Hunting Rule Changes

At the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) February 2024 meeting, Commissioners approved rule changes related to 2024-2025 hunting seasons, including many dealing with FWC-managed lands. Below is a summary of those changes. Most rules will take effect July 1, 2024.

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

Gun – add the term “Muzzleloading gun,” as defined in Subsection 68A-1.004(46), F.A.C., which includes muzzleloading long guns (rifled or smoothbore barrels), shotguns, pistols, and revolvers. Previously, this subsection treated “muzzleloading rifles,” “muzzleloading shotguns,” “muzzleloading pistols,” and “muzzleloading revolvers” as “rifles,” “shotguns,” “pistols,” and “revolvers,” respectively, even though muzzleloading guns do not meet the respective federal definitions of “rifle,” “shotgun,” “pistol,” or “revolver."
Muzzleloading gun – modify the existing language to include muzzleloading revolvers, which are loaded from the muzzle end of the cylinder chamber, as opposed to other muzzleloading guns, which are loaded from the muzzle of the barrel.

68A-9.004 Permits for Hunting or Other Recreational Use on Wildlife Management Areas

Flint Rock WMA Permit Fees – remove rule language for permit fees and numbers for Flint Rock WMA because the area has been disestablished.
Grove Park WMA Permit Fees – increase Recreational Use Permit fees from $432 to $610.
Gulf Hammock WMA Permit Fees – increase Recreational Use Permit fees from $690 to $1,040.

68A-9.008 Permits for Physically Disabled

Alternative Mobility Permits – update the criteria that allow individuals to qualify for an alternative mobility permit to align with recent changes to Federal rules.
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-12.003 Protection of Certain Deer and Turkey; Tagging of Deer, Bear, and Turkey; Deer Harvest Reporting; Evidence of Sex Required

Evidence of legal turkey harvest – remove the requirement to keep positive evidence of sex, including the head, and if applicable, the beard, “on” the carcass, and instead require those who possess a harvested wild turkey or its parts to keep the head, and if applicable, the beard “with” the carcass as evidence of legal harvest until a harvested wild turkey arrives at a taxidermist, meat processor, the home of its possessor, or is cooked, except those who are unable to possess evidence of legal harvest are only required to provide the identifying information of the harvester.
Evidence of legal deer harvest – remove the requirement to keep positive evidence of sex, including the genitals and the head, with the deer or its parts, and instead require at least the skull plate, with any antler if applicable, be kept as evidence of legal harvest until a harvested deer arrives at a taxidermist, meat processor, the home of its possessor, or is cooked, except those who are unable to possess evidence of legal harvest are only required to provide the identifying information of the harvester.

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

License and permit requirements for field trials on WMAs – clarify that a management area permit and hunting license are not required to participate in an organized field trial event on a WMA.

68A-12.008 Use of Pen-raised Quail for Training Bird Dogs

Muzzleloading gun – allow the use of muzzleloading guns firing two or more balls when taking quail for the purpose of bird dog training.

68A-13.004 Hunting Regulations for Non-Migratory Game and Issuance of Antlerless Deer Permits and Private Lands Deer Management Permits

Squirrel hunting on private land – allow the take of gray squirrel year-round on lands outside the WMA system.

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

Muzzleloading gun – allow the use of muzzleloading guns firing 2 or more balls on public small-game hunting areas.

68A-15.004 General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas

Hunting equipment on WMAs – define the term “hunting equipment” for the purposes of this rule as “tree stands and elevated shooting platforms” when referencing what items can and cannot be left on WMAs; and use the term “hunt” instead of the term “season” when referencing time periods when tree stands and elevated shooting platforms are allowed on WMAs.
Deer-dog hunting permit – require a no-cost permit for taking deer with dogs on WMAs. This free permit was requested by Florida dog hunting organizations to provide a method of collecting information regarding participation in deer-dog hunting on Commission-managed lands.

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

Transferability of special opportunity permits – restrict transferability of special opportunity quota permits so that non-residents may only transfer permits to non-residents and residents may only transfer permits to residents.

68A-15.006 Regulations Relating to Miscellaneous Areas

Babcock Ranch Preserver, Tier I Hunt Area - remove unnecessary reference to the take of gray squirrel during general gun season, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Babcock Ranch Preserve Tier II Hunt Area – prohibit access to any portion of the Babcock Ranch Preserve, except as allowed by rule and require that permittees and participants enter and exit from their designated access and proceed directly to their permitted area.

68A-24.002 Methods of Taking Fur-Bearing Animals; Possession; Open Season

Muzzleloading gun – allow the use of a single-shot .410 gauge muzzleloading gun using shot no larger than No. 6 for taking raccoon or opossum at night.

68A-24.005 Transporting and Shipping Live Raccoons

Transporting live raccoons – allow the transport of wild-trapped, live raccoons by persons possessing a valid wildlife rehabilitation permit.

Southwest Region

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

Croom WMA – allow the take of antlerless deer during muzzleloading gun season by antlerless deer permit only.
Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge WMA, Hatchineha Unit – prohibit public access from 5 hours after sunset until 0.5 hours before sunrise, except for those persons legally participating in a hunt during established seasons.
Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA – remove the 15-inch minimum shoulder height restriction for wild hog.
Green Swamp WMA, West Unit – establish a 3-day family small game hunt (Saturday-Monday) opening the second Saturday in November (25 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions).
Lower Hillsborough WMA – change the youth small game hunt to a family small game hunt.
Orange Hammock WMA – allow the take of antlerless deer during archery season and establish a bag limit of 1 antlered or 1 antlerless deer per quota permit during archery season.
Upper Hillsborough WMA – reduce the number of spring turkey daily quota permits from 75 each day to 45 each day and fix a clerical error that resulted in the small game season being shortened by two days.

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:

Andrews - convert the supervised youth hunt to a family hunt and prohibit the supervising adult from taking wildlife with a gun (which includes archery equipment); shift the first wild hog-still hunt from the last weekend in April to the first weekend in February and shift the second wild hog-still hunt from the first weekend in May to the second weekend in February; shift the last small game hunt from the last weekend in January to the second weekend in December; establish a 3-day wild hog-still hunt (25 daily quota permits, first come first served issued at the check station) to open 3 days prior to the existing third small game hunt; and establish that when the check stations are staffed, hunters must check in and out when entering and leaving the area and check all harvested game.
Bayard – change area name from Bayard Wildlife Management Area to J.P. Hall Bayard Point Wildlife Management Area; and shift the wild hog still quota hunt from late February to the last weekend in May (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
Big Bend Hickory Mound Unit - allow the use of crossbows to take wildlife during the general gun season and small game season within Hickory Mound Impoundment; and shift the archery hunt to begin one week earlier.
Camp Blanding - convert the supervised youth hunt to a family hunt, allowing the take of one antlered or one antlerless deer per quota permit, and prohibit the supervising adult from taking wildlife with a gun (which includes archery equipment); modify the general gun still season by excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas Day and extending the season by one day at the beginning and one day at the end.
Four Creeks – allow hunting on Thursdays during the small game season; and prohibit camping.
Goethe - shift the family hunt to occur 7 days prior to the opening of general gun still hunt and begin the muzzleloading gun hunt 7 days prior to accommodate the family hunt shift; and increase the general gun season from 10 days to 13 days, change the general gun season from three quota hunts (two 3-day, one 4-day) to one 7-day hunt and one 6-day hunt.
Gulf Hammock – allow hunting equipment to be placed on the area the weekend prior to the hunting season and be removed the weekend following the hunting season.
Osceola – prohibit the use of a light in the manner capable of disclosing the presence of wildlife from midnight to ½ hour before sunrise during general gun season; and prohibit the operation of motorized vehicles on mixed use trails from sunset to sunrise.
Twin Rivers - extend the close of the small game season to close the last day of the statewide gray squirrel season; and establish that when the check stations are staffed, hunters must check in and out when entering and leaving the area and check all harvested game.

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 – establish a nighttime raccoon season from September 1-15 (Zone A) and September 16-30 (Zones B and C) and from the day after the last day of general gun season through the day before the first day of spring turkey season (Zones A, B, and C); clarify methods of take allowed on the area; and clarify rule language for issuance of zone tags.
Apalachicola WMA – clarify that deer may be pursued with dogs for training purposes only during the deer-dog training season in the fox hunt area.
Apalachicola WMA, Bradwell Unit – clarify that during the wild hog-dog season, which is held during nighttime hours only, no wild hog shall be shot until bayed by dogs.
Aucilla WMA – clarify that during the wild hog-dog season, wild hog may be hunted during the day with or without dogs and no wild hog shall be shot at night until bayed by dogs; clarify existing bag limit language for muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons in the Pinhook Still Hunt Area; clarify that nighttime raccoon and opossum hunting is allowed in the dog hunt area only; clarify that a quota permit is not required to hunt raccoon and opossum from one hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise during any quota period; and adjust rule language for the small game season to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Beaverdam Creek WMA – establish a nighttime raccoon season opening the first Thursday in July and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only); allow nighttime raccoon hunting during the small game season and do not require a quota permit for those hunting raccoon and opossum from one hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise during any quota period; clarify that during the youth turkey hunt, one gobbler or bearded turkey may be taken per quota permit; clarify existing bag limit language for the spring turkey season; and clarify that during the wild hog-dog season, wild hog may be hunted during the day with or without dogs and no wild hog shall be shot at night until bayed by dogs.
Blackwater WMA – allow wild hog to be hunted during daylight hours in the West Boundary Forest portion of the area, except during the wild hog-dog season; allow nighttime raccoon hunting during the small game season in the Dog Hunt Area; clarify that all motorized vehicles are prohibited, except street-legal motor vehicles are allowed on named and numbered roads; clarify that motor vehicles are limited to named and numbered roads; clarify that during the family hunt, supervising adults other than the permit holder may participate in the hunt, but may not take wildlife with a gun; and clarify that during the wild hog-dog season, wild hog may be hunted during the day with or without dogs (except in the West Boundary Forest Unit) and no wild hog shall be shot at night until bayed by dogs.
Blackwater WMA, Carr Unit – clarify the open season for the area is intended to close concurrently with the statewide quail season.
Blackwater WMA, Hutton Unit – allow individuals with valid quota permits and their guests to use street-legal vehicles on the powerline easement during quail hunts (14 days/year); establish a 2-day family hunt (20 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) beginning the second Saturday in February and allow the take of up to 3 deer per family hunt quota permit, but no more than 1 deer per person and no more than 1 antlerless deer per family hunt quota permit; require hunters to check in and out daily during all area quota hunts; clarify existing bag limit language for the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons; and clarify that during the wild hog-dog season, wild hog may be hunted during the day with or without dogs and no wild hog shall be shot at night until bayed by dogs.
Box-R WMA – clarify that during the youth turkey hunt, one gobbler or bearded turkey may be taken per quota permit; clarify that during spring turkey season, two gobblers or bearded turkeys may be taken per quota permit, but no more than one per person; and clarify that deer taken on the Gulf County portion of the area are not required to be checked and can, therefore, be dismembered before leaving the area.
Chipola River WMA, Altha Tract – establish a 2-day youth turkey hunt (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) beginning the second Saturday in March; and clarify existing bag limit language for spring turkey season.
Choctawhatchee River WMA – allow rabbit dogs and squirrel dogs to be used for hunting in the Still Hunt Area; allow opossum to be hunted during the raccoon season; and clarify that during the wild hog-dog season, wild hog may be hunted during the day with or without dogs and no wild hog shall be shot at night until bayed by dogs.
Econfina Creek WMA – allow rabbit dogs and squirrel dogs to be used for hunting in the Still Hunt Area; and clarify that migratory birds other than waterfowl can be hunted during their respective statewide seasons.
Econfina Creek WMA, Cat Creek – establish a 4-day family hunt (20 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) beginning Christmas Eve and allow the take of 1 antlerless deer per family hunt quota permit.
Econfina Creek WMA, Fitzhugh Carter Area – establish a daily quota of 15 to be issued first come, first served at the check station during early waterfowl and small game seasons.
Eglin Air Force Base WMA – specify that the Installation Commander designates when hunters must check in/out and check harvested game; and align the rule language for archery/muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons with when hunts are held on the ground.
Escambia River WMA – allow rabbit dogs and squirrel dogs to be used for hunting in the Still Hunt Area; allow opossum to be hunted during the raccoon season; clarify that during the wild hog-dog season, wild hog may be hunted during the day with or without dogs and no wild hog shall be shot at night until bayed by dogs; and clarify that during the family hunt, up to two youths, 8-15 years of age, and one adult, not younger than 18 years of age, may hunt as long as each youth is physically accompanied and supervised by the adult.
Escribano Point WMA – prohibit motorized vehicles from one and one-half hours after sunset to one and one-half hours before sunrise.
Flint Rock WMA – remove all applicable rule language due to disestablishment of the area.
Garcon Point WMA – clarify that vessels may enter the Avalon and Garcon tracts anywhere along their coastline boundaries with Escambia and East bays; clarify that nighttime access to improved recreational areas is allowed only for those participating in authorized hunting and fishing activities; clarify that taking wildlife from designated hiking trails is prohibited; and adjust rule language for the small game season to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Joe Budd WMA – remove the daily quota requirement during small game season; and require hunters to check in and out of the area and check harvested game only when the check station is staffed.
Juniper Creek WMA – include in rule the date on which the Zone Tag drawing is held.
Lafayette Creek WMA – delete the redundant wild hog-still season in February (covered by small game season dates) and establish a wild hog-still season on the first and third weekends (Friday-Monday) of May-September; establish a 3-day archery/muzzleloading gun hunt (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) beginning the third Friday in February; and clarify that northern bobwhite may only be released during non-quota periods.
Ochlockonee River WMA – allow waterfowl hunting during statewide seasons (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only); establish a quota of 10 no-cost permits (no exemptions) for each hunt during the spring turkey season to address hunter crowding; decrease the quota for the first 5 days of the archery/muzzleloading gun season from 70 to 45 to address hunter crowding; and adjust rule language for the small game season to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Perdido River WMA – extend the small game season by 10 days to open the second Saturday in November instead of 3 days prior to Thanksgiving; and adjust rule language for the close of the small game season to ensure the current season ending date is maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Pine Log WMA – decrease the quota for the existing muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons from 60 to 40 per hunt to reduce hunter crowding and offer new hunting opportunities as follows: establish a 2-day family hunt (20 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) beginning the fourth Saturday in December and allow the take of 1 antlerless deer per family hunt quota permit, establish a 3-day archery/muzzleloading gun hunt (40 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) beginning the third Friday in February, and allow archery hunting in the archery-only area during general gun season dates without a quota permit (no antlerless take allowed); clarify that during the archery season, the take of antlerless deer is only allowed on the first 23 days; clarify that northern bobwhite may only be released during non-quota periods; and clarify that opossum may be hunted with dogs during the raccoon season.
Plank Road WMA – allow waterfowl hunting during statewide seasons; allow nighttime raccoon hunting during the small game season; and adjust rule language for the small game season to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Point Washington WMA – convert the existing 13-day quota hunt (150 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) at the beginning of general gun season to a 4-day family hunt (50 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) followed by a 9-day general gun hunt (150 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) and allow the take of 1 antlerless deer per quota permit during the family hunt; establish a nighttime raccoon season opening the first Thursday in July and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only); clarify that all motorized vehicles are prohibited, except street-legal motor vehicles; and clarify that motor vehicles are limited to named and numbered roads.
Talquin WMA – establish a quota of 10 no-cost permits (no exemptions) for each hunt during the spring turkey season to address hunter crowding; decrease the quota for the first 5 days of the general gun season from 70 to 45 to address hunter crowding; clarify that only Fridays, Saturday, and Sunday are open for hunting during the small game season; and adjust rule language for the small game season to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Tate’s Hell WMA – move the quota period from the first 13 days of the general gun season to the last 13 days of the general gun season to address hunter crowding occurring during the last two weeks of the season; clarify that those hunting raccoon and opossum from one hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise are not required to have a quota permit during any quota period; and clarify that deer may be pursued with dogs during daylight hours only and for training purposes only during the deer-dog training season in the fox hunt area.
Tate’s Hell WMA, St. James Island Unit – adjust rule language for the small game season to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Tate’s Hell WMA, Womack Creek Unit – establish a 3-day archery/muzzleloading gun hunt (70 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) beginning the fourth Friday in January.
Telogia Creek WMA –
- Establish open seasons and regulations for a new WMA (12,384 acres) in Liberty County as follows:
  - Duck: during the 9 days of statewide September duck seasons (no quota)
  - Dove: during the first 16 days of the statewide mourning and white-winged dove season (no quota)
  - Archery: 16-day season (no quota)
  - Small game: 42-day season (no quota)
  - General gun (20-day season split into 5 hunts as follows):
    - Three 4-day hunts (no quota)
    - Followed by two 4-day hunts (70 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
  - Muzzleloading gun: 4-day season (no quota)
  - Archery/Muzzleloading Gun: 4-day season (no quota)
  - Youth turkey: 2-day season (no quota)
  - Spring turkey (17-day season split into 3 hunts as follows):
  - Two 4-day hunts (35 no-cost, quota permits for each hunt, no exemptions)
  - Followed by one 9-day hunt (no quota)
  - Fishing and frogging: allowed year-round
- Allow hunting of all legal game, wild turkey (gobbler or bearded wild turkeys only), fish, frogs, and furbearers
- The bag limit for deer will be 1 antlered deer and 1 antlerless deer during the archery season, 2 antlered deer during the muzzleloading gun and general gun seasons (except that during general gun quota hunts the bag limit will be 1 antlered deer per quota permit), and 1 antlered deer during the archery/muzzleloading gun season
- The bag limit for wild turkey will be 1 gobbler or bearded turkey per quota permit during quota hunts and 2 gobblers or bearded turkeys during spring turkey and archery seasons, respectively
- 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)
- Prohibit the harvest of antlerless deer, except during archery season
- Allow the take of wild turkey during archery and spring turkey seasons only (gobbler or bearded turkeys only)
- Allow take of wild hog (no bag limit or size restriction) during all area-specific hunting seasons with the following exceptions:
  - Duck
  - Dove
  - Spring turkey (including the youth hunt)
- Allow public access year-round
- Prohibit motor vehicles, except street legal vehicles are allowed from one and one-half hours before sunrise until one and one-half hours after sunset on designated roads and parking areas as indicated on the hunt map
- Prohibit public access other than by foot, bicycle, horseback, or vessel at all other times and in all other portions of the area.
- Prohibit airboats, ATVs, side-by-sides, unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles
- Prohibit airboats, ATVs, side-by-sides, and unlicensed and unregistered motorcycles, swamp buggies, and tracked vehicles
- Require motor vehicles to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance
- Prohibit hunting with dogs, with the following exceptions:
  - Birds dogs and retrievers may be used to hunt migratory birds whenever their respective statewide seasons overlap with area-specific seasons.
  - Bird dogs, rabbit dogs, squirrel dogs, and retrievers may be used to hunt small game (gray squirrel, migratory birds in season, quail, and rabbits) during the archery, general gun, muzzleloading gun, archery/muzzleloading gun, and small game seasons
- Require hunters to check all harvested wildlife whenever the check station is staffed
- Prohibit camping and fires
Tyndall AFB WMA –clarify that the small game season for the area is intended to close concurrently with the statewide quail season.
Yellow River WMA – establish a nighttime raccoon season opening the first Thursday in July and closing the last Sunday in August (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only).

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:

Big Cypress WMA – prohibit the take of raccoon, opossum, skunk, beaver, and armadillo; extend the small game season by 54 days in the portion of the area south of US 41; establish in rule that the archery season is open in the Deep Lake Unit on dates that correspond to muzzleloading gun season; clarify that dogs may be used for hunting in the Loop Unit; establish an annual bag limit of one antlered deer throughout the area; reduce the number of quota permits during the first 9 days of general gun season in the Turner River Unit from 500 to 250; and establish a quota of 250 during the first 9 days of general gun season in the Corn Dance Unit.
Dinner Island Ranch WMA – prohibit motorized vehicle access from 1.5 hours after sunset until 1.5 hours before sunrise; and remove unnecessary reference to the take of gray squirrel during general gun season, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA – adjust rule language for the small game season and to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season; and remove unnecessary reference to the take of gray squirrel during general gun season, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Fisheating Creek WMA – remove unnecessary reference to the take of gray squirrel during general gun season, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Holey Land WMA – adjust rule language for the small game season and to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season; and remove unnecessary reference to the take of gray squirrel during general gun season, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
W. Corbett WMA – prohibit motorized vehicles on the Florida Trail, except to cross the trail perpendicularly.
Okaloacoochee Slough WMA – increase quota permits for archery, muzzleloading gun, and general gun seasons from 145 to 185; increase quota permits for spring turkey season from 55 to 75; increase quota permits for the family hunt from 45 to 65; increase quota permits for the youth turkey hunt from 10 to 20; shift the first archery hunt to begin 7 days earlier and separate the individual archery, general gun, and spring turkey hunts by at least 2 days to allow hunters time to set up and remove hunting equipment between hunts; adjust rule language for the small game season and to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season; and remove unnecessary reference to the take of gray squirrel during general gun season, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Picayune Strand WMA – allow individuals participating in a hunt to access the area from 3 hours before sunrise until 3 hours after sunset and allow persons with a valid camping permit and their guests to access designated campsites at any time during the dates listed on their permit; and shift the first archery hunt to begin 7 days earlier and separate the individual archery, general gun, and spring turkey hunts by at least 2 days to allow hunters time to set up and remove hunting equipment between hunts.
Rotenberger WMA – adjust rule language for the small game season and to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season; and remove unnecessary reference to the take of gray squirrel during general gun season, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.
Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA – adjust rule language for the small game season and to ensure current season dates are maintained, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season; and remove unnecessary reference to the take of gray squirrel during general gun season, given the proposed expansion of the statewide squirrel season.

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 – remove the requirement for non-hunting recreational users to check in and out on the area.
Caravelle Ranch WMA – allow only youth under 16 years of age but not younger than eight years of age to take wildlife with a gun during the family hunt.
Dunns Creek WMA – establish a 15-day small game season for 5 consecutive weekends (Friday – Sunday) ending the last Sunday in January (no quota, walk-in access only); centerfire rifles prohibited for taking wildlife; wild hog legal to take; the use of dogs prohibited for the take of wild hog; and shift the dates for the wild hog quota hunt to the month of May to accommodate the new small game season.
Guana River WMA – prohibit public access to the uplands portion of the WMA during established quota hunts, except for quota permit holders, hunting guests, and exempt hunters in response to feedback from staff and the public regarding crowding on the area.
Guana River – Lake Ponte Vedra PSGHA – decrease the number of hunt days during the established September waterfowl seasons from 9 days to 5 days (Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only) to allow resting periods for waterfowl.
Ocala WMA – establish in rule that nighttime hunting of fox, coyote and bobcat (when it coincides with the statewide bobcat season) with dogs is allowed in the Pipeline Unit only during the general gun season, and in that portion of the Pipeline Unit south of State Road 40 and west of State Road 19 only during the fox, raccoon, opossum and bobcat season.
Richloam WMA, Baird Unit – require all users to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance; and add a scout day between the 2nd and 3rd archery hunts.
Seminole Forest WMA – clarify the area specific bag limit for turkey from “daily limit of 1” to “2 per quota permit, daily limit of 1 per person”.
Seminole Forest WMA, Lake Tracy Unit – clarify the area specific bag limit for turkey from “daily limit of 1” to “2 per quota permit, daily limit of 1 per person”.
Silver Springs Forest WMA – add a family hunt and modify the formats and dates of other hunts (except small game season and wild hog quota hunts).
Three Lakes WMA, Prairie Lakes Unit – remove the quota permit requirement for the area’s 4 wild hog-still hunts (weekend hunts) to increase participation in hog hunting on the area.
Triple N Ranch WMA – require all users to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance; and allow the take of wild hog during the small game season.

Wildlife and Environmental Areas

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

Hunting equipment on WEAs – define the term “hunting equipment” for the purposes of this rule as “tree stands and elevated shooting platforms” when referencing what items can and cannot be left on WEAs; and use the term “hunt” instead of the term “season” when referencing time periods when tree stands and elevated shooting platforms are allowed on WEAs.
Deer-dog hunting permit – require a no-cost permit for taking deer with dogs on WEAs. This free permit was requested by Florida dog hunting organizations to provide a method of collecting information regarding participation in deer-dog hunting on Commission-managed lands.

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

Southwest Region

Lake Wales Ridge WEA – shift the opening of the wild hog-still hunt from the first Saturday in May to the second Saturday in May.

Northwest Region

Apalachicola River WEA – extend the existing May-September wild hog-dog hunts from 3 to 7 days each; allow wild hogs to be hunted with dogs throughout the dog hunt area during the wild hog-dog season; and clarify that during the wild hog-dog season, wild hog may be hunted during the day with or without dogs and no wild hog shall be shot at night until bayed by dogs.

North Central Region

Watermelon Pond WEA – establish a 3-day spring turkey season (5 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) to occur the third weekend of spring turkey season; and allow users to access the area from County Road 337 and SW 250^th Street by removing the requirement to enter and exit the area at a designated entrance.

South Region

CREW WEA – add a 2-day youth turkey hunt (10 no-cost, quota permits, no exemptions) beginning the last Saturday of February and establish a bag limit of one gobbler or bearded turkey per youth turkey quota permit.

Northeast Region

None