
  • Dunns Creek WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules); and allow walk-in access by other recreational users during quota hunts. Currently this area only allows access to hunters participating in quota hunts.
  • Gores Landing WMA – delete language prohibiting the use of centerfire rifles during small game season. (Technical correction – this rule was approved last year but was missed in the NPRs).
  • Lake Panasoffkee WMA – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Three Lakes WMA – adjust dates for nighttime raccoon season to alternate weekends with the new Bull Creek WMA dates to provide more opportunity in the local area.
  • Tiger Bay WMA, Rima Ridge Unit – remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).
  • Tosohatchee WMA – re-establish the area with a name change to “William Beardall Tosohatchee WMA”.
  • Triple N Ranch WMA – shift the deer hunts 14 days earlier so the first deer hunt starts on the first Saturday in October; remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules); and allow special opportunity hunt permit holders to camp in the designated campground for the scouting days associated with their hunts beginning at 8 am on the day before each scout day.
  • Upper St. John’s River Marsh WMA - remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WMA rules).

Wildlife and Environmental Areas

68A-17.004 General Regulations Relating to Wildlife and Environmental Areas

  • Hunting with dogs – allow dogs to be used for hunting non-protected birds during any period in which taking migratory birds with dogs is allowed.
  • Shooting hours – allow the take of mourning and white-winged doves from ½ hour before sunrise until sunset during Phase 1 of the statewide mourning and white-winged dove season, unless otherwise specified by area-specific regulations.

68A-17.005 Specific regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas – revise specific area regulations on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) as follows:

Southwest Region

  • Bullfrog Creek Mitigation Park WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Chinsegut WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Crooked Lake Mitigation Park WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Hickey Creek Mitigation Park WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Little Gator Creek WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Moody Branch Mitigation Park WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Perry Oldenburg Mitigation Park WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Platt Branch Mitigation Park WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.

Northwest Region

  • Apalachicola River WEA – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt beginning the second Saturday in March; and allow the possession of dogs on leashes for purposes other than hunting during spring turkey season.
  • L. Kirk Edwards WEA – allow deer hunting west of Chaires Cross Road and exempt waterfowl hunters from the quota requirement (west of Chaires Cross Road only). Note: Small game season dates would remain the same west of Chaires Cross Road.

North Central Region

  • Bell Ridge Longleaf WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Branan Field WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Fort White WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Lafayette Forest WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Santa Fe Swamp WEA – allow the use of shotguns to take turkey during spring turkey season.
  • Suwannee Ridge WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.
  • Watermelon Pond WEA – allow the possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.

South Region

  • CREW WEA – re-name the archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun quota hunts in the Corkscrew Marsh Unit as wild hog quota hunts (because the take of deer is prohibited); clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited; and remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WEA rules).
  • DuPuis WEA – allow the take of quail throughout general gun season; and remove redundant language prohibiting trapping (already prohibited by general WEA rules).
  • Hungryland WEA – establish one 3-day wild hog still-hunt beginning the first Friday in September; clarify bag limit language for deer during archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun seasons; clarify that dogs may only be used for hunting migratory birds during their respective statewide seasons; clarify that taking wild hog with dogs is prohibited; and allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout general gun season.
  • Southern Glades WEA – remove unnecessary or incorrect language for take of non-native reptiles that was replaced by EO 20-17 (Take of non-native reptiles in FWC South Region); and allow the take of gray squirrel and quail throughout general gun season.

Northeast Region

  • Split Oak Forest WEA – allow possession of dogs under physical restraint for purposes other than hunting.