The fall turkey season opens statewide each year on the Saturday nearest September 15th. In turkey zones 1-5, the season closes on the Sunday nearest January 6th. In zones 6 and 7, the department has closed the season on the Friday before the Thanksgiving holiday. This early closure was done out of concerns that harsh winters in the northern part of the state could potentially impact turkey populations. However, the turkey populations in zones 6 and 7 have grown to the point that the department believes the season can be extended to additional fall hunting opportunity without negatively impacting the population.
Trappers are required to tend traps at various intervals, depending on where the trap is placed. Trap tending has historically been required to be done in-person. This proposal would explore allowing trappers to use technology such as cellular cameras to fulfill trap tending requirements. This could allow greater flexibility to trappers while also potentially reducing the time an animal is caught in a trap.
The youth firearm deer season is two days long beginning in the second Saturday in October. The disabled deer hunt begins on the first Saturday in October and runs for nine consecutive days. These two seasons will often overlap. The youth hunt is a statewide hunt and all hunters, aside from those pursuing waterfowl, are required to wear blaze orange during the hunt. In order to be eligible to participate in the disabled deer hunt, disabled hunters must hunt on an enrolled property. This means disabled hunters cannot hunt on their own property or lands they have access to without that property being enrolled as a sponsor. Sponsored properties have minimum acreage requirements and must be open to other disabled hunters. This rule will explore allowing disabled hunters to hunt statewide during the same time as the youth gun deer hunt.
4. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):
The chapter on wild animals and plants, in s. 29.014, “rule making for this chapter”, establishes that the department shall maintain open and closed seasons for fish and game and any limits, rest days, and conditions for taking fish and game. Under s. 23.09(2)(d) related to conservation, the department is directed to provide an adequate and flexible system for the use of outdoor resources in this state and may promulgate such rules as are necessary. These rules are necessary to preserve public opportunities to hunt with firearms on lands that have been acquired as areas where any citizen may hunt or trap. 5. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
160 hours.
6. List with description of all entities that may be affected by the proposed rule:
Hunters and trappers are the principal groups that will be affected by this rulemaking.
7. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:
States possess inherent authority to manage the wildlife resources located within their boundaries, except insofar as preempted by federal treaties and laws, including regulations established in the Federal Register. None of these rule changes violate or conflict with the provisions established in the Federal Code of Regulations.
8. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have an economic impact on small businesses):
These rules are applicable to individual sportspersons and impose no compliance or reporting requirements for small business, nor are any design or operational standards contained in the rule.
9. Anticipated number, month and locations of public hearings:
The department will hold a public hearing in each county on the second Monday in April 2025.
These hearings will be held in conjunction with the annual Conservation Congress spring meeting, which will immediately follow the department’s administrative rule hearing at each hearing location.
Steven Little, Deputy Secretary
Date Submitted
